Montreal In Pictures

July 19 2012

Although the 26th edition of Nuits d’Afrique festival started on July 10, today the festival expanded to occupy the Parterre du Quartier des Spectacles on the corner of Saint Urbain and Ontario streets.

The festival is a celebration of music and art from the African continent. This year, the Festival produced a record number of 91 shows and workshops, given by more than 500 artists from 32 countries. The Village Nuits d’Afrique on the Parterre du Quartier des spectacles is the venue for four days of free festivities with 28 concerts on the LOTO-QUÉBEC Stage and eight open-air workshops as well as 25 activities at the Agor’Afrique, four on site parade activities, the Children’s Village and the famous Timbuktu Market with its 44 craftspeople.

Although most of the fun likely takes place in the evening, I was in the area this afternoon, so had a wander around and grabbed a few shots.

Tam Tam player at the Timbuktu market
ISO 100 – 116mm – f5 – 1/250 sec

African dancer
ISO 100 – 270mm – f5.6 – 1/100 sec

Tam Tam players at the Timbuktu village
ISO 100 – 16mm – f5 – 1/125 sec

Festival International Nuits d’Afrique
ISO 100 – 78mm – f5 – 1/400 sec

DjiDji on the Loto-Québec stage
ISO 100 – 112mm – f4.8 – 1/250 sec

DjiDji on the Loto-Québec stage
ISO 100 – 300mm – f9 – 1/500 sec

Watching DjiDji perform under the sun
ISO 100 – 70mm – f5 – 1/320 sec

African Jewellery at Timbuktu market
ISO 100 – 105mm – f5.6 – 1/40 sec

Colorful fabrics at the Timbuktu market
ISO 100 – 155mm – f5 – 1/800 sec

Colorful wall hangings at the Nuits d’Afrique festival
ISO 100 – 70mm – f5 – 1/320 sec

The Festival International Nuits d’Afrique ends Sunday with the closing act being Tiken Jah Fakoly (originally from the Ivory Coast). Sounds like he is worth seeing live, so maybe I will try and catch his concert.Here’s a little taste of his music.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEC-8005oXM?rel=0&w=800&h=450]

To view images in gallery format, simply click on one of the images below.