Last night, the Lino Ventura Theater in Nice took on the vibe of Central Africa by hosting the Staff Benda Bilili on its stage. A concert lasting nearly an hour and a half warmed up the hall with legendary African energy!
The first part of the Staff Benda Bilili concert – literally, “look beyond appearances” in Swahili – was opened by the group Alpha Petulay, who set the tone right from the start. Led by an energetic singer, immersed in her music and lyrics, the group delivered a vibrant and colorful performance in a warm Afro-Brazilian atmosphere.
Exotic stage costumes, songs sung in Swahili, and both classical and African instruments captivated the audience. The audience was very enthusiastic, much to the delight of Alpha Petulay.
But after a short intermission, it was the Staff Benda Bilili that the audience came to see and called for with warm applause. The eight members of the group then burst onto the stage, brimming with energy. Four of them are in wheelchairs. However, for the Staff Benda Bilili, the disability is almost purely psychological: the musicians smoothly transition through their African songs infused with rhythms of rumba, reggae, soul, and blues.
And while they stand out on stage for their incredible dynamism and theatricality, the eight Congolese members also have this unique trait: they make their own instruments! The youngest member can boast of having crafted his own santongue, a cousin of the guitar made with just a wire and a tin can. The spectators aren’t mistaken either: the singers’ physical and stage expressions invite dancing in the “pit” in front of the stage.
There’s no fuss at the Lino Ventura Theater, the atmosphere is familial, and even if the audience joyfully sings along to choruses in a language they don’t understand, it’s a joyful community that gathers under the benevolent eyes of the Staff Benda Bilili.
