Les Amazones
Les Amazones d’Afrique: the supergroup comprising 10 incredible West African female musicians, including international stars like Angelique Kidjo, Mariam Doumbia, and Nneka. The collective used their debut album Republique Amazone to empower African women, a theme that also spills out into their live performances.
Last night in the Spiegeltent, Awa Sangho paused mid-performance to salute the women in the room, declaring that we undisputedly ‘run the world’. The two other band members present channeled Les Amazones key message too, whether it was from Rokia Konem’s joyful, unbridled dancing or playful sex simulation from the 53-year-old Manani Keita.
Another strength of Republique Amazone is its geographical range. The album’s variety also makes for an incredible live show - songs tumbled from traditional Beninese, Congolese and Malian rhythms to blues, funk and dub. Sangho, Konem and Keita also switched between languages; the latter only addressing the audience in French.
Norwich audiences are known for being a bit stiff, so naturally it took a few songs before Les Amazones infectious energy caught on. By the end of the night, the Spiegeltent had transformed into a dancefloor of sweaty, exuberant gig-goers with a new favourite band. Les Amazones were practically mobbed when they stepped down from the stage - a testament to a triumphant, mind-opening set.
