CONNEXION – Concert

Program

Villa Albertine is delighted to present CONNEXION at La Maison Française, a vibrant musical journey connecting Réunion Island, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico. Rooted in the ancestral traditions of maloya, Mardi Gras Indian music, and bomba, this energetic and immersive performance brings together powerful rhythms. A celebration of the Creole world, CONNEXION creates a bold musical dialogue between cultures.

© Cédric Demaison

About CONNEXION

CONNEXION brings together musicians from three distinct yet interconnected musical cultures.

Mardi Gras Indian music is a vibrant New Orleans tradition rooted in African American and Indigenous influences, performed by Black masking groups known as Mardi Gras Indians.

Maloya, the traditional music of Réunion Island, carries the heritage of enslaved Africans and Malagasy communities through hypnotic rhythms and vocals.

Bomba, a Puerto Rican tradition shaped by African heritage, brings together percussion, dance, and call-and-response singing in a powerful form of collective expression.

From high-energy rhythms to mystical and atmospheric moments, CONNEXION celebrates the enduring connections between these traditions and the artists who carry them forward.

About the Artists

Eric Gordon Jr. is a passionate trumpeter and culture bearer from New Orleans, bringing the vibrant spirit and rich musical heritage of the Crescent City to audiences around the world. He serves as Spy Boy of the Golden Comanche Mardi Gras Indians and is a member of Galactic and the Rebirth Brass Band.

From Réunion Island, Jean-Frédéric Madia, nephew of legendary maloya artist Granmoun Lélé and former member of Lindigo, blends traditional maloya with Mandinka influences.

Multi-instrumentalist Zélito Déliron explores an extraordinary range of textures and sounds through the roulèr, kayanm, world flutes, and Ocean Drum.

Florient Jousse, actor, singer, and director, contributes vocals and helps shape the project’s artistic dialogue.

From Puerto Rico, Ivelisse Diaz, a leading voice in bomba, in plena and founder of La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, joins Marién Torres López, choreographer, percussionist, and founder of Taller Tambuyé. Together, they bring the powerful movement and vocal traditions of Puerto Rican bomba to this international collaboration.

Photos: By registering for this event, you consent to being photographed and/or recorded, and authorize the organizers to use your image and likeness for promotional and archival purposes.

Doors open at 7 pm. Due to strict security measures, please arrive on time, as doors will be closed at 7:30 pm sharp. Please allow for extra time for security screenings.

Security Rules: All guests will pass through security screening. Each person attending the event must have a ticket registered in their name and a government-issued ID that matches the name on the reservation to enter the Embassy. No one will be admitted without a reservation and official ID.

For security reasons, large bags, umbrellas, backpacks, meta glasses, and bike helmets are not allowed on Embassy grounds. The security team may confiscate any items considered inappropriate.

Food and Water: No food or water is allowed in the embassy.

Parking: There is no on-site parking.

• Metered parking is available on Reservoir Road at $2.30/hour (max 4h until 10pm)
• Garage parking is available at Georgetown MedStar Health (Entrance #2, 2800 Reservoir Road NW), approx. $25 for up to 3 hours