Yvelines. An activist and festive show for women’s rights in Achères

Six years after its creation, the collective Les Amazones d’Afrique continues its fight for women’s rights. Inspired by the mysterious warriors of Dahomey and the revolutionary group Les Amazones de Guinée (1960s), this pan-African group has been traveling the world since their first album “République Amazone” released in 2017.

Since enriched with new voices, the collective now reaches a wider audience with the album “Amazones Power”. At the dawn of their return to the stage at the Achères Sax this Saturday, October 10, an interview with the Beninese singer Fafa Ruffino, one of these African divas more black and proud than ever.

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News: In this context of health crisis, since when have you not been back on stage and what emotion does that give you?

Fafa Ruffino: Since March! We replay for the first time this Thursday evening at La Dynamo in Pantin before continuing this Saturday at the Sax d’Achères. We are really happy. Tuesday was our reunion for rehearsals. It was already a pure happiness to live that. Seeing the audience again will be huge. We look forward !

Is this your first time at the Sax and more widely in Yvelines?

F.R. : This is our first at the Sax but the collective has already performed in Yvelines in the past. Because of the coronavirus, we were blocked in our journey. This year our tour was focused on France. In previous years, we have traveled a lot in Europe and the United States.

The collective was imagined in 2014 by Malian activist artists Mamani Keïta and Mariam Doumbia. Many collaborations have taken place with Oumou Sangaré, Nneka, Angélique Kidjo or even Inna Modja. Is the group constantly renewing itself?

F.R. : The first record was very West African with a lot of Malian and Nigerian singers. On the second disc, the production wanted to reach young people more. You should know that in Africa, many associations are created to support women. We want to address the new generation. For my part, I am Beninese, Kandy Guira is Burkinabè, but there is also Niariu who is Guinean and Rokia Koné and Mamani Keita who are Malian. On the record, we also called on the Algerian singer Nacera Ouali, the Spanish singer Marta Domingo and the Colombian singer Nancy Murillo or the rapper and DJ of Marseille Moesha13. We want to send a strong message with more accessible music in order to engage the new generation more.

Are you more into the fusion of musical genres?

F.R. : It’s a bit hybrid, with electro, pop and hip-hop rhythms, and of course Afro and Mandingo colors, our mother tongues and n’goni, the traditional Malian guitar. We are accompanied by a DJ set, drums and guitar.

The collective is known for tackling themes such as misogyny, forced marriage, genital mutilation and, more generally, violence against women. Is your message addressed only to women on the African continent or is it intended to be universal?

F.R. : Exactly, we are addressing women all over the world. It’s in the idea of ​​the second album. We are no longer just talking about excision or forced marriage. We open the debate. We are talking about raped and beaten women, about sexual harassment. We have really broadened our horizon in the message that we carry. Whatever stage we are playing on, all women can feel concerned.

Are you invited at the same time to debates?

F.R. : Yes, we have already participated in numerous conferences and meetings, in particular with associations which take care of young adolescent girls in foster care. We have also held concert conferences in partnership with municipalities which organize meetings with high school students. Despite the timidity of the young people at the start, the exchanges are always extraordinary. As they see us on the posters, they always think that we will arrive in traditional dress. However, this is not really the case. We usually arrive in jeans, sneakers. Obviously, that creates a bond and young people come to testify more easily.

After the Sax, where will you be performing next?

F.R. : Due to the Covid-19 crisis, many dates have been postponed. But we will be October 15 in Montpellier then October 16 in Tourcoing. Then, we will continue, we hope, in November with three dates in Arras, Albi and Goussainville, then in February 2021 in the South in Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Collected by Florian Dacheux