- Friday 4 July
With an amazing voice and charisma, Marie-Claude Lambert-Philéas and the rest of the group Votia unfold the sound of authentic maloya music from Réunion. A music that runs in her blood, as she is the daughter of the famous maloya musician Gramoun Lélé.
Her father helped pave the way for a new wave of maloya in the 1970s, when the traditional music, banned by the French colonial power, became a source of political resistance and cultural independence. Today, maloya is an expression of a rich musical heritage and Marie-Claude Lambert-Philéas has dedicated her life to spreading the music, both preserving the tradition and adding new elements and compositions sung in both Creole and Malagasy.
In her music, tradition lives in strong polyphonic vocals and trance-inducing percussion, where audiences will find elements of both African and Indian music. Maloya is often described as the blues of Réunion as it carries a story of oppression and pain. But when Marie-Claude Lambert-Philéas assembles her band—which not only carries on her father's legacy but is also made up of her family members—it is the joy of life and love of music that triumphs.
You can experience this this summer when Votia brings the authentic maloya sound to Roskilde Festival with infectious rhythms and strong vocal work. Before the concert, you can warm up with Votia's new album Vié Kaz, which will be released this spring.
