Initially through Art, one can maintain and enrich the "Collective Memory" of Malagasy people. That remains a duty to the origins. And then to find what is necessary to preserve, to transmit, to translate. At this level of research, to connect my work with that of the ethnologists. Their aim consists in "showing what hides" through the culture and the various aspects of people everyday life. As the world does not have any more borders on economic and cultural views, to contribute to make Madagascar known through arts beyond the Indian Ocean. Besides, who could speak about this island better than its nationals, especially if artists?
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I'm a composer, writer and sculptor. As Bob DYLAN said: " My name it is nothing, my age it means less! ", I let my work itself to show you how about all of that!!
So I prefer to talk about the musicians in the band. We are, at first, close friends.
Vatomanga and I shared wonderful times both in Madagascar and in Paris. He was the first to join me in that long and tiresome way to raise the malagasy roots music up. While other bands played fashionable songs, we had long debates about the best way to transmit the malagasy traditional rhythms and lyrics. Vatomanga is also as sensitive a keyboards player.
" Emana ", Matthieu Eskenazi is a close friend of african musicians in Paris. The mixing of jazz music "ethnic" is the signature characteristic of Emana. It is therefore not surprising to see him approached by the musicians of Cheb Mami, Cheika Rimiti, Salif Keita, Manu Dibango, the Orchestre National de Barbès, Papa Wemba ... whether for projects style funk, raï, salsa, blues, jazz, African or Indian.
Anyway it is hard for words to describe the Jonny R'afa's music. Because we also play traditional rhythms coming from other parts of the world, even folk/ rock/ blues). We don't really want to play a community's music. Good rhythms are universal, especially in that global earth. So, the best way to appreciate our music is still having a confortable seat, smoking and listening. Different rhythms should touch your mind all along, just like having fun in a kind of spiritual journey.
Songs like Rabodoniarivo, Retsiana or Ravorombazaha have been repeatedly echoed by well-known artists, are running on the antennae, and are now among the "classic" of the Malagasy music.
Thanks a lot for your words man!! I would be glad to come one day... sharing music is now my life.
I just love your music ... I can feel so much roots in it ! deep roots!! Do you travel a lot between France and Madagascar... Trips are my second love ;)
Non Jonny ! Le plaisir est tout pour moi ! Am-poko foana ê ! Madagasikara ê ! J'y ai vécu 5 ans ! Merci pour ces belles mélodies qui me font voyager et me rappeler !
jonny my friend! everything good for you? next year in march i am going to go to ghana for two months! being a teacher there. i am so excited about this voyage, i cannot await it! has joao written to you? i didn't read anything from him. have a good time dude! happy greetings from your man lx!
Merci de nous avoir fait découvrir votre univers musical : un mélange subtil de grâce et de volupté, à l'image de votre île. Au plaisir de vous écouter. WMP, Paris France
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