Lamogoya

Burkina Faso, Quebec World Music

Biography :

Lamogoya, a group with a mysterious but evocative name, is a newcomer to the Montreal cultural scene. It was created in September 2009 by Ulrich Lonsili, known as Bébéto, a storyteller and actor, and Luc Bambara, a dancer. Both artists come from Burkina Faso. The group’s name, in the Dioula language, means “brotherhood and sharing in love and friendship.” Quite the program!

They were soon joined by Karine Cloutier, a dancer from Quebec who divides her life between her homeland and Burkina Faso. Lamogoya also includes three musicians, Amadou Sanou on balafon, Philippe Beaudin on djembé and Pierre Cormier and doumdoum. Whether from Quebec or Burkina Faso, whether white or black, these artists all share an unconditional passion for Burkina Faso, its culture and its customs.

The watchword of Lamogoya’s founders is simple and clear: to convey the traditional cultures of West Africa, especially of Burkina Faso, and to trigger a gathering of people from here and elsewhere through storytelling, dance, song and music. With stories, beats, movements and melodies, their shows are invitations to travel to faraway places, to the land of honourable people, as Burkina Faso is known. Drawing inspiration from that country’s traditions, Lamogoya’s members create their own world, stitched together from their respective journeys, their passions and their desires.

In early 2010, they began to perform shows in various Montreal venues and to take part in a number of festivals. They also offer workshops and training to young Montrealers who wish to know more about this culture.

The troupe consists today of 10 professional members. They put greater emphasis now on music but without neglecting storytelling. Their shows are fertile artistic blends, a delightful way to plunge into a different culture and open one’s eyes to other realities, other artistic techniques and other talents.