Canada’s Afro-cosmopolitan Artist Donné Roberts
If the immortal sounds of Fela Kuti, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel and Richie Havens were to come together as one, their torchbearer might very well be Madagascar-born, Russian-raised and now Toronto-based guitarist Donné Roberts. Effortlessly combining polyrhythmic African and European folk & groove and blazing North American funk, rock and blues influences, Roberts and his 6-piece band deliver a remarkably diverse, infectiously joyful and utterly unique live music experience.
His full name is Dieudonné Roberts, means “God-given”, and Roberts’ natural talents are obviously that to anyone who hears him play. His gifts have been shaped by an eclectic and courageous set of life experiences. He was born on the legendary island of Madagascar, and moved with his diplomat parents to Russia at age 7 where he would live for the next two decades. In 1997, Roberts produced Mama Africa, one of the largest and most important African festivals in the history of Russian culture. The following year, he became the first African to host a show on MTV Russia, the hour-long program Mambassa. Also in 1998, he was chosen to organize backup vocalists for a tour with Swedish pop legends Ace of Base.
In 1999, this most cosmopolitan of artists came to call Canada home. He quickly established a reputation in Toronto’s thriving world-music community. In 2003, he was invited to be part of African Guitar Summit, the groundbreaking collaboration of Canada’s finest African-born musicians; conceived by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) producer Todd Fraracci. African Guitar Summit would go on to win the 2005 Juno Award, Canada’s highest distinction, for Best World Music Album; and the band received the honour of performing at the Live 8 concert at Park Place in Barrie, Ontario. African Guitar Summit II was released to critical acclaim in September of 2006. Amongst this supremely-talented collective, it is Roberts who is seen by many knowledgeable listeners as having the greatest potential appeal amongst the widest range of audiences, outside the African and world-music scenes.
His first solo album, Rhythm Was Born (released in February 2006 at Toronto’s foremost world-music venue Harbourfront Centre) is testament to those possibilities, a 10-song journey of songs inspired from his homeland that frequently venture into North American and European rock, funk & blues territory. Roberts’ original music and live performances continue to evolve more in this cosmopolitan groove direction. His stellar band is also comprised of: Celina Carroll (vocals and percussion), Dylan Broda (drum kit and vocals), Kwanza Msingwana (percussion), Tom Sertsis and Ebenezer Agyekum (electric basses), and Paul Lamoureux (vocals, keyboard, saxophone and flute). Together, they have toured across the United States and Canada, including: (Montreal International Jazz Festival, Dawson City Music Festival, Harbourfront Centre, Dundas Square Toronto etc.). Roberts is also gearing up to reveal yet another side of his dynamic musical character to worldwide audiences – a solo guitar-and-electronica performance that can also integrate a percussionist.
This is a man to whom Rhythm was indeed Born. And it seems clear that his already remarkable journey and career are about to take on a new life of their own.
