2020 challenged the ways we interact, make and experience music.
It brought obstacles to the cultural connections between Americas, Africa and Europe we feel passionate about.
Yet, we are happy to see that the HAPE family around the globe is alive more than ever, working on new ideas and staying creative.
Technology may have allowed us to stay connected but after the distancing, coming together again will fill the void.
Our journey will continue, and we hope you will continue being part of it.
In the meantime, here are some highlights from 2020!
New Music
Pulo NDJ, the band launched by our HAPE Team in Chad, was on tour in Nigeria when the pandemic hit. With most of their gigs canceled, the band got stranded in Togo for several months. Making use of the time to reflect and jam, they wrote “Confinement”. Lead singer Samy says “the whole world suddenly felt like paralysed. In the face of uncertainty and disbelief, we were all the same.”
Pulo NDJ Remix on Blan Manioc
Blanc Manioc, the Abidjan-based label focusing on underground urban and electronic music from the African continent featured an exclusive Pulo NDJ remix by French afro-electronic producer DJ Praktika. Check out the new compilation of progressive beats from across Africa on Nymkala Beats #2. Here’s an interview with label boss Dom Peter on French radio RFI.
El Individuo – Escribo
There’s new music coming from one of our favorite voices from Cuba. Rafa,aka El Individuo has delivered his EP “Escribo”, a testament to his eclectic influences, ranging from jazz, timba and trap, and lyrical prowess. One to watch!
FTP & Go Dugong single (coming soon!)
Teaming up with Brussels-based Low Up records, we have brought together Cameroonian MC FTP and Italian producer Go Dugong for the beginning of yet another Afro-European collaboration. Expect some heavy tunes dropping soon!
Cuba
In February, HAPE returned to the Castillo de Los Jardines de La Tropical, one of our first locations and for that, very dear to us. Special thanks for the beautiful night go to the artists: Andrés Levín & the Habana Roots Ensemble, Caracas-based HAPE Co-Founder, Simbo, and Havana’s DJ Landeep and Mike Polarny.
Check out our blog post on the history of this iconic venue here
In Havana, HAPE presented
for the first time Kilomboy's band in a live - electronic duo together with DJ LANDEEP. We welcomed back El Negro Wadpro and Brebaje Man.
March 2020, Casa de Cultura Joseíto Fernández in Centro Habana,
Chad
In N’Djamena
We got back to N’Djamena, Chad for another event connecting West African scenes. This time around, we had the pleasure to have Chabela, DJ and musical activist from Ivory Coast, one of leading forces behind the Abidjan electronic music scene as founder of the Kamayakoi collective.
Italy
In Florence
at the end of the summer, HAPE took part in the ReGeneration Festival, an unprecedented four-day programme of socially-distanced concerts and productions running at the landmark Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens in Florence, which was offered to audiences entirely for free. The Festival closed at Manifattura Tabacchi with a HAPE night and its signature Caribbean sounds (true to the Collective’s Havana roots) brought to us by London-based John Swing.
Belgium
In Brussels
A memorable soirée at Flow, in Matongé, with Calacas, duo of Belgian vinyls selectors. The venue was perfect for the concept of event that HAPE has been seeking to promote: cozy, spontaneous, with a touch of underground vibes.
HAPE presented PULO NDJ's album at Radio Kiosk in July with Rebel Up and the remixes which appeared on Blanc Manioc's compilation at Radio Panik in December, thanks to our friend La Drache Musicale.
In the meantime, the Brussels HAPE team is growing, working to create new connections and partnerships, and can't wait to welcome you back as soon as possible.
World
Hape Collective’s IV Anniversary
In the midst of these strange times, we celebrated the 4 year anniversary of our collective. To pay tribute to all the incredible collaborations, musical discoveries, and, above all, friendships built along the way, we joined, Dumba Nengue - a growing pan-African community of creatives, for an afternoon of streamed culture, music and visual art.
It was a truly global affair with DJ sets, live music, conversations and performances by artists from South Africa, Panama, U.S.A., Colombia, Cuba, Mozambique and friends connecting from all over the world dancing in front of their webcams!