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LESNUBIANS.ORG // A NEW ERA IS COMING! Welcome to the oldest, most up-to-date Les Nubians fansite on the net! A NEW ALBUM is scheduled to be released in 2008! Our mission is to bring you all the latest info, news, and photos on the ladies, so check back often! Please feel free to contact us. Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your stay!
LATEST NEWS:
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| MIRIAM MAKEBA TRIBUTE CONCERT TONIGHT! (11/16/2008) | |||||||||||||
One of the continent’s most renowned citizens, South Africa-born Miriam Makeba,76, died in a town near Naples, Italy on last Sunday, after collapsing onstage, where she was performing in solidarity with six Ghanaians who were killed there, last September, it is alleged, by organized crime. Known to some as Mama Africa or the Empress of South Africa, Miriam Makeba musical enchantress, she was an articulate spokesperson enumerating the ills of South Africa’s apartheid. The Makeba phenom began in the 60s. Exiled by South Africa for more than 30 years, Ms. Makeba also became the voice and face of African culture the world over. She performed with Harry Belafonte, Nina Simone, Dizzy Gillespie and Paul Simon. An international treasure and cultural icon, she often said. "I will sing until the last day of my life."
On Sunday, November 16, MAMA AFRIKA: A TRIBUTE CONCERT FOR MIRIAM MAKEBA, featuring Harry Belafonte, Randy Weston, Célia of Les Nubians, Somi, Wumni, Bakithi & Robbi Kumalo, Francis Mbappe, Jojo Kuo, Leopoldo Fleming, Dominic Kanza, Loide Jorge, Tony Cedras and others, will be held at Le Poisson Rouge (www.lepoissonrouge.com) at 158 Bleecker Street, Manhattan, at 7:30pm. A $20 donation is suggested. Proceeds will be donated to Sauti Yetu: Center for African Women (www.sautiyetu.org) in Miriam Makeba’s honor. | |||||||||||||
| LES NUBIANS APPEAR ON DELA'S LATEST RELEASE (10/3/2008) | |||||||||||||
| The Princesses guest star on Dela's "Changes of Atmosphere" album, which was released last month. The song's title is "Veuillez Veiller Sur Vos Reves", which also features John Banzai. Currently the album is only available as a Limited Edition Japanese Import through Amazon.com. To find out more about Dela, visit his MySpace page.
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| CATCH CÉLIA'S FIRST SOLO PERFORMANCE IN NY! (09/18/2008) | |||||||||||||
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Les Nubians present: BlueNefertiti - Paris @ Night
A unique and intriguing cabaret performance by Célia of Les Nubians in her solo debut! BlueNefertiti's style is a direct reflection of her vast influences in music. With her sensual stage presence she lures you into her world of experimental frequencies... Electronic, Dub, House, Hip Hop, and then, with the sparkle in her eye, she subtly invites you to sink into your seats and travel through time and space to the era of great Jazz standards and French Realism. Welcome to Paris @ Night - BlueNeferiti's Ek'lectric Cabaret - where the Blues of past loves mingle with the Pink and Gold of life's joys... the intensity of an eternal glimpse... the memory of a sacred moment and the urge of Colourful souls calling out for LOVE. September 23rd & 24th | 8:30pm | $10 at the door
Solomon's Porch
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| NEW TOUR DATES! (06/06/2008) | |||||||||||||
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06/13 - 9:00pm: House Of Blues - Chicago, IL with Malik Alston General Admission: $21.50 [Purchase Tickets]
06/14 - 8:00pm:
08/29 | |||||||||||||
| "SOLIDE" VIDEO NOW ONLINE! (04/25/2008) | |||||||||||||
| FOOD FOR YA SOUL VOL. 3 NOW AVAILABLE (04/21/2008) | |||||||||||||
| Food For Ya Soul's Vol.3 featuring Les Nubians' "Once In My Life" is now available to order through their MySpace page. The CD is 15 €, which includes worldwide shipping costs. Vol.3 also features J.Sands, Kenn Starr, Melodiq, Blu, Sene, Faye, Lewis Parker, Soulprints, and many more.
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| SINGERSROOM.COM INTERVIEW (04/21/2008) | |||||||||||||
| by Valerie Varasse | singersroom.com | April 20, 2008 "We sing in the language that we dream in, that we love," said Helene Faussart one half of the Afropean Grammy-nominated group Les Nubians. "Celia and I share the love of music and art and since we grew up together we decided to sing together." Indeed it has been 15 years since Les Nubians started their journey, two sisters born in Bordeaux, France from a French father and a Cameroonian mother. An unconventional group with a sophisticated style of Jazz, R&B, African beats and French lyrics with a touch of Sade, Soul II Soul and Miriam Makeba. With their Afropean sound, Les Nubians will make you dance and sweat while giving you the opportunity to sing along with them in their native tongues as well as engaging in their roots to the fullest. Singersroom: Helene what does Les Nubians mean? Helene: Les Nubians mean from Nubia. It was a way for us to pay tribute to the motherland and to talk about black people as one people. When we got back from Africa to France we were quite shocked to discover that French people didn’t know much about Africa. [They were] only thinking about Africa as a starving continent, a place with no history, no pride, nothing to [establish] the black culture. Talking about Les Nubians which is the first black civilization [was] a way to let them know that Africa has a long past history of billions; an amazing country that is actually the basis of our nowadays culture. Singersroom: Was it hard for you to be accepted by both cultures since you are from a French father and a Cameroonian mother and also due to the fact that you grew up in Chad (Africa) as well as in France? Helene: It was definitely [an enchantment] in humanity and life. This world can carry the most beautiful things and the ugliest things. We grew up in the country (Chad) where there was a war, we live beside war. It was part of our education at that time, opening your eyes on geopolitics; you cannot go in a place like that and feel disconnected from the world. Then you have a bigger vision of what the world is in terms of interest, politics and economy. [At a very young age] we kind of developed that interest for our nowadays world... because it opened our eyes on humanity and how we can live through the most painful experiences in life and through the most beautiful experiences in life, because the motherland is so rich, it really nourishes you, it really feeds you. Singersroom: You talked about your life in Chad but what about France? Helene: When we got back to France after Chad, we were a little odd because we didn’t have conception habits. In Chad we didn’t have so many shops, so shopping, it’s like an activity. For example you shop because you have needs, you don’t shop to just shop, that’s a concept that‘s just unreal in Chad. And until now it’s very hard to get into that shopping fever because this is not how we grew up. Also the way people in France were selfish [which] was the main difference and [also] racism. Singersroom: Since your 1999 U.S. debut album, " Princesses Nubiennes", do you think that the musical scene has changed enough for you to release another French album? Helene: Yes we can definitely do soul music in French and make it sound personal, inspiring and not being a copy cat. For Les Nubians, our main concern was to do music that really looks like us, [music] that we are, music that reflects our identity. We took the best and eventually ...our music has been embraced and understood. Singersroom: I know that you consider yourself Afropean but what does the word mean to you? Helene: Afropean means what I am, being of African descent and being of European descent [as well as] growing up in Europe and in Africa and growing up with all of the influences from all [the other] communities. In France we have a strong African community, a very strong Caribbean community and the African American community that affects Europe [for years]. Our identity has been denied [by] the French media for a long time, so the only black references that we have are coming from America. I have a very good friend and rapper name Casey, she sings "we are not seating on two chairs but we are seating on three chairs," which is the American chair, the French-European chair, and the African one. Singersroom: How important it is for Les Nubians to combine their Afropean roots into their music? Helene: There were no other ways we can do music. When we began singing back in the day we were doing Acappela shows and we were covering music ...from traditional African songs, to cotton field songs, to Gospel and going into the different Diaspora of South America, Caribbean, or singing Samba, then jam from England and so on. Then [little by little] we quite define ourselves like what really touches us, what type of beats, what type of arrangements we would like to appear. It is also important for us not to lose our identity in our music, and our music can only be the reflection of ourselves and we are Afropean, we couldn't be something else. It's funny because when we did our album people were asking us "how you can define your music?" We were answering, we don’t define our music, it’s Afropean music, it’s the only definition I can give. But to tell you it’s Soul, it’s R&B, it’s Jazz, it’s Afro, it’s Hip/Hop, and [well] it’s everything that’s there. Singersroom: How does it feel to be the most successful French artists in the US? Helene: Ca fait du bien (it feels good)... (Laughs) the very first thing that I said to Celia (the other half of Les Nubians) is that, "At least the music that we're doing is good music." When we were growing up we listened to other artists like Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti... We listened to Indian music, from my mother’ side, we couldn’t understand what those people were saying at all but they were doing music that touched us and that makes it music. The fact that our music can affect other places and [other] parts of the world beside the language [barrier] means that [we] are doing music and whoa, yeah, it’s great. Singersroom: To continue on the same idea according to the billboard charts, "Princesses Nubiennes" has been the most successful French language album in more than a decade, do you feel good about your accomplishment? Helene: Completely, to do music for us is a true accomplishment. Meaning we are not pretending to be something else or we didn't make the wrong choice. We didn't fake it, we [did] so much, so that music can travel and go to different places in the world. It's a real accomplishment but it's not finished, so you cannot stay on this and say its okay I touched that star and I am done. I feel like I got my degree but to be a full doctor you have to practice and maybe when you will be 60 or 70 years old then you will look at your work and say "yes, ok I did well." Singersroom: Beside Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti who else influence your music? Helene: Ella Fitzgerald, Edith Piaf; artists who gave 100 percent of themselves and for whom singing was not just opening their voices and singing notes like birds but who put their entire soul into it. Singersroom: Helene you have said that "music is every moment of your life," why? Helene: Each moment in life has a song, and I can't see my life without it. In Africa and like other black and Latin cultures, music is there all the time. At home with our mother the day starts with a prayer that we sing and your life continues with music from school, from the streets, popular songs, music of every moment, music of death, sacred music, love music, childhood music and it’s sad that in our society people restrained themselves from it. Singersroom: Helene, you have worked with Talib Kweli and The Black Eyed Peas, how was it like working with them? Helene: It was a great time, we met amazing people. Talib Kweli and The Black Eyed Peas are really nice people. Kweli is an incredible lyricist and he's involved in various causes, he's a very conscience brother and very open. Actually the day we met, he brought me medicine, because I had the flu. It was my first time in NY during winter time, the wind just blew me away and knocked me down... (Laughs) At the hotel he gave me some medicine and I was like whoa! That is so nice and that is how our friendship begun. Kweli is perfect and we met Mos Def too, who is also an amazing person. Working with The Black Eyed Peas was another thing, these guys came to Paris back in the days and they were doing either their first show or second show there and the way they moved the crowd was just amazing, nobody knew about them, they came to [do] their show and they had a ball. I went to them and I introduced myself and I was like "thank you for the show, let's get in touch" and Will.i.am called us to do the tracks. He is a real musical freak, meaning his musical universe is so huge, you can do whatever, he's so creative, and he never closes the door to an idea. Singersroom: In 2004, you were nominated for a Grammy Award in the best urban alternative category alongside Erykah Badu, Outkast, Musiq and Kelis. Were your emotions at a high? Helene: We were the happiest girls in the world. The day we heard that we screamed so loud. Of course we felt it like a blessing, it was an accomplishment, and we felt like ok now, we are getting a new degree. Next time we gonna have to win... (Laughs) Singersroom: Your second album "One Step Forward" took you back to a journey, can you describe the experience? Helene: In "One Step Forward" we wanted to go a little further ... so it was mainly like a meeting of us with a few producers and traveling to meet them. It’s funny how "One Step Forward" opened [doors] for a new territory, we've been with that album in places that we have never been before. Singersroom: For the people out there who don't know who Les Nubians are and who have never been to one of your shows, what do you want them to know about the way you perform? Helene: When you come to a Les Nubians show you gonna have music, that you will be able to meditate... music that will make you dance and sweat. Be prepared to [experience] an interactive moment because we are sharing and communicating a lot with the audience. Singersroom: After spending 15 years in the business, do you have any regrets? Helene: No regrets. (Helene singing in French) It’s a name of one of our songs, if I had to do it again, I will do it again without hesitation. Singersroom: What's next for Les Nubians? Helene: The third album, it's cooking. It will be done in different countries across France, US, and Africa. We hope to have it done by next year and then go on tour. Singersroom: (Celia Faussart just walked in) Hey Celia how you doing? Celia: I am doing good, sorry for the delay but I was stuck in traffic. Singersroom: It's ok. I won't keep you long, I am sure you must be tired and all, so I will ask you one question .With you being the baby of the group, does Helene respect your input? Celia: We are Africans, she is the elder, she's not in charge, she plays the role but it really depends. Sometimes I feel like she does not listen to my ideas. We find a way to make it happen anyway. [Other times] I feel like she does not listen to me cuz I am the baby. So I have to repeat myself three or four times but then sometimes I can say something and she say yeah, there's no pressure on it, we're African so I have to show respect. | |||||||||||||
| "IN THE NAME OF LOVE" IS AVAILABLE TODAY! (04/01/2008) | |||||||||||||
| The "In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2" CD was released today. You can order it from Amazon for $13.99, or download it at iTunes for $9.99. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to The Global Fund, "the world's largest international financier of the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria." Currently "With or Without You" is the #4 Top Downloaded song off the album, so let's make it #1!!
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| OFFICIAL SITE RELAUNCHED! (03/30/2008) | |||||||||||||
 Check out the newly redesigned lesnubians.com! It's been announced that the NEW ALBUM is coming soon, hopefully by the summer!! | |||||||||||||
| EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD OF BLIGE REMIX (03/18/2008) | |||||||||||||
| Visit Spicey Promotions on MySpace to download the "Take Me As I Am" remix (featuring Les Nubians and MC Lyte) from J.Period's "The Best Of MJB Vol. 2: Queen of Soul" CD. | |||||||||||||
| NEW TOUR DATES ADDED! [UPDATED!] (03/04/2008) | |||||||||||||
| Mark your calendars! The Princesses are hitting the road again. Check out the schedule below. More dates are coming soon! LN.org is currently looking for fan reviews and pictures from any Les Nubians performance in recent years. Email us your stories and pictures with the date and location of the performance, which will be added to our upcoming tour section.
03/27 - 9:00pm:
03/29 - 9:00pm:
03/31 - 10:00pm:
04/17 - 5:30pm:
04/25 - 7:00pm:
05/01 - 8:00pm:
05/09 - 9:00pm:
05/10 - ** 2 Shows! **
05/11 - ** 2 Shows! **
05/13 - 7:30pm:
05/14 - 7:30pm:
05/15 - 8:00pm:
05/31:
06/21: | |||||||||||||
| PREVIEW & PRE-ORDER "IN A NAME OF LOVE" TODAY! (03/04/2008) | |||||||||||||
| You can now preview and pre-order "In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2" at Amazon for $14.99. The album is scheduled to be released on April 1st. "With or Without You" sounds amazing! I can't wait to hear it in full! Click here to check it out!
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| PICTURES FROM VARIOUS 2007 PERFORMANCES (02/24/2008) | |||||||||||||
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May 7th - Academy of Music Theatre; Northampton, MA.
July 27th - The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF); Atlanta, GA
September 15th - Earthdance International; Laytonville, CA.
October 20th - Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF); Black Mountain, NC
October 24th - Jazz Café at Music Hall; Detroit, MI.
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| OFFICIAL LES NUBIANS ONLINE STORE LAUNCHED! (02/22/2008) | |||||||||||||
| The official Les Nubians online store has launched! At La Nü Boütik you'll find Les Nubians CDs, Books, plus music, movies, and numerous other products personally recommended by the Princesses.
 Visit lanuboutik.com today! | |||||||||||||
| LES NUBIANS CONTRIBUTE TO UPCOMING MARY J. BLIGE MIXTAPE (02/22/2008) | |||||||||||||
| from: AllHipHop.com: J. Period Celebrates Best of Mary J. Blige CD With Events Mixtape DJ and producer J. Period will celebrate two years worth of work creating his Best of Mary J. Blige mixtape, by launching a series of events to commemorate the project's long-awaited release. A three CD collection originally produced as a promo piece for Blige’s Grammy-winning album The Breakthrough, the release captured a strong buzz that resulted in discussion to unveil the mixtape as an official album release. The Best of Mary J. Blige will include more than 120 classics from the singer, as well as unreleased gems, behind-the-scenes interviews, J. Period remixes and new Blige tracks recorded exclusively for the project... ...The mixtape will also include contributions from Alicia Keys, Les Nubians, MC Lyte, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, CL Smooth, Mister Cee, and Big Daddy Kane... ...Volume one of the collection, titled "Queen of Hip Hop," showcases the singer's role as one of Hip-Hop's top female singers, while Vol. 2 "Queen of Soul" highlights Blige's R&B prowess next to today’s top stars. Vol.3., "Queen of Hearts" rounds out the release as it features a collection of Blige ballads. To commemorate the project's official release, J. Period will hold Best of MJB Week, a week-long series of six back-to-back release parties in New York City at Tillman’s, APT, Mannahatta, Midway, Canal Room and Novo Lounge. The series will kick off Tuesday (Feb. 19) and run through Saturday (Feb. 23)... ...Additional release parties in Los Angeles, Oakland, Atlanta and Philly are scheduled for March as well as tour, event and online giveaways... (Click here to read the full article.) To find out more about DJ J. Period, visit him at JPeriod.com or myspace.com/JPeriod. Release date and track listings will be posted once it's avaialble! | |||||||||||||
| LES NUBIANS ARE PART OF UPCOMING U2 TRIBUTE ALBUM! (02/11/2008) | |||||||||||||
| from: allaboutjazz.com: In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 On April 1, 2008, Shout! Factory will release "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2", an album celebrating the music, culture and future of Africa, and an unprecedented musical homage to Bono and U2 for their ongoing humanitarian relief efforts aiding the beloved continent. A portion of the record's proceeds will directly benefit The Global Fund. Produced by Shawn Amos and Paul Heck, "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2" features Grammy Award-winning/nominated African artists as well as top up-and-coming talents including Angelique Kidjo, Les Nubians, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Vieux Farka Tour, Vusi Mahlasela and the Soweto Gospel Choir... ....Amos felt it was essential that African musicians unite and collectively share their voices of pride, accomplishment and appreciation for both their native country and icons like Bono who've substantially embraced the fight against the global AIDS crisis, extreme poverty and the spread of malaria. On December 1, 2006 at the World AIDS Day benefit concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Amos approached Red Hot producer Paul Heck about co-producing "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2". Several notable African artists were performing as part of Heck's live production of Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti including Les Nubians, Tony Allen, Cheikh L and Keziah Jones. Heck expressed support for the budding project, and quickly became an invaluable partner with his strong ties to various well-established African artists and knowledge of a handful of buzz-worthy upstarts. Together, they consulted with the artists appearing at the World AIDS Day event, bringing Amos' personal dream a step closer to becoming a reality. 12 original interpretations of classic U2 hit songs and some of their more obscure material are featured on "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2". The collection kicks off with Angelique Kidjo's powerful multilingual cover of the 1991 chart-topper, "Mysterious Ways." Aerosmith's Joe Perry joins Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars for an upbeat, guitar-driven take on "Seconds," a track from U2's third studio release, War (1983). Rising Malian star Vieux Farka Tour offers a trancy, Sahara Desert blues-influenced rendition of "Bullet The Blue Sky," an absolute standout performance of one of U2's most-played live in concert tunes. Additional highlights include Les Nubians dubbed-out dancefloor ready version of "With Or Without You," the Soweto Gospel Choir's epic a cappella version of "Pride In The Name Of Love," and Tony Allen's Afrobeat translation of "Where The Streets Have No Name."...
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| INFO ON UPCOMING "URBAN POETICS POETRY SLAM" PERFORMANCE ON 2/15 [UPDATED!] (02/03/2008) | |||||||||||||
from HULIQ.com:"Celebrate Black History Month at the Denver Art Museum at the "Urban Poetics Poetry Slam" on Friday, February 15. Visitors can participate in this dynamic display of word-art in action, produced in conjunction with Podslam.org and Café Nuba, Denver's premier spokenword event. "Urban Poetics" will feature 16 of the top competitive poets in the United States and showcase live music from Grammy Award-winning artists Célia of Les Nubians with Queen Godis and DJ Moni. The all-age event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Denver Art Museum's North Building, Ponti Hall. $15 admission includes entry to the Museum and the slam event."
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| NEW NUBIANS SONG ON FOOD FOR YA SOUL'S UPCOMING RELEASE! (02/01/2008) | |||||||||||||
| A new, exclusive track by the Princesses can be found on Food For Ya Soul's "Vol.3" LP, which is scheduled to be released on February 14th. The song is titled "Once In My Life", which will be available as a 12" single soon. For more info on Food For Ya Soul, visit them on MySpace.
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