WOMAD

Celenod

From New Caledonia

Traditionally, the music of the Kanak people of New Caledonia is based on the rhythms of their dance. For the past 20 years, the modern form of this music has been known as kaneka. It’s a mix of dance percussion (bamboo, leaves and wood percussion), acoustic guitars arpeggios, polyphonic vocals inherited from religious choirs and recent instruments such as drums, bass and keyboards.Created in 2002 by Wayo Wagada and Sinod Wadra, Celenod belong to the new generation of Kanak musicians. They live in Maré (Nengone, in Kanak) which is one of the three Loyalties Islands.Celenod is a six piece band comprising two singers who play acoustic guitars, one lead acoustic guitar, a percussionist and a rhythm section (drums and bass). The sole electric instrument - the bass - is quite discreet and retians the acoustic mood of the music.Celenod released their first album Coweli in 2005, which immediately won them many fans in New Caledonia and, later in the year, the tiny island’s prestigious Trophées de la Musique Award.Celenod have performed numerous times so far in 2006. They have also won a major prize at the local 9 semaines et 1 jour (nine weeks and a day) event, created by RFO, the French TV station for its overseas territories of Tahiti, French Guyana etc. They were subsequently invited to play at the Festival des Francofolies de La Rochelle in France.They are currently writing and recording new songs, and developing a brand new show that will include dance and ancient chants.