Sia Tolno and Rutshelle Guillaume perform tonight.
Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through our links on this page.
Sunday, July 21
Sia Tolno (8:30 p.m., Club Balattou, $25). A native of the Guinean town of Guéckédou and survivor of the Sierra Leone war, Tolno was raised in a refugee camp before she was taken under the wing of famed Afro-beat drummer Tony Allen. Her approach to the male-dominated genre is airy, vibrant and bright. She has been compared to greats including Angélique Kidjo and Miriam Makeba. “People from Guinea can’t believe she’s coming,” Rousseau noted.
Rutshelle Guillaume (9:30 p.m., TD–Radio-Canada Stage, free). With her long gowns, extravagant jewelry, perfect makeup, hair and glitter, Haitian kompa queen Rutshelle Guillaume exudes the confidence and cool that have made her a rising star in the Caribbean and beyond. “She’s like the Yemi Alade of Haiti,” Rousseau said, referring to the Nigerian singer who played Nuits d’Afrique last year. “For us to close the festival with her shows what we’re doing this year. It’s new talent breaking through internationally.”