Montpellier has long been a fertile breeding ground for Afro-Caribbean music (including, of course, other genres). Numerous groups have formed here, spurred on by the student musicians who have passed through. I’ve known some of them for nearly forty years, like the Senegalese-Cameroonian rhythm duo Bénilde Foko and Sega Seck. I remember the performances of the group Kunta Kinte in the 80s, and later the afrobeat of Fanga. The West Indians were also there, of course, and some of them, like Franck Nicolas and Sylvain Padra, have made their permanent home here. Franck had set up the cult group Maggnetick, which also featured Gérard Poumaroux, who had played bass with a host of artists including Mory Kanté and Ghetto Blaster. At the turn of the 90s – I was no longer there – the afro-reggae of the Fitt Band Experience was setting the region’s parties alight, and even much further afield. Formed between Senegal, Mali, France and… Guadeloupe. Steve Nuissier is on keyboards on this Jigeen – la Femme – the band’s first album, released in 1993, alongside Oumar Timbo, Badara Diop, Hervé Tranchart and others. The reggae has an African flavour, borrowing from Senegalese mbalax, while the guitars are often rock. An explosive cocktail for a blessed musical period…
Jigeen – Fitt Band Experience, 1993
