by Tony Hemrix

Long before the official launch of the Désenchaîné festival, the night came alive with the sound of drums and electronic beats. As a thrilling preview of what’s to come, the entire village gathered, drawn in by the hypnotic rhythm of a painted-faced percussionist, accompanied by a DJ crafting a modern symphony deeply rooted in tradition.

It wasn’t the official opening yet, but the energy was already electric—vibrant, contagious. Under the dim glow of scattered light bulbs, bodies instinctively swayed, responding to the ancestral call of the drums. Beside them, the DJ’s machines injected a contemporary pulse, a dialogue between past and future, between heritage and reinvention.

Without an official program or formal announcement, the village streets turned into an improvised stage where everyone, young and old alike, surrendered to the collective trance. It was a spontaneous celebration, proof that the festival isn’t just about set dates—it’s embedded in the spirit of the place long before its official start.

If Désenchaîné promises to explore the ties between memory and modernity, this performance was the perfect illustration. The percussionist, draped in raw fabric, embodied the voice of the ancestors, while the electronic sounds painted a vision of an Africa that is constantly reinventing itself. Around them, the audience danced without barriers, united in a rare moment where tradition and innovation pulsed as one.

This unexpected night was a sign of things to come, hinting at a powerful edition of the festival where every performance will bridge the past and the future. If this spontaneous gathering could bring the village together in a single breath, what more can we expect from Désenchaîné itself?