AFRICAN GROUP BRINGING THEIR VIBE TO THE MACK
H’Sao, African a capella group, promises to drive audience members to dance floor of The Mack
Montréal-based band from Chad, H’Sao, has been capturing the hearts of audiences and taking over dance floors across the world since 2001. On Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m., they’ll be at The Mack in Charlottetown performing songs from their most recent album entitled “Saar,” a Kabalai word meaning “the Source.”
Saar marks the band’s return to their roots.
The four members of H’Sao (pronounced as Ash – sah – oh) grew up together in Chad, Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world. Dono Bei Ledjebgue formed the a cappella group with his childhood friends, the three Rimtobaye brothers: Caleb, Mossbass, and Izrael.
The band’s passion for sharing their voices and harmonies to create a blend of modern sound and traditional African music is what makes them special, but the choice to become an a cappella group was based partly on the lack of available instruments.
“We developed a cappella skills because growing up our voices were the only instruments that we had,” says H’Sao drummer, Bei Ledjebgue. “The only place that you could touch a drum or a bass guitar was in a church on Sunday.”
Chad’s location in central Africa has meant their culture has absorbed influences from the countries that surround it. H’Sao blends the four main languages in Chad (French, English, Arabic, and the Chadian dialectic Kabalai) to create songs that have a universal sound.
“It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand the words, it’s about feeling the music,” says Bei Ledjebgue.
He goes on to explain, “We want the people who come to our show to let the music take them on a journey through our culture.”
He also promises lots of dancing in the second half of the show.
“In Africa we have to move when there is music playing; we can’t stand still, it’s a part of who we are,” says Bei Ledjebgue.
“It’s a show for anyone looking for a fun way to discovery traditional African music performed using modern musical influences.”
For tickets to Tuesday’s H’Sao show visit: www. confederationcentre.com/en/ show/375-HSao