Ibilè, meaning identity and origin, invites us to celebrate the
roots, culture, and traditional values of a people. Far more than a
simple show, it is a sensory and poetic exploration of roots, an
invitation to reconnect with collective memory through music, images,
and live presence on stage.
IBILÈ LIVE PERFORMANCE – 50 min
Watch the teaser video here 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾
A living dialogue between past and present
My passion for music and art led me to create IBILÈ, a unique sound and visual piece built around a rare selection of silent films from Dahomey in the 1930s, drawn from the collection of the Albert-Kahn Departmental Museum. These precious archives—silent witnesses of our history—find new resonance through the inspiration of the powerful rhythms of Beninese traditions, particularly those from Vodùn ceremonies.
An immersive stage experience
On stage, I stand as a messenger, surrounded by my instruments, weaving a dialogue between the projected archival images and live music. Every beat, every vibration, every silence becomes a bridge across time. The voice, inspired by ancestral melodies from my people, rises to connect the silent images to the stories they evoke—carrying prayers, emotions, and forgotten memories.
Video as living memory
Video work plays a central role in IBILÈ. The archival films projected live are not mere illustrations; they become partners in performance—visual interlocutors with whom the music converses, improvises, and questions. The projection, carefully woven into the scenography, envelops the audience and invites them into full immersion in the memory of Dahomey.
Between tradition and modernity
A tribute to cultural resilience
Through IBILÈ, I seek to celebrate the depth and resilience of our heritage. Every rhythm, every voice, every silence tells a story, carries emotion, and fosters timeless human connection. IBILÈ is an invitation to feel the power of music as a vehicle of memory, emotion, and universal bonds.
The staging of IBILÈ draws on the evocative power of rituals while opening itself to modernity. Traditional rhythms blend with contemporary sounds: improvised jazz, electronic textures, and innovative sonic creations. This musical fusion transcends temporal and cultural boundaries, offering a vibrant, universal, and unprecedented museum-like experience.
IBILÈ – 5:30 min CREATION FOR EXHIBITION
A musical creation specially designed for the exhibition “Benin Back and Forth: Views of Dahomey 1930” at the Albert-Kahn Departmental Museum. This composition is inspired by the rhythms visible in the scenes filmed in 1930. It is not an attempt to recreate the original sound of those silent films, but rather an invitation to view these archival images from a new perspective.
Watch the video here:
IBILÈ is the recovered source, the shared home, the land of origins—it is the living history we share together, on stage, in images, and in sound.
CONTACT
management.angelomoustapha@gmail.com
Angelo Moustapha 