Paris-London
From the early 1960s to the late 1980s, numerous musical movements linked to migration flows transformed Paris and London into multicultural capitals. Paris-London. Music Migrations offers an immersive and chronological journey through these three decisive decades in the musical history of Paris and London.
Exhibition teaser: Paris–London
Legende
Carnaval de Notting Hill, 1975 © Chris Steele Perkins/Magnum photos
Paris-London. Music Migrations explores the dense and complex connections between migration, music, anti-racist struggles, and political mobilizations. The exhibition shows how several generations of immigrants, in these two former colonial powers, have used music to make their demands for equality heard, to claim their place in the public sphere, and to contribute to the urban, economic, and cultural transformations of both countries.
A true musical and visual experience, Paris–London. Music Migrations features over 600 music-related documents and artworks—such as instruments, costumes, photographs, concert posters, videos, record covers, and fanzines—on loan from institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as items from personal collections of musicians, including Manu Dibango. Highlights include a costume of Fela Kuti, the “father” of Afrobeat, and creations by Jean Paul Gaultier.
The exhibition showcases rich series of photographs by artists such as James Barnor, Charlie Phillips, Pierre Terrasson, Philippe Chancel, and Syd Shelton, alongside works by contemporary artists including Saâdane Afif, Paul Villinski, Isaac Julien, and Rose Eken. Martin Meissonnier, composer, music producer, and filmmaker, presents a video portrait gallery with exclusive testimonies from musical figures who embody the multiple connections between Paris and London, including Amina, Wally Badarou, Sophie Bramly, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Neneh Cherry, Jacob Desvarieux, Manu Dibango, Brian Eno, Vivien Goldmann, Ray Lema, Cameron McVey, Blaise N’Djehoya, and Robert Wyatt.
The exhibition’s playlist brings to life the reggae-punk of Poly Styrene, Manu Dibango’s makossa, Cheikha Rimitti’s vintage raï, Desmond Dekker’s ska, the R&B of Soul II Soul, Salif Keïta’s Mandingue, Millie Small’s bluebeat, Noura’s Algerian song, Rachid Taha’s borderless punk, Asian Dub Foundation’s Asian underground, Papa Wemba’s rumba rock, Aswad’s roots reggae, Dahmane El Harrachi’s chaâbi, Linton Kwesi Johnson’s dub poetry, Kassav’’s zouk, Neneh Cherry’s electro-rap, Alpha Blondy’s afro-reggae, Bob Marley’s legendary reggae, Khaled’s modern raï, the mixed-rock of Les Négresses Vertes, Vigon’s rhythm and blues, and King Sunny Ade’s juju music...
Exhibition Curators
Stéphane Malfettes, Artistic Curator
Head of Cultural Programming at the Palais de la Porte Dorée.
Angéline Escafré-Dublet, Scientific Curator
Historian of immigration and Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Lyon 2.
Martin Evans, Scientific Curator
Professor of Modern European History at the University of Sussex, specialist in colonial and postcolonial history from a global and comparative perspective.
Credit
Photo : Anne Volery © Palais de la Porte Dorée
