CONNEXION
Villa Albertine presents CONNEXION, an energetic musical collaboration linking the Creole traditions of Réunion Island, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico. The performance draws on maloya, Mardi Gras Indian music, and bomba, moving between powerful rhythms, dance, call-and-response singing, and more atmospheric moments to explore the cultural connections among these traditions.
The artists represent three distinct but related musical worlds. New Orleans trumpeter and culture bearer Eric Gordon Jr., Spy Boy of the Golden Comanche Mardi Gras Indians and a member of Galactic and the Rebirth Brass Band, brings the Crescent City’s African American and Indigenous musical heritage. Réunion artists Jean-Frédéric Madia, nephew of maloya legend Granmoun Lélé and a former member of Lindigo, and multi-instrumentalist Zélito Déliron contribute maloya traditions, Mandinka influences, and sounds from the roulèr, kayanm, world flutes, and Ocean Drum. Actor, singer, and director Florient Jousse adds vocals and helps shape the project’s artistic exchange. Puerto Rican artists Ivelisse Diaz, a prominent bomba and plena singer and founder of La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, and Marién Torres López, a choreographer, percussionist, and founder of Taller Tambuyé, bring the movement, percussion, and vocal traditions of bomba.
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: General admission is $32.64; admission for guests under 25 is $16.82; admission for guests under 18 is free.
Lineup: Eric Gordon Jr.; Jean-Frédéric Madia; Zélito Déliron; Florient Jousse; Ivelisse Diaz; and Marién Torres López.
Traditions: The performance features New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian music, Réunion Island maloya, and Puerto Rican bomba, with connections to African, Malagasy, Indigenous, and broader Creole cultural heritage.
Run time: Approximately 90 minutes.
Venue: La Maison Française, Embassy of France in the U.S., 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Organizer: Villa Albertine.
Entry requirements: Every attendee must have a ticket issued in their own name and a government-issued photo ID whose name matches the reservation. Guests must bring their Eventbrite ticket, either printed or displayed on a phone. No one will be admitted without a reservation and official identification.
Security: All guests are subject to Embassy security screening, so attendees should allow extra time. Umbrellas, large bags, backpacks, animals, liquids, food, blunt objects, helmets, and other items security staff consider dangerous are prohibited and may be confiscated.
Parking: There is no on-site parking. Metered parking is available on Reservoir Road for $2.30 per hour, for a maximum of four hours until 10:00 p.m. Garage parking is available at Georgetown MedStar Health via Entrance 2 at 2800 Reservoir Road NW, at approximately $25 for up to three hours.
Photography and recording: By registering, attendees consent to being photographed or recorded and authorize the organizers to use their image and likeness for promotional and archival purposes.