AKAR

AKAR A musical and visual artistic creation

AKAR is a unique artistic experience, blending music and visuals, born from the collaboration between:

  • Sarah Carlier: Singer-songwriter, musician, and music producer, navigating between guitar, voice, and electronic compositions.
  • Rokia Bamba: DJ and sound creator, playing with everyday sounds, ambient noises, and urban or natural rhythms.
  • Shama Bongo: Singer-songwriter, captivating with her voice and exceptional mastery.
  • BenRichard: VJ, DJ, and sound designer, exploring the interaction between sound and images to create an unprecedented sensory experience.

The Origins of a Borderless Project

Born in Brussels in July 2021 during the Afropolitan festival, thanks to a carte blanche from BOZAR, AKAR was initially meant to be a one-time event. However, this spontaneous encounter evolved into a broader artistic adventure.

Each member of the collective brings a deep and personal connection to their origins, as well as a close link with Africa and music. AKAR embodies diversity: French and Belgian artists, women and one man, spanning Generations X and Y, with cultures and backgrounds that meet and enrich each other.

A Collective Speaking the Universal Language of Music

Despite their differences, the artists of AKAR find harmony through music. In a world where cultural dialogue is becoming more complex, their message is clear: beyond apparent contrasts, there is always a common thread, a part of the other that resonates and brings people closer together.

Exploring Between Memory and Creation

At the end of 2021, AKAR began a residency at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren (MRAC), where the collective explored sound, video, and photographic archives. These materials became fragments, transformed, reassembled, and reinvented to enrich their performances.

An International Artistic Journey

Since this residency, AKAR has performed on emblematic stages and festivals, including:

  • Beurschouwburg
  • Kikk Festival
  • Le Palace – Cultural Center of Ath
  • Esperanzah Festival
  • Théâtre 140
  • Propulse Festival at Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles
  • Belgian Worldwide Music Night at Ancienne Belgique

Their reach also extends internationally, notably with a tour in Senegal in May 2024.

A Name with Multiple Meanings

The name AKAR symbolizes cultural and human richness, with various meanings across the world:

  • Root in Sudanese, Malay, and Indonesian
  • Will in Hungarian
  • Flow in Turkish
  • Disturb, agitate, render taboo in Hebrew

This name embodies the essence of AKAR: an exploration of roots, a perpetual movement, and a desire to challenge the established order.