Performers

Zélito Déliron

Zélito Déliron, a self-taught musician, native of the city of the Port, is passionate about world music. A collector of flutes from around the world and other diverse ethnic instruments, he was enriched by various musical influences through concerts, cultural exchanges, artistic encounters, travels, and projects, notably with the Crusader Drums, at the initiative of Thierry Nossin who gathered the traditional musicians and singers of Haiti, Senegal, Mayotte, Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion on the same project. A versatile artist, he collaborates with many Réunion Island and Indian Ocean groups. His universe, spanning from jazz to traditional music, includes an array of original and unusual instruments in order to bring originality to his compositions. Today, he shares his musical experience with various groups (Saodaj, Solilokér, Madiakanou, Solo or Duo flute/ guitar), and collaborates with various artists locally and in the Indian Ocean area to develop musical projects, ranging from jazz to traditional.

Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazón” Diaz 

Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazón” Diaz is dynamic performer, educator, and cultural organizer in Puerto Rican Bomba. She was born and raised in Humboldt Park and is deeply rooted in the traditions of her ancestral home: Puerto Rico. For over three decades, she has amplified Afro-Puerto Rican culture to inspire, educate, and unite communities, using Bomba as a tool for community building, cultural preservation, education and social change. She is the founder and director of La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, a pioneering music and cultural arts school established in 2009 that blends intergenerational arts education with social justice, based in Humboldt Park. Ivelisse also directs the longest standing all-women’s Bomba y Plena ensemble  Las BomPleneras, Bomberxs D’Cora and is a founding member and former lead vocalist of Bomba con Buya and Grupo Yuba. Known for her resilience, visionary leadership, and fierce love for her culture, Ivelisse has taught and performed across the globe, uplifting and evolving Bomba for new generations, all while honoring the elders and those who paved the way. With a family legacy that spans 3 generations and a commitment to cultural continuity, she is a living bridge between tradition and transformation in Puerto Rican Bomba, always guided by familia, resistance, and community.  Ivelisse remains deeply rooted in her culture as a proud Boricua de Chicago, Guayama and a devoted mother to her daughter, Amaya.

Eric Gordon, Jr.

Eric Gordon is a passionate trumpeter and culture bearer from New Orleans, dedicated to sharing the vibrant sounds and rich traditions of his hometown. With live performances that resonate with the energy and spirit of the Crescent City, Eric brings the essence of New Orleans to audiences worldwide. Gordon is the Spy Boy of the Golden Comanche Mardi Gras Indians tribe, as well as a member of the renowned Galactic funk band and Rebirth Brass band in New Orleans. Whether performing at intimate gatherings or grand events, his music captures the heart and history of this iconic culture, making every performance a unique celebration of life and sound. 

Florient Jousse

Actor, playwright, and director Florient Jousse has been connected to Réunion Island since childhood. He settled there in 2017 to join the Company of the author Lolita Monga and fully immersed himself in researching the history of the island, its cultures, its spiritualities and its language. He refined the identity of an organic, telluric interpretation. He created the Tilawcis Company in 2020 and wrote his first play soon after, Frénésies, which set off on a United States tour through 8 states. In 2021, he played the aviator Roland Garros in a theatrical biopic, co-written by Vincent Roca and Eric Bouvron, directed by the latter. After having been an artist associated with the stage of Saint-Benoît, Le Théâtre les Bambous, from 2022 until 2024, he became artistic partner of the Centre Dramatique Nationale de l'Océan Indien. It is in these places that his latest creation, Sur nos routes, has just been released.

Marién Torres Lopez

Marién Torres López is a choreographer, percussionist, composer, director, and founder of Taller Tambuyé Inc. (2003) and the female bomba group Ausuba (2012). Her desire to recognize the African and indigenous heritage in Puerto Rican identity has led her to dedicate herself to research, education, performance, and promotion of the indigenous musical genre of the Puerto Rican bomba. She has been working in the cultural sector since 1998 and is one of the leading dancers of various groups. As a percussionist, she has also worked with the band Vamo'Andando, which merges the Peruvian guitar and cajón with the Puerto Rican bomba. Torres López has distinguished herself as an educator through Taller Tambuyé, which celebrates 21 years of cultural work in various communities.

Frédérique Madia

Jean Frédéric Madia was born in Saint-Benoît, in the district of Bras-Fusil. Coming from a family of renowned musicians, he has been familiar with maloya since his childhood. His adventure began in 1993 with the group Génération Lélé, which aimed to take over all the repertoires of Granmoun Lélé. In 1996 he was co-creator of the troupe Didi, and released an album entitled Momon. In 2000, he accompanied his cousins Urbain Philéas and Willy Philéas as a percussionist, and recorded the albums Lo flambeau, Bébé, and Traw Kat Maloya. In 2002 at the age of 20, he had the chance to follow in his uncle’s footsteps in his last tours, the dearly missed mister Granmoun Lélé. He has accompanied great names of Réunion music. In 2006 to 2021, he joined the Lindigo group and toured all over the world. In 2021, he was invited to the Opus Pocus festival as a project leader. The MADIAKANOU adventure begins.