The 40th edition of Montreal’s Nuits d’Afrique international music festival has concluded, wrapping up four decades of celebrating African musical heritage in Canada.

According to africanews.com, the festival’s founders curated a lineup of handpicked artists to mark the milestone. Among them was Ivorian music legend Meiway, who composed the anniversary anthem ‘Unis par les Nuits’ (‘United by the Nights’). The choral piece brought together multiple voices to honor the event.

‘For an artist, being associated with an event of this calibre means that we matter to the festival itself and to African music,’ Meiway told Africanews. ‘Because this festival has given so much to African music, and I believe the least we could do to honour them is to be here, and I’m here to express my gratitude to the whole team that has done so much to promote art and our traditions here in Canada.’

The festival also featured Guadeloupean icon Admiral T, who performed as a headliner for the second time. ‘It’s true that this isn’t the first time – it’s the fourth time. It’s the second time I’ve closed the festival and headlined,’ he said. ‘As someone of African descent, this is a very special festival that resonates deeply with us. Nuits d’Afrique represents something powerful, but I love this festival because when I come here, people are incredibly warm and welcoming.’

Nuits d’Afrique has long served as a bridge between African artists and the diaspora in North America. Since its founding in 1987, the festival has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in Canada, drawing thousands of attendees each year to venues across Montreal.

This year’s edition featured performances from across the continent and the Caribbean, blending traditional rhythms with modern sounds. The festival’s programming emphasized the diversity of African music, from Afrobeat and soukous to reggae and zouk.

While the main festival has ended, Montrealers can continue to discover or rediscover African artists from local and international scenes at the city’s Club Balattou, a venue closely associated with the event.

The 40th anniversary comes at a time of growing global interest in African music, with genres like amapiano and Afrobeats gaining mainstream traction. Nuits d’Afrique remains a key platform for showcasing this cultural export on the world stage.