Shauit & Washmnhit

The first Innu reggaeman is from the Maliotenam reserve east of Sept-Îles in northeastern Quebec. In fact, Shauit grew up in New Brunswick. His first language is French and he did not learn the Innu language until later, because he wanted to. It was around the age of 12, when he discovered the very popular Kashtin group at the Innu Nikamu festival in Maliotenam, that he decided to get closer to his native origins. His father bought him a guitar and he learned to sing in his native tongue and reconnect with his own people.

Shauit first became known in 2007 when he collaborated on the hit title Les Nomades with his Algonquin friend, rapper Samian. He relates to dancehall, a sunny genre of music, but one that talks about poverty and violence. His eponymous first mini-album, released in 2016, is mostly about celebration, but his second album, launched in 2017, Apu Peikussiaku, has a more spiritual touch and carries a message of peace and preservation of the environment.

Real name Jean-Eudes Bourdages Aster, Shauit is in search of identity and as such, is the spokesperson for many young Aboriginals caught between two cultures. His initiative and success represent an example to follow for new generations, as young people speak French more and the Innu language is on its the way to extinction. Being Métis, the singer-songwriter has taken on the mandate of reconciling communities. He writes texts loaded with positive messages in Innu, French, English and even Creole, with the hope of making a difference in the lives of those who listen to him.

Strongly inspired by his Innu roots and traditional music, he fuses several popular genres (folk, country, rock, reggae, etc.) and offers honest, committed songs filled with emotions and personal experiences. Proud representative of Indigenous culture, Shauit won the May Indigenous Music Awards for Best Album of the Year in North America in May 2018, as well as the Indigenous Songwriter of the Year Award at the 14th Canadian Folk Music Awards. After playing in North America and Europe, Shauit now shines more internationally, with presentations in Japan, Korea and Chile.

Formed in 2005 around a common passion for reggae, Wachmnhit is composed of seven Moroccan musicians who chose reggae roots to express their experiences, the contradictions of their generation and the evils of their society.

Despite the prevailing conservatism, Wachmnhit manage to make their protest texts heard on the stages of Essaouira, Casablanca or Rabat and make known the voice of the people through their Moroccan reggae.

Inspired by Bob Marley, Alpha Blondy, Burning Spear, or even by the gnawa music groups whose style they reinvent, the message of these young musicians must ring true, as in 2006 they won the premiere prize for emerging musicians, “Boulevard des jeunes musiciens” in Casablanca. This encouraged them to embark on the preparation of their first self-produced album, Hit WachMn’Hit, released in 2009.

Wachmnhit fuses cultural blending with blues, jazz, ska, Latin as well as other musical styles. The group, from the music workshop of the Ibn Tofaïl University of Kénitra, is composed of the singer and composer Ouahid Ahmed, with the support of the desert blues guitar tones of Amine Souikra and Ali Ouguerd, the bass by Faycal Boudli, keyboards by Amine Sylani, percussion by Anas Khihel and drums by Salim Akki.

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– Washmnhit Social Networks: