# Couleur Café

Couleur Café Festival is an annual world and urban contemporary music festival taking place around the end of June or early July in Brussels, Belgium.

## History

At its inception in 1990, the festival was organised in the Halles de Schaerbeek, a cultural centre in the Schaerbeek municipality. In 1994, following work on the Halles de Schaerbeek, the festival moved to the Tour & Taxis site, north-west of the Pentagon (Brussels' city centre). From its 2017 edition, it has been held on the Heysel/Heizel Plateau in northern Brussels, near the Atomium.

## Description

The scope of the three-day festival lies on world music with as main styles funk, hiphop, reggae, dance, dub, soul, Latin, blues and rock divided over four stages. Internationally famous acts as well as less known talent or locally popular musicians are represented. Apart from the music itself, there is also a large art exposition, a market with young designers, dance workshops, cocktail bars and food stands from a worldwide variety of kitchens (fifty countries). Festival visitors can camp nearby at Camping Zen.
In 2014, the entire event counted 72,000 visitors over three days.

## Featured performers

Performers at previous festivals included:
* 1990: Angélique Kidjo, Irakere, Mamady Keita, Papa Wemba, Zap Mama
* 1991: Mory Kanté
* 1992: Angélique Kidjo, Papa Wemba, The Wailers
* 1993: Classic Swédé Swédé, Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, Manu Dibango, Galliano, Mother Earth
* 1994: Johnny Clegg, Mory Kanté, Herbie Hancock
* 1995: Koffi Olomide, Terence Trent D'Arby, Odex Protocole
* 1996: Galliano, Habib Koité, Noa, The Believers
* 1997: Asian Dub Foundation, Maceo Parker, Youssou N’Dour, Ziggy Marley
* 1998: Ciocarlia, Daniela Mercury, Famoudou Konaté, Jimmy Cliff, Khadja Nin, Mamady Keita, Mory Kanté, Natacha Atlas, Starflam, Odex Protocole
* 1999: Cheb Mami, Faudel, Femi Kuti, Krewcial, P18, Zap Mama
* 2000: Alpha Blondy, Amadou & Mariam, Asian Dub Foundation, Candy Dulfer, Orishas, Postmen, The Herbaliser, The Skatalites, The Wailers, Youssou N'Dour, Tomas & Co
* 2001: Baaba Maal, Burning Spear, Carlinhos Brown, Culture, Khaled, Ozomatli, Starflam, Zuco 103
* 2002: Cesaria Evora, Daniela Mercury, Horace Andy, Mory Kanté, Orishas, P18, Sizzla, Wawadadakwa, Zuco 103
* 2003: Amparanoia, Asian Dub Foundation, I Muvrini, Israel Vibration, Zaïko Langa Langa, Jimmy Cliff, Kana, Mad Professor, Ojos De Brujo
* 2004: Amparanoia, Ska-P, Souad Massi, Babylon Circus, Amp Fiddler, Gabriel Ríos, Starflam
* 2005: Alpha Blondy, Arno, Femi Kuti, Jah Shaka, Jane Birkin, Kool Shen, Maceo Parker, Magnus, Mahala Raï Banda, Orishas, Rokia Traoré, Youssou N'Dour, Zap Mama, Zita Swoon
* 2006: Amparanoia, Burning Spear, Cali, Gabriel Ríos, George Clinton, Gilberto Gil, Ivete Sangalo, James Brown, Louise Attaque, Off The Record, Patrick Watson, Saïan Supa Crew, Think Of One, Third World, Toumani Diabaté, Tracy Chapman, Vive la Fête, Fab Faya
* 2007: Buscemi, Cassius, Daan, Dj Mehdi, Gotan Project, Kelis, Puggy, Sean Paul, The Roots, The Tellers, Ziggy Marley, Johnny Clegg
* 2008: Aṣa, Erykah Badu, Gentleman, Jimmy Cliff, Kassav', Kery James, Natacha Atlas, Orishas, Zucchero
* 2009: Amadou & Mariam, Alpha Blondy, Arno, Asian Dub Foundation, Babylon Circus, Ben Harper, Benabar, Cesaria Evora, Emir Kusturica, Khaled, Keziah Jones, Magic System, Mamady Keita, Oi Va Voi, Ozomatli, Rohff, Selah Sue, Shameboy, Solomon Burke, The Skatalites, Zap Mama
* 2010: 1060, Diam's, Ebony Bones, Femi Kuti, George Clinton, Hindi Zahra, Papa Wemba, Rox, Scylla, Selah Sue, Snoop Dogg, Soprano, Staff Benda Bilili
* 2011: Absynthe Minded, Alborosie, Arsenal, DJ Shadow, Merdan Taplak, Seal, Selah Sue, Yael Naim, Ziggy Marley, Ziggi Recado
* 2012: Jessie J, Erykah Badu, Tinariwen, Sean Paul, De La Soul, Gentleman, Kaer, Stephen Marley, Public Enemy, Gogol Bordello
* 2013: Neneh Cherry, Aloe Blacc, Maceo Parker, Andy Allo, Faithless, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Fat Freddy's Drop, Mos Def, Salif Keita, Kery James, Joeystarr
* 2014: (planned): Basement Jaxx, Bootsy Collins and the Funk Unity Band, Dizzee Rascal, Parov Stelar Band, Tiken Jah Fakoly, De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, Dilated Peoples, Girls in Hawaii, Puggy, Morcheeba, Soldout, Seeed, Seun Kuti, La Yegros, Skip & Die, Iron Ites, Captain Steel, Root Pursuit, The Rudies, Burning Spear, Tricky, Ben Howard, Chinese Man, The Subs, Keziah Jones, Chance The Rapper, Laura Mvula, Akua Naru, Cuban Beats All Stars, Veence Hanao, Oyster Node, Selectah Nesta, What It Is, Asian Dub Foundation, Alpha Blondy, Jurassic 5, Blitz The Ambassador, Magnus LIVE, Gabriel Rios, John Butler Trio, Ky-Mani Marley, Youssoupha, Protoje & The Indiggnation, Danakil, The Soul Rebels, Suarez, Little Collin
* 2015: 1995, Alborosie, Arsenal, Bigflo & Oli, Branko, Buraka Som Sistema, Busta Rhymes, Caravan Palace, Collie Buddz, Crystal Fighters, Cypress Hill, Dub Inc, Ester Rada, Flavia Coelho, G-Eazy, Gentleman, Groundation, Hiatus Kaiyote, Israel Vibration, Jah9, Joey Bada$$, Jupiter & Okwess International, Kasai Allstars, Kavinsky, La Chiva Gantiva, La Fine Equipe, Lefto, Midnite, Milky Chance, Modestep, Naâman, Oddisee, Palenke Soultribe, Pink Oculus, Sergent Garcia, Shantel, SOJA, Starflam, Superdiscount, Tarrus Riley, The Magician, Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean, Xavier Rudd
* 2016: Akua Naru, Alpha Wann, Apollo Brown, Arno, Atomic Spliff, Black Box Revelation, Bomba Estereo, Brigitte, Bunny Wailer, CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers, Chicos y Mendez, Chronixx, Clap! Clap!, Claptone, Cunninlynguists, De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, De La Soul, Elito Reve & Su Charangon, Féfé, G.A.N, Ghinzu, Goran Bregovic, GRANDGEORGE, Hudson Mohawke, Ibeyi, Inna Modja, Jamie Woon, Jeremy Loops, Julian Marley, Kano, Kassav, Kel Assouf, Kwabs, LTGL, Magic System, Method Man & Redman, MHD, Morgan Heritage, Mr. Vegas, Nneka Omar Souleyman, Oxmo Puccino, Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band, Pomrad, Protoje, Quantic, Raging Fyah, Roméo Elvis & Le Motel, Selah Sue, Soprano, St Paul and the Broken Bones, Trixie Whitley, Woodie Smalls, Young Fathers, Youssou N'Dour

### 2017

| | Red Stage | Green Stage | Blue Stage | Elektropedia Black Stage |
| Friday 30 June | Ronnie Flex & Deuxperience Band Patrice -M- presents Lamomali Orishas | Pura Vida Kabaka Pyramid & The Bebble Rockers Vald Roméo Elvis x Le Motel Birdy Nam Nam | J Bernardt Flavia Coelho Fatima Sango | Goodfellas Sound System x Supafly Collective |
| Saturday 1 July | Yaniss Odua Oumou Sangaré Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra Toots and The Maytals The Roots | Sysmo Scylla Coely Niveau4 Tomi & Su Timbalight | Daniel Dzidzonu Demi Portion La Dame Blanche Baloji LeFtO Compact Disk Dummies | Goodfellas Sound System x Supafly Collective |
| Sunday 2 July | Jungle by Night Kery James Alpha Blondy Flatbush Zombies Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley | Caballero & Jeanjass Jupiter & Okwess Lil Dicky Lianne La Havas (solo) Deluxe | Soom T Jmsn Princess Nokia Loyle Carner Guts Live Band Batuk | Goodfellas Sound System x Supafly Collective |

### 2018

| | Red Stage | Green Stage | Blue Stage |
| Friday 29 June | Damso Alborosie Angèle Amadou & Mariam | Selah Sue Ibeyi Panda Dub Dubioza Kolekttiv Melanie de biasio | Mahalia Oddissee Togo All stars The Color Grey Makala, Di-meh, Slim K |
| Saturday 30 June | Blackwave George Clinton Naaman Chronixx Residente | Gregory Porter Akua Naru Temetan Leon Bridges Underachievers | Alia Niveau4 El Caribe Funk Tank & The Bangas Juicy De palenque a matonge |
| Sunday 1 July | Coely Milky Chance Ziggy Marley Young Thug Chinese Man | Calypso Rose Stikstof Lee Fields Tarrius Riley Fatoumata Diawara | Masego L'or du commun Meta Meta Smino Le 77 Chico y Mendes |

### 2019

| | Red Stage | Green Stage | Blue Stage |
| Friday 28 June | Sean Paul Zwangere Guy Xavier Rudd Kabaka Pyramid | Wizkid Mick Jenkins Night Lovell Kokoroko Les Amazones D'Afrique | Arp Frique La Yegros Samory-I Kojaque Dvtch Norris |
| Saturday 29 June | Craig David presents TS5 Salif Keita Gentleman Joyner Lucas Inna De Yard | Kamasi Washington Tamino Hamza Niveau4 XXL Veence Hanao & Le Motel | Loud Oshun BCUC Hollie Cook Shayfeen&Madd Bombataz |
| Sunday 30 June | Ms. Lauryn Hill Goran Bregovic Tiken Jah Fakoly Protoje | Amparanoia Groundation Rejjie Snow The Cat Empire Kokoko! | Isha Sampa The Great Glauque Kabola Lachy Y la Suprema Ley Martha Da'ro |

### 2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled.

### 2022

| | Red Stage | Green Stage | Black Stage | Dub Stage |
| Vrijdag 24 juni | Fally Ipupa Zwangere Guy Koffee Youssou N'Dour | Panda Dub The Comet is Coming Caballero & JeanJass Blaiz Fayah Jungle By Night | DJ Maphorisa Black Motion DJ Nigga Fox Blck Mamba | O.B.F. Sound System Reggaebus ft Omar Perry Weeding Dub Stand High Patrol DJ-Set Blackbird Soundsystem |
| Zaterdag 25 juni | Shaggy Pongo Afrontal Yemi Alade Lila Iké | FRONTAL Soundsystem Omah Lay Niveau4 Bas IAMDDB Lee Fields | Carl Craig Romare Deena Abdelwahed DC Salas | Aba Shtani-I Jah Observer Crucial Alphonso Mad Codiouf ft Reggaebus Natural Skanking |
| Zondag 26 juni | Nathy Peluso Dub Inc Stikstof AJ Tracey Sampha The Great | BCUC Mr Eazi TiiwTiiw Cimafunk Elidad Almeida | Lefto Early Bird Gilles Peterson Philou Louzolo La Dame | O.B.F Soundsystem ft Charlie P & Sr Wilson Manudigital ft Carporal Negus Zion Train Reggaebus O.B.F Sound System |

### 2023

| | Red Stage | Green Stage | The Fox | Black Stage | Dub Stage |
| Vrijdag 23 juni | Roméo Elvis Fireboy DML SOJA blackwave. | Ayra Starr Earl Sweatshirt Thundercat Naza Karpe: Omar Sheriff | ECHT! Peet Jaz Elise Sofia Gabanna M.CHUZI | Danilo Plessow (MCDE) Coco Em DTM Funk Coco Maria | Kanka Mahom Dub Engine Bisou Reggaebus Soundsystem |
| Zaterdag 24 juni | Protoje TAYC Coely Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 Mortimer | Innoss'B Niveau4 BNXN ArrDee Orchestra Baobab | Lander & Adriaan Compota de Manana Jazz Brak JUICY Kuna Maze | Jyoty Kampire Nídia Yooth x Bona Léa | Wicked and Bonny ft Berise Iration Steppas King Shiloh + Black Omolo Joe Yorke & Purkins Reggaebus SoundSystem |
| Zondag 25 juni | Joey Bada$$ Black Sherif Tash Sultana Gente de Zona Kabaka Pyramid | London Afrobeat Collective ISHA EARTHGANG The Cavemen YENDRY | La Jungle Kin'gongolo Kiniata Neue Grafik Ensemble Flohio Reinel Bakole | DJ Vega Branko DJ Lag M I M I | Vandal Anthony B ft. Little Lion Sound Reggaebus SoundSystem Little Lion Sound Atili |