ODA YE | AfrotroniX

LIVE SESSION LAAMARA
Afrotronix feat Abakar Bouma

Montreal-based Chadian artist Afrotronix brings the tribal-electro single "Laamara" to the Ennedi Desert.

The track—which has garnered 19 million views—is revealed here in a live performance filmed at the very source of its inspiration, just days before the artist's debut at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Afrotronix unveils a unique live version of "Laamara," captured in the heart of the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve in northeastern Chad. The project was produced in collaboration with the African Parks, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve.

This live performance brings together an artistic team spanning Canada, Chad, and Cameroon. It was directed by Canadian filmmaker Victorine Sentilhes, assisted by Yannick Lenoir and Phanuel Bour. The performance features vocals by Abakar Bouma and MH, percussion by Trésor Yadjiro (calabash) and Aston Rimte (drums), as well as dancer Ahmat Adoum from the Chadian National Ballet and dancers from the group Omaac Danse. The performance is further enriched by a special collaboration with Cameroonian dance star Atangana Lastar.

About the song:

"Laamara" is a song celebrating Chad and its people. Through the country's various ethnic groups—their languages, gestures, and heritage—the song honors an immense richness: the unique contribution each group makes to the whole, and the strength of a nation woven from a thousand differences.

Yet, beneath the celebration, a question emerges—almost a prayer. Does Chad truly grasp the value of what it possesses? Afrotronix and Abakar Bouma do more than sing of pride; they pose a question, for this richness must be seen, recognized, and harnessed to build the future.

From Ennedi to Montreal, a single arc: what was born in the desert is poised to meet the world.

This collaboration with the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and African Parks Network is part of a broad campaign intended to showcase a different side of Chad: a country rich in history stretching back to the very roots of humanity, and one teeming with natural sites, each more fascinating than the last. This region remains little known, yet for those captivated by it, it could lead to a lifetime of discovery.

African Parks Network
African Parks Network (APN) is an international non-profit conservation organization that assumes full responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities.

Founded in 2000, APN is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. By the end of 2025, APN manages 24 national parks and protected areas covering over 20 million hectares across 13 countries. APN has been active in Chad since 2010. In 2017, the Chadian government also entrusted APN with the management of the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve (RNCE), located in the country's northeast and covering 50,141 km² of Sahel-Saharan ecosystems.

Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve
Located in northeastern Chad, in the heart of the Ennedi Massif, the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve (RNCE) encompasses a vast area of desert landscapes and unique rock formations, spanning approximately 50,141 km².
Designated as a reserve in 2019, the RNCE aims to protect and conserve the region's biodiversity and cultural heritage.