National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

There's been a small musical revolution brewing in Europe lately. Led by a wave of female singer-songwriters with Nigerian roots - Ayo, Asa and Nneka - the latest generation of African immigrants to grow up in Europe is finding its voice. But unlike previous generations, these newcomers aren't content to be relegated to the world music ghetto. They're as comfortable with soul, r&b, hip-hop, reggae and good old-fashioned pop as they are with Afropop, and they're reshaping the European pop charts in their wake. And the latest talent to join the fray is Paris-based funksters Bibi Tanga & The Selenites.

Led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Bienvenu "Bibi" Tanga, the group bridges the divide between the arty South Bank of the Seine and the gritty suburbs, where Bibi grew up as an immigrant from the Central African Republic. Their music is marked by slinky, sinuous basslines and Bibi's wicked falsetto that conjures up Prince and Curtis Mayfield, while producer Professeur Inlassable ("The Tireless Professor") digs deep beneath the cobblestones of Paris to unearth the sound and spirit of another era. Together with Bibi's band The Selenites, the duo forges a stunningly original new sound, and creates a space where Afro-futurism meets steampunk, Fela Kuti jams with Sidney Bechet, and Marcel Duchamp gets down to Chic.

Bibi Tanga has been making a big splash at home, and is poised to do so in the U.S. on April 21st with the digital release of the It's The Earth That Moves EP. But right now the group is getting the word out in Europe, with a tour that includes high profile gigs at both the WOMAD Festival in Spain, and Nat Geo Live's Earth Day Concert in Rome's famed Piazza del Populo on Wed., April 22nd, where he'll be appearing with Ben Harper and Italian band, Subsonica (the concert will also be webcast live on the Nat Geo Music site. See box for details).

Nat Geo Music caught up with Bibi at his home in Paris to discuss his upcoming appearance at the Earth Day Concert, and find out what "going green" means to him.

Nat Geo Music: So are you ready for your Earth Day debut in Rome?

Bibi Tanga: Oh yes! I'm excited – it's the first time we're playing in Rome, and our first time playing a really big festival. I think we're going to be playing for the right audience there.

What makes it the right audience?

The size, man! We're ready for the big, big crowds now! [laughs] But also it's the right audience because of the message of the concert – I think that people who come out to support Earth Day are going to be very progressive people who will connect with our music. I'm not a politician, but I do have some things to say... [laughs]

Like what?

Come to Rome and find out! [laughs]

I was going to ask if you were nervous, but clearly that's not a problem…

Not at all. I don't get nervous when I perform. The bigger the crowd, the better. We've played live on TV in France before. I love doing that. It's like a… how do you say? A tightrope walker… there is no room for mistakes. I love that kind of challenge.

The only thing I am nervous about is the title of our single ["It's The Earth That Moves"]. I hope that it's not inappropriate after the earthquake [in L'Aquila] earlier this month. A lot of people died and everybody is still thinking about it. People's feelings are still very raw. Even though I wrote this song over a year ago–and it's not about earthquakes–I still want to be sensitive, you know? We're still gonna sing it, and I hope that people will just want to dance to it and have a good time… maybe [it will] even help them heal and forget the sadness a little bit.

It's your first show in Italy, do you think the Italians will dig your music in general?

Of course. I think Italy is going to love us. They gave the world Opera, so they know something about music! [laughs] Italians love good music and they love to dance, you know? So I hope that they love us, too.

Any thoughts on Earth Day itself?

I'm definitely concerned about the environment. I'm worried for the planet. I believe that we're all children of the earth and that we need to take care of the planet - even if it's just doing little things that add up. I don't really have time to get involved in organizations or politics, but I recycle, for instance. Little actions can make a difference, you know?

Do you consider yourself an environmentalist?

Not especially. I think I'm average. I live in the city, in Paris, but I love to go to the country, to be in nature. It feels like going back to your own soul when you're in nature. It's like going back to your origins, and I think that's important to protect. Not just for ourselves, but for our children. The earth doesn't just belong to us, we're holding it for the next generation, too. So we have to take a lot of care so they don't get angry when they remember us. [laughs]

Your parents are from the Central African Republic and you spent part of your childhood there – are there any African environmental issues that you're concerned about? Like climate change or clean drinking water?

Well the water is pretty good where I grew up. I know that's a big problem in other parts of Africa, but in my country it's very safe.

But climate change is a huge problem all over Africa and it definitely affects my country, too. The weather is changing there. They don't have seasons anymore. There used to be a dry season and a rainy season, now there's no more dry season – it's raining all the time.

That's surprising – a lot of countries in Africa are experiencing the opposite problem: desertification.

That's true, but I think that's what they say about climate change – dry countries will get drier and wet countries will get wetter. Either way it's very disruptive to traditional agriculture, you know? And not just in Africa… I saw a documentary the other night about the Aral Sea and how it's almost completely dried up because of industrial agriculture… that's crazy!

Climate change affects immigration patterns, too… are you seeing more "environmental refugees" in Europe now?

[laughs] I never heard this term before, but I think it's definitely true. So many more Africans are coming to Europe now than ever before… and many die in small boats when they cross. And many of them are coming because they can't make a living in the traditional way where they live. Maybe they used to be farmers or pastoralists, but now they have no more opportunities, so they move. They emigrate. Their local problems become global.

So Africa's problems become Europe's problems?

But not just Africa! I think this is happening everywhere… we are all connected in the world now. America, Europe, China… we're the big polluters in the world, and the small countries in Africa, South America, the Southern Hemisphere… they pay the price.

You do have a lot to say, after all…

I told you! [laughs] I'm not a politician, I just want to play my music and make people dance. But if you give me a microphone and the opportunity to talk to people, I'm going to tell them how I feel… but that's all I'm saying for now. If you want to hear more, watch the concert!