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Benjamin Faconnier & the Papillon Project: Afropean music, transborder identities, and decolonization of stages

This project is over all, about transcendence and love. It is a commitment from me to life, a means to say that I exist; and my way of existing is to create and perform meaningful art. In a decolonial approach, I aim to musically unify elements that characterize my Afropean identity. I am a French-Reunionese trumpet player, singer and composer living in Finland, and wish to bring together Nordic jazz and the music of my ancestors, Maloya, through a transnational collaboration (Finnish, French-Reunionese and South African musicians). It is to me, extremely relevant to link (Nordic) Jazz and Maloya, because these two musics are made of the same essence: they embody the emancipation of the oppressed, a quest for freedom and the desire to live. In the current context, in which we witness everywhere growing nationalism, discrimination and social protests, it is of paramount importance to bring to the fore a message of respect and inclusion, of collaboration and cultural metissage, and I think that art is a strong way to express all that, in order to cross all kinds of boundaries. The final result of this year-long work will consist in having enough material and connections, in order to record the second album of the Papillon project. Papillon means Butterfly in French. The butterfly is the embodiment of evolution, emancipation, and metamorphosis.

In 2023, I received a grant that facilitated a significant musical journey, supporting the creation of a new repertoire of eleven original compositions and organisation of artistic residencies in Durban, South Africa, and Réunion Island (my ancestors’ land). This enriching experience fostered both artistic growth and cultural exchange.
The project began with several months dedicated to composing a unique musical repertoire, allowing experimentation with novel themes and structures, and bringing together Nordic Jazz and African musical heritage.

I later traveled to Durban to further develop my repertoire. Collaborating with local musicians enriched my compositions with new perspectives. This phase culminated in a concert, offering a platform to present my work to a live audience and exchange ideas.
Following Durban, I proceeded to Réunion Island for the second phase of my residency, collaborating with a Finnish double bassist who received dedicated funding. Réunion Island's multicultural backdrop, blending African, Indian, Chinese, and European influences, significantly impacted my musical creations. Traditional Maloya music infused my compositions with distinctive rhythms. During this phase, I held three concerts and a masterclass, presenting my repertoire to diverse audiences and fostering further cultural and musical exchanges.

Thanks to this productive funded year, I am now ready to record the second album of the Papillon project. I am actively seeking funding for that purpose.

The 2023 grant was instrumental in advancing my musical career. The time I was granted to compose and the residencies in Durban and Réunion Island, enriched by collaboration with the Finnish double bassist, offered unique opportunities for artistic growth and collaborations. Through concerts and masterclass, I shared my music and engaged with new audiences. Although recording the music is still pending, the experiences and insights gained have profoundly shaped my work.

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