PARIS, THE GUINEA IN THE HEART OF BERCY: THE GRAND BAL DE YOUSSOU DOES NOT DURE HIS PROMESSE — AND REFUSES TO STOP!

On Saturday evening, 17 October, Accor Arena vibrates before the first note. Flags, reunions, a whole diaspora come to celebrate — and, at the center of the party, a guest country: Guinea. For its 25th anniversary of Grand Bal in Paris, Youssou N'Dour chose to put Conakry in the spotlight, and the hall, which has been complete for weeks, replied present.

They had left Conakry on the night of Thursday, October 15th: the African Ballets of Guinea, an emblematic troupe of national heritage, came to present an unprecedented creation under the leadership of a delegation led by the Minister of Culture, Moussa Moïse Sylla, and his youth counterpart, Lansana Béa Diallo. On stage, in front of more than four Guinean ministers and a ballet of more than forty members, the king of the mbalax said the simple thing: "I love Guinea, I love Guineans."

The evening, launched late in a Paris shaken by the protests, ended as it had begun: without yielding. At the time planned for the end, the sono was cut — Youssou N'Dour refused to go down from the stage and offered a last title, "out of respect" for his fans (according to Wannel TV). A late night like the Grand Ball, an appointment of the diaspora since 2000: a party that is always overflowing.

Practical information

Grand Ball de Youssou N'Dour — Accor Arena (Bercy), Paris, France

Edition 2026: Saturday 17 October 2026, closed windows — Guinea guest of honour of the 25th anniversary of the Grand Ball

On stage: African Ballets of Guinea (recorded with more than 40 members), unreleased creation

Next edition: dates to be announced

— Moïse 1er, the Festival Explorer