Celia Wa
A Guadeloupean singer, flautist and multi-instrumentalist born in Paris: Celia Wa invented Karibfutursound, where the seven rhythms of gwo ka meet neo-soul, jazz, hip hop and electro — the “soul kréyol of the future”.
Biography
Born in Paris, Celia Wa spent part of her childhood in Guadeloupe, where she discovered gwo ka at Georges Troupé's school: flute, singing and percussion — the seven gwoka rhythms seeped into her. First stage at 12. Back in Paris, she immersed herself in hip hop culture, became a professional dancer, then returned to music and trained at the American School of Modern Music.
She calls her world “Karibfutursound”: traditional Caribbean rhythms — gwo ka above all — fused with soul, electro, jazz and hip hop, in Guadeloupean Creole and French. Radio Nova dubbed her the “soul kréyol of the future”. She is also a member of ExpéKa, drummer Sonny Troupé's project with rapper Casey.
After the EPs WA (2013), Adan on dòt solèy — Karibfutursound part 1 (2018) and Wastral (2021), her debut album Fasadé was released on February 28, 2025 on Heavenly Sweetness, with Xavier Belin on keyboards and Kristof Négrit on drums and ka. In 2025 she played Au Fil des Voix, Cosmo Jazz, Jazz à la Villette and Le Mois Kréyol; in 2026 she joined the Nuits de l'Alligator touring festival.
Stages and milestones
2025 — Au Fil des Voix; Cosmo Jazz; Jazz à la Villette; Le Mois Kréyol (Le Tamanoir, Gennevilliers) · 2026 — Les Nuits de l'Alligator touring festival (with The Harlem Gospel Travelers) · 2024 — Tour of Guadeloupe (CEDAC)
Upcoming dates
- Wednesday November 18, 2026 — Vitrine officielle — Mundial Montréal 2026 (soirée) · Petit Campus, Montréal (Canada) — Official page ↗
Public dates — collected from the artist's official channels on November 9, 2026.
Discography
2025 — Fasadé (debut album, Heavenly Sweetness) · 2021 — Wastral (EP) · 2018 — Adan on dòt solèy — Karibfutursound part 1 (EP) · 2013 — WA EP
Calendar
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026 (evening, 9:50 p.m.) — Mundial Montréal (16th edition) — official showcase — Petit Campus, Montreal
Show formats
- Trio — voice, flute and electronics, keyboards, drums and ka
- Karibfutursound in Creole and French, for festival stages and concerts
On video — their Mundial Montréal 2026 showcase
The official presentation video of Celia Wa for Mundial Montréal 2026: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 · 9:50 p.m. · Petit Campus, Montreal. Video © Mundial Montréal — provided to Festival TV in the festival's official media kit.