Jean-Michel SAMBA
FRENES

JEAN-MICHEL SAMBA

An artist.
A memory in motion.

Songwriter · Composer · Performer

Jean-Michel SAMBA

Born in Pointe-à-Pitre, with roots in Marie-Galante, Jean-Michel SAMBA is a songwriter, composer, singer, ka drummer, percussionist and guitarist. His artistic world is rooted in Gwo Ka and Guadeloupean culture.

His journey began with zouk and continued through AWA, Ti-Kanno and Klé La in Chauvel before Mas Ka Klé. As the group’s president and lead singer, he develops work in which music speaks to memory and life in Guadeloupe.

Under his own name, he pursues a personal creative path. From JADEN-LA to PARFUM KAFÉ, his songs bring individual stories and collective experience together.

As a sociocultural educator, he places transmission at the heart of his work. Performing and sharing a living heritage are part of the same commitment: giving a culture a voice and bringing it to new audiences.

Discography

LIVE · 2001–2026

On stage

Selected appearances under his own name, alongside a chronology of performances with Mas Ka Klé.

Jean-Michel SAMBA · under his own name

“Under his own name” means that Jean-Michel SAMBA is individually named on the event poster. Some events feature several artists; this does not necessarily mean a one-person concert.

DateEvent and venueAppearance
16 November 2019Gran Léwòz “Gwo Kout Lyann La” — 10th anniversary
Montjoly 2 car park, French Guiana		Guest artist alongside other singers and musicians.
4–8 May 2022FIMAD — Festival international de musique et des arts de Dakar
CICES, Dakar, Senegal		Jean-Michel SAMBA listed in the festival programme.
21 August 2022Jean-Michel SAMBA trio — opening for La Perfecta
Royal Riviera		Trio performance at 8 p.m., opening the La Perfecta concert.
20 May 2023La Nuit du Ka
Sydney Bechet Cultural Centre, Grigny (91350), France		Collective concert featuring Jean-Michel SAMBA among the programmed artists.
4 July 2025Léwòz — 25 lanné / Mouvman Kiltirèl Choukaj
4 chemin des Fourches, Pierrefitte (93380), France		Announced alongside Ti Shab and William Flessel, at 8 p.m.
22 May 2026Léwòz Majò o Ka — 24th Terre de Blues festival
Market square, Grand-Bourg, Marie-Galante		Appearance in the “Mémoire et pulsations” evening, at 9 p.m.

Jean-Michel SAMBA · with Mas Ka Klé

20014 performances
  • MayTheatre festival (Guadeloupe).
  • JulyCultural exchange (Puerto Rico).
  • JulyFestival Gwo Ka (Guadeloupe).
  • OctoberWorld Music Creole Festival (Dominica).
20021 performances
  • JulyFestival Gwo Ka (Guadeloupe).
20031 performances
  • JulyCarnaval Tropical (Paris, France).
20043 performances
  • AprilCultural fair (Martinique).
  • MayFestival Créole Blues et Cap Festival (Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe).
  • JulyFestival Gwo Ka (Guadeloupe).
20052 performances
  • OctoberGwarikua (Puerto Rico).
  • NovemberLakou art (Guadeloupe).
20063 performances
  • MayFestival Terre de Blues (Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe).
  • MayFestival Créole Blues (Le Moule, Guadeloupe).
  • JulyFrench Guiana Festival Mawonaj (French Guiana).
20072 performances
  • FebruaryFestival Karnaval Music (Guadeloupe).
  • NovemberConcert Wikenn Kiltirèl Lakou art (Guadeloupe).
20083 performances
  • JulyFestival Gwo Ka (Guadeloupe).
  • AugustCultural exchange Santo Gwada Mas (Santo Domingo).
  • NovemberSimenn Kiltirèl Lakou art (Guadeloupe).
20091 performances
  • JulyInternational percussion festival (Longueuil, Canada).
20103 performances
  • FebruaryLive concert Lakasa (Guadeloupe).
  • JulyLive concert New Morning (France).
  • JulyFestival Gwo Ka (Guadeloupe).
20113 performances
  • FebruaryConcert Bik Kréyol (Guadeloupe).
  • JulyConcert New York (United States).
  • JulyInternational percussion festival (Longueuil, Canada).
20121 performances
  • NovemberConcert Scène Bastille (France).
20142 performances
  • JuneConcert Archipel (Guadeloupe).
  • JulyConcert Déiné Savann (Guadeloupe).
20151 performances
  • AugustConcert Mémorial ACTe (Guadeloupe).
20171 performances
  • FebruaryConcert Wikenn Kiltirèl (Guadeloupe).
20181 performances
  • NovemberFestival Visa For Music, Rabat (Morocco).
20195 performances
  • FebruaryLive concert, Place de la Victoire (Guadeloupe).
  • MayLive performance, Festival Ka Ki Ka (Guadeloupe).
  • JuneLive performance, Palais de la Culture Félix Proto (Guadeloupe).
  • JuneLive performance, Baie-Mahault (Guadeloupe).
  • NovemberFestival Gwoup a Po, Grigny (France).
20202 performances
  • FebruaryLive concert, Petit-Bourg (Guadeloupe).
  • MarchMarché des Arts du Spectacle d’Abidjan festival (Ivory Coast).
20223 performances
  • AugustLive concert, guest: Mario Coco, Port-Louis (Guadeloupe).
  • NovemberRestaurant Le PLEZI (Guadeloupe).
  • NovemberLive concert, guest: Mario Coco (Guadeloupe).

Individual appearances: supplied posters, 2019–2026. With Mas Ka Klé: supplied chronology, 2001–2022. Dates retain the level of detail available in the documents.