Percussionist and vocalist Monika Njava grew up on the island of Madagascar in the southwest port of Morondava.
Celebrated across Madagascar as a national diva, Monika Njava was a lead singer in the award-winning group Njava, recording two critically acclaimed albums for EMI’s Hemispheres label.
She has recorded with best-selling act Deep Forest and continues to tour with the band. In 2012 she released a solo world pop album, Haizina, with musicians from three continents.
Always exploring new musical territory, in 2014 she recorded Island Jazz with bass virtuoso Linley Marthe. Island Jazz mixes traditional Malagasy music and contemporary jazz.
Monika sings in several Malagasy dialects. She draws on folktales and everyday village life for her lyrics. She also addresses contemporary themes affecting her country, such as corruption, environmental devastation, and the empowerment of women.
She is a member of the highly-respected supergroup Toko Telo. Her colleagues are two of Madagascar’s finest musicians: D’Gary and Régis Gizavo.
Discography:
From South Madagascar, with Njava (Sushi Records, 1997) Vetse , with Njava (EMI Hemisphere, 1999) Source, with Njava (EMI Hemisphere, 2001) Haizina ( Anio Records, 2012) Island Jazz ( Anio Records, 2014) Toy Raha Toy, with Toko Telo (Anio Records, 2017) Diavola, with Toko Telo (Anio Records, 2018)
The World Music Institute (WMI) has announced the set of global artists set to perform in New York City during the Fall/Winter 2019-2020 Season. Selected by new Artistic Director Brian Keigher, WMI’s 2019-2020 Season includes world music artists from 15 cultures including five New York City debuts: Finland’s Kardemimmit, Ethiopia’s Girma Bèyènè with French band Akalé Wubé, Cape Verde’s Lucibela, Madagascar’s Toko Telo, and France’s The Bongo Hop.
New venue partnerships include Chelsea Music Hall, Mercury Lounge, and The Sultan Room, with established venues such as Symphony Space, (le) poisson rouge, Littlefield, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, and Storm King Art Center remaining as program partners.
Clockwise from left: Lucibela (photo: Alex Tome), Saraswati Ranganathan, Gamelan Çudamani (photo: Jorge Viscera), Kardemimmit (photo: Timmy Träskelin), Väsen, KOKOKO!
WMI 2019-20 Fall/Winter Concert Details
Saraswathi Ranganathan Sunday, August 25, 2019, 2:00 pm Storm King Art Center 1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY
Presented in Collaboration with Storm King Art Center Free event with museum admission / Limited unreserved seating
Season Launch Party with Mames Babegenush & Slavic Soul Party Tuesday, August 27, 2019, Doors: 6:30 pm | Show: 7:00 pm Mercury Lounge 217 East Houston St, Manhattan
Presented in collaboration with Mercury Lounge
Tickets: $20 Advance | $25 Day of Show
Standing room with limited unreserved seating
Girma Beyene & Akalé Wubé Ethiopian New Year Celebration Thursday, September 12, 2019, Doors: 6:30 pm | Show: 7:30 pm (le) poisson rouge 158 Bleecker St, Manhattan
Tickets: $25 First 100 tickets | $30 Advance | $35
Day of Show | $40 VIP seating
Standing room with reserved VIP seating and limited unreserved seating
Lucibela Tuesday, September 17, 2019, Doors: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:00 pm Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center 129 W 67th St, Manhattan
Presented with Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center Tickets: $25 | $35
Toko Telo
Friday, September 20, 2019, Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm
Chelsea Music Hall
407 W 15th St, Manhattan
Tickets: $35. Advance | $40 Day of Show
Standing room with limited reserved seating
Purbayan Chatterjee & Ojas Adhiya Sunday, September 22, 2019, Doors: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:00 pm Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center 129 W 67th St, Manhattan
Presented with Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center
Tickets: $25 | $35
Presented in collaboration with (le) poisson rouge
Standing room with limited unreserved seating
Tickets: $20 Advance | $25 Day of Show
Gamelan Çudamani Sunday, October 6, 2019, Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 7:30 pm Peter Norton Symphony Space 2537 Broadway at 95th St, Manhattan
Tickets: $30 | $40 | $45
Julie Fowlis Thursday, October 10, 2019, Doors: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:00 pm Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center 129 W 67th St, Manhattan
Presented with Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center
Tickets: $30 | $40
Flamenco Legends by Javier Limón: The Paco de Lucía Project Sunday, October 13, 2019, Doors: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:00 pm Peter Norton Symphony Space 2537 Broadway at 95th St, Manhattan
Tickets: $35 | $45 | $55 | $75 VIP – VIP ticket includes post-concert meet and greet with the performers (limited availability)
Nella Sunday, October 20, 2019, Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm (le) poisson rouge 158 Bleecker St, Manhattan
Tickets: $25 First 100 tickets | $30 Advance | $35 Day of Show
Standing room with limited unreserved seating
The Bongo Hop
Friday, November 1, 2019. Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm
Chelsea Music Hall
407 W 15th St., Manhattan
Tickets: $20 Advance | $25 Day of Show
Standing room with limited unreserved seating
Ani Cordero Friday, December 6, 2019, Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm The Sultan Room 234 Starr Street, Brooklyn
Toy Raha Toy, the debut recording by Malagasy superband Toko Telo is the number one album in the Transglobal World Music Chart for August 2017. The trio includes guitarist and vocalist D’Gary, vocalist and percussionist Monika Njava and accordionist and vocalist Régis Gizavo.
This was Règis Gizavo’s final album. He died on July 16, 2017.
Toko Telo is a world music supergroup that brings together three of the finest and best-known Malagasy artists. The lineup includes guitar virtuoso and vocalist D’Gary (Ernest Randrianasolo), vocalist and percussionist Monika Njava voice & percussion; and accordionist and vocalist Régis Gizavo.
The trio delivers masterful performances showcasing their talent in a set of original songs by D’Gary, Régis Gizavo and other songwriters. You’ll find fiery guitar and accordion pieces, along with beautiful laid back songs.
Sadly, Règis Gizavo died on July 16, 2017. Toko Telo have decided to continue to perform in his honor.
Toy Raha Toy is an impeccable album representing music rooted in the traditions of southern Madagascar, performed by three world class musicians.
