ReBelle’s mission is the birthing of a living culture of love and the unbounded liberation of humanity.
Manou Africa and Kalpana Devi first met in 1994 and joined creative forces composing, recording, performing, and touring together across the U.S. and West Africa. Together they are known as ReBelle.
ReBelle is a formidable band conceived in love, rebellion and the evocative musical talents of Manou Africa and Kalpana Devi. Kalpana and Manou’s powerful voices chant meditations on liberation while instrumentals propel roots, reggae soul. Singing in 5 distinct languages, Wolof, English, Creole, French and Hebrew, their original music infuses a mystical mix of commanding African rhythms while their dynamic stage presence is internationally acclaimed.
Manou is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer whose musical calling is centered on Rastafari and on African liberation. His musical mission includes bringing forth a story of sufferation, justice, of love and triumph and bringing that story to the people.
Kalpana is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer whose musical calling is to distill the purest forms of language that align unity consciousness, unleashing solutions to systemic injustices through the ferocity of visionary love. In her stance she urges conscious liberation.
Manou began as a teenager in Africa forming the band Black Rebels (that later became ReBelle) in tribute to amplifying a Rastafari message of love, justice and compassion that can cure the sufferation of humanity and bring lasting togetherness in this beautiful creation.
Kalpana began as a child, practicing music daily in a quest to awaken in the space of remembrance. She was influenced by the power of Black music, social and environmental justice movements and the teachings of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. Her first commission to compose music came when she was 19 years old and from there, she collaborated with or led multiple, innovative music and dance projects. She experienced music as pure light connecting more light and was guided to new worlds of leading-edge thought, calling in the great, cosmic weapon of love.
ReBelle has shared the stage with Skatalites, The Wailers, Burning Spear, Culture, Little Richard, Toots and the Maytals, Ijahman Levi, Israel Vibration, Sister Carol, Steel Pulse, Meditations, Mykal Rose, Itals, The Marleys, Lucky Dube, Yami Bolo, Midnite, Ras Iba, Tuff Lion, Ras Attitude, Batch, Toussaint the Liberator, Kabaka Pyramid, Kenyatta Hill, Andrew Tosh, Nattali Rize, Mike Love and many more. They have performed at festivals and venues across the U.S. and Africa including, The Parliament of World Religions Convening in Chicago, Il, Baia Das Gatas in Cape Verde, Reggae Sunsplash in Senegal, Blaise Senghor Institute in Senegal, LEAF Festival, Harmonic Convergence, International Festival of Arts and Ideas, SOB’s, Fire Water Festival, Bel Chere, Ziontific, Vermont Reggae Festival, Ocean State Reggae, sell-out crowds at the Iron Horse Music Hall, Pearl Street Night Club, The Roxy, House of Blues, New England Reggae Festival, Guilford College, Warren Wilson, Hampshire College, UMASS, Amherst College, Smith College to name a few.
ReBelle also made the top 10 list in Reggae Report’s, “Top 10 U.S.-Based Independent Albums”. Their first album, “Thank U Jah”, came in at #5.
They’ve regularly been voted “Best Reggae Band” and “Best World Music” by several popular polls in their region for the last 2 decades including Valley Advocate Best Of and the 411 polls.
What the critics are saying about ReBelle:
“powerful musicianship” - “warm, contemporary, vital” - ”spell binding” - "powerhouse lead vocals” "eclectic, contemporary, African roots interpretation crossing all borders" - "transcendent" - "intrinsic element of protest" - "new, intelligent, trail blazing music”.
ReBelle sources their music from the Light in their signifying purpose, “Love for Humanity”. Their call and response conversation with their audience is an inspired invitation to collective intention setting and love in action. ReBelle's music is a soul filled orchestra channeling the clarion call for freedom and human rights.
ReBelle is an awe-inspiring muse, a generator of consciousness and the liberation of our one human family.
Kalpana and Manou have created platforms for and facilitated youth leadership and cultural activism and exchanges in schools, universities and community centers – mentoring and counseling young people and families in their local, regional and global communities.
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PRESS
“There is a lot of reggae going around, but ReBelle’s eclectic, contemporary, African roots interpretation crosses all borders…. ReBelle gratifies audiences with its commanding beats, powerful trilingual lyrics and sacred message.”
- Dub Missive
“Few bands brave the more difficult challenges of composing new, intelligent and trail blazing music…ReBelle is one such band.”
- Dirty Linen Magazine
“ReBelle holds true to a vision for a better world that we all can construct here on earth.”
- The Beat
“Multilingual, multinational and multi-talented succinctly describes ReBelle.”
- Dub Missive
“It may seem weird that some of the best American reggae is happening deep in New England, in the Pioneer Valley… But…why ask? When ReBelle sparks up the Iron Horse on Saturday, the fortunate in attendance will know what it is to feel the music. ReBelle does some heavy channeling in their live shows. When ReBelle performs, concert halls become sacred, and for several hours, at least, people come together.”
- Valley Advocate
“Their music reflects the spirit of ReBelle: warm, contemporary, vital. We were blessed to witness a spellbinding performance as ReBelle came forth strong and sure.”
- Reggae Runnin's