Parisian band combats extremism with music
PARIS -- In the shadow of Sacre-Coeur, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, are two African-French musicians Mickael Dedji and Yaya Solale. Together, they are "Presteej" a band that performs love songs for tourists and sightseers on the streets of Paris.
While their presence makes for a perfect fit in Montmarte, known for the Moulin Rouge, and the nexus of the bohemian movement of La Belle Epoque, their message of love despite fear resonates with the small group of onlookers who gather around swaying with the music. The scene makes for a particularly poignant moment in the wake of ISIS attacks that left 130 people dead last November.
Many drop coins into a small box by the feet of Solale; however the musicians claim their music is more than a means for cash.
"It's a mission," Dedji said. "We come every day, every morning, same spot, it doesn't matter snow, sun, rain."
Without a hesitation, Solale chimed in: "We have to do that because we play music, we do music, we are music."
In addition to their own original music, the duo performs covers of English-language pop songs such as "Time After Time" made famous by Cyndi Lauper, and "Every Breath you Take" by The Police. One of the reasons why they choose love songs, Dedji said, is because he feels that he can perhaps counter the extremist rhetoric in Paris through his music.
"The extremists, I guess to me, the reason is that they are just lost people. They forget how to love, how to receive this love. They just, I think, [are] looking for this love, any kind of love. We make music exactly for that reason, to give people as much love as possible," Solale said. "We need to give some hope with our music and we make it every day."
The extremism Dedji and Solale are referring to is both the radicalism that ISIS cultivates, as well as the anti-immigration rhetoric that the right wing National Front party promotes. When asked about the role that religion played in the November attacks, Solale said that he believes there is no such thing as a bad religion.
"If your religion is Islam, if you find love in you and you give love, it's a good one," Solale said. "If you're Christian or whatever, the answer is love."
Dedji agreed, but jokingly noted that he prefers a religion of "music, wine, cheese and food."