Benin International Musical brings vodoun-rooted rhythms to the NAC
Five-piece ensemble fuses rock, rap, and traditional African music at Babs Asper Theatre on Tuesday, July 14.
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Benin International Musical (BIM) is bringing its blend of rock, rap, and traditional rhythms to the National Arts Centre's Babs Asper Theatre on Tuesday, July 14, at 7:30 PM.
The five-musician ensemble shares stories of the African continent and its histories through a powerful fusion of sound and storytelling. Rooted in Beninese culture and the voodoo tradition, BIM challenges common misconceptions, drawing on voodoo's life-affirming philosophy and its deep connection to land and community. The group transforms each performance into a contemporary ritual.
The show features material from their new album, Positive Vodoun—an ambitious 2026 release with driving rock anthems, incisive rap flows, rich vocal polyphonies, and hypnotic traditional rhythms. The performance runs approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.
Tickets start at $19 to $45. The NAC offers Under30 tickets for $15 to anyone under 30, and All My Relations tickets (also $15) welcoming the Indigenous community. The venue is located at 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa.
