"The Black Heidis" was invited by the Embassy and its Consulates General to China for a music tour across the country from March 7th to 24th, 2024. The talented trio, Yeelen, Sandrine and Gea, are three women playing main vocal / guitar, bass and drum. They call themselves ‘The Black Heidis’ because the main vocalist Yeelen is of African descent, and for everyone: Heidi (Switzerland's most famous literary figure) equals to Switzerland. The name of the band mirrors the "modern Swissness", where Heidi, the typical little girl living in the Alps, can also be black. Meanwhile, they want to show the multicultural side of the country as they were born and raised in Ticino, the Italian-speaking part and now live in the German and French-speaking Switzerland. Their music is a captivating blend of indie rock, groove, and a touch of psychedelia sung in French, Italian and English.
The Embassy also invited a Chinese band to perform on stage, showcasing multiculturalism in both countries. Hailing from the Inner Mongolian grassland, "Tulegur" consists of vocalist / guitarist Gangzi, drummer Gao Zilun and bassist Bai Lu. With many songs sung in Mongolian language and based on traditional Mongolian tunes, "Tulegur"mixes the magic of Khoomei (throat singing), a Mongolian ancient and unique form of double voice singing, with guitars and percussion to create their own psychedelic nomadic rock music. The band has taken part in many prestigious music festivals around the world, including at the iconic Paléo Festival Nyon in Switzerland in 2015.
The evening closed with two songs "Le mammifere" and "Horse Riding", performed together by both bands, through music, connecting the performers and audience across cultures and languages, a fitting conclusion the Embassy’s campaign: ‘Diversity + Me’. Since Spring, 2023, series of flagship projects have been successfully organized under the topic to celebrate Swiss diversity in various areas, e.g. multilingualism, multiculturalism, gender, disability, age, social mobility and LGBTQI+.
Ambassador Burri in his remarks during the concert said, ‘Cultural and societal diversity is one of our greatest richnesses. I hope Switzerland can continue to share its experience and strengthen the exchanges with China in building more inclusive societies, encouraging pluralistic voices and dialogues, as well as empowering everyone to be proud of their own diversity.’
As a closing concert, the performances of Swiss and Chinese musicians marked an official end to the ‘Diversity + Me’ Campaign. After Hong Kong and Macau, Beijing is the 3rd stop of the China Tour of The Black Heidis, which will be open to the public on March 14th and 15th before going to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai. Follow our social media accounts and get ready for breath-taking music that will resonate with your soul.
"The Black Heidis" China Tour:
- March 7, The Wanch Club, Hong Kong
- March 9, Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, Macau
- March 14 & 15, Embassy of Switzerland in China, Beijing
- March 17, Guangzhou Bookshop Center, Guangzhou
- March 18, KK ONE Shopping Mall, Shenzhen
- March 22, The CITIC Square, Shanghai
- March 23, Jinqiao International Business Plaza, Shanghai
