Since the first festival in the UK in 1982, WOMAD has held more than 160 festivals in 27 different countries and islands, including Abu Dhabi, Estonia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa and the U.S.
The musical traditions of more than 100 different nations have been valued and enjoyed on various stages throughout the world, and each festival also presents an inspiring marketplace with an authentic global selection of arts, crafts and cuisine.
One of the most collaborative elements of the festival is the opportunity to attend workshops by many of the performing acts.
For example, you can jam with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, and get some serious tribal rhythms going with the Drummers of Burundi.
Other workshops available include trying traditional Kurdish music with The Kamkars and exploring the 21-string African harp with Senegalese hereditary bard Diabel Cissokho, among many, many others.
WOMAD maintains an evolving concept of how cultural understanding can be fostered, and this year brings many unique features.
Roots Architecture showcases architecture and building projects used worldwide in the humanitarian and aid sector, from emergency shelters to community development.
The Human Library is an interactive forum designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and foster understanding.
The Speakeasy offers films, interviews, panels and poets, helping to reveal the world and cultures behind the music on display.
Perhaps even more enticing, Taste the World, presented by Riverford Organics, allows performing artists to introduce the audience to culinary dishes from their homeland. You can catch up with the “Orchestra National de Barbes” and sample some fine North African cuisine.
Carefully selected mainstream artists will also be strutting their stuff, with performances by, among others, reggae legend and longtime Massive Attack collaborator Horace Andy; and conscientious poet/bona fide god-father of rap Gil Scott-Heron.
Los Angeles seven-piece samba-rock fusion Ozomatli are also looking good. Traditionally arriving in rhythmic procession through the crowd, the dancing starts long before they hit the stage...
And looking for something just that little bit quirky? Try and cross paths with Hanggai; affectionately known as the Chinese Pogues, they blend traditional Mongolian instruments and attire with a raw punk sound honed in the basements of Beijing.
But of course, it wouldn’t be WOMAD if you spent the entire three days dashing endlessly from amazing act to wonderful workshop, so you can also have a little R&R. Perhaps making costumes for the much celebrated WOMAD carnival procession on the Sunday afternoon...
The great virtue of WOMAD festival is that cultural tolerance and exchange is nurtured through celebration. As co-founder Peter Gabriel remarks on the WOMAD website: “The festivals have ... allowed many different audiences to gain an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music. Music is a universal language, it draws people together and proves, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism.”
