WOMAD Festival 2024: A melodic mosaic of music and movement
By Ashfaq Ahmed
(The Muslim News):The World of Music, Art, and Dance (WOMAD) World of Music, Art, and Dance (WOMAD) Festival once again captivated audiences at Charlton Park in Wiltshire, attracting over 37,000 attendees.once again captivated audiences at Charlton Park in Wiltshire, attracting over 37,000 attendees. This year’s event ,which ran from July 25 to 28, was a testament to music’s power to unite, featuring an array of world music and spoken word performances that brought together artists and audiences from across the globe.
One of the festival’s most poignant moments came from Senegalese icon Baaba Maal. Departing from the high-energy rhythms of sabar drums, Maal took the stage with his guitar to honour his late childhood friends, Toumani Diabate and Mansour Seck. The audience fell into a reflective silence, reminiscing about Maal’s landmark 1989 album produced with Mansour. As a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Maal conveyed a powerful message of peace, love, and a vision for a world free from discrimination and violence. His performance, resonant with the rhythmic traditions of the Pulaar-speaking people, illustrated the enduring capacity of African music to offer hope and resilience, as famously noted by Nelson Mandela: “The curious beauty of African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad tale.”
The Palestinian band DAM also delivered a memorable performance, led by Arabic rapper Maysa Daw. The audience, waving Palestinian flags, responded with fervent applause as Tamer Nafer proclaimed, “I am Palestinian before anything.” This declaration underscored the band’s deep connection to their identity and their art, shedding light on the struggles and perseverance of the Palestinian people.
The festival’s diverse lineup featured music from a multitude of countries, including Brazil, Morocco, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, and Zambia. A particularly notable performance was the collaboration between Pakistani qawwal Faiz Ali Faiz and Spanish musicians, including guitarist Chicuelo.
Their fusion of qawwali and flamenco, which began with a rendition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s “Dil Dil Se Milta Hai,” enchanted the audience with its seamless blend of Spanish guitar, percussion, tabla, and clapping. Although a few adjustments to the sound system might have enhanced the experience, Faiz Ali Faiz’s traditional qawwali performance further showcased his extraordinary talent and the rich heritage of Sufi music.
Founded in 1980 by English musician Peter Gabriel, alongside Thomas Brooman and Bob Hooton of the Bristol-based band The Pop Group, the WOMAD Festival was envisioned as a platform to unite artists from diverse musical traditions worldwide. The 2024 edition continued this legacy, celebrating the universal language of music with an impressive array of performances that highlighted the festival’s enduring mission.
[Photo: Baaba Maal (Credit: Mike Massaro)]
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