Festivalgoers bid farewell to the charming yet slightly weather-worn setting of Charlton Park, bringing an end to another spectacularly memorable WOMAD event.
With more than 150 performances hailing from over 40 countries, the site was nearly bursting with attendees who didn’t let the wind and rain dampen their spirit, as the arena, arboretum, and surrounding areas played host to 250 captivating performances across seven stages.
The list of unforgettable acts included hip hop legends, The Jungle Brothers (USA), reggae royalty Queen Omega & the Royal Souls (Trinidad & Tobago), the frenetic Congolese rock band Lova Lova (Democratic Republic of the Congo), and the incomparable R&B innovators Soul II Soul (UK), who delivered a vintage performance. Audiences were treated to a spine-tingling show by the Korean folk-pop band, Leenalchi (South Korea), thumping Zimbabwean pop from Mokoomba (Zimbabwe), and a powerful, politically charged frenzy from Brazil’s greatest rapper/MC, Emicida (Brazil).
Among the electrifying performances were Orchestral Qawwali Project featuring Rushil Ranjan & Abi Sampa (UK), making a lasting impression, and Saramaccan Sound (Suriname), the first-ever artists from Suriname to grace a WOMAD festival stage.
The Staples Jr Singers (US) wowed the crowd with their unique blend of heartfelt bluesy soul and modern gospel, while Ibibio Sound Machine (Nigeria/Ghana/UK) infused contemporary rhythms into traditional Afrobeat structures.
Fado queen Mariza (Portugal) left the WOMAD crowd spellbound with her soulful voice, while Los Wemblers De Iquitos (Peru) made a confident debut at Charlton Park. The energetic Palestinian collective, 47Soul (Jordan/Palestine), served up politically charged grooves and surprised the audience with special appearances by Shadia Mansour (Palestine) and Ana Tijoux (Palestine), whose uplifting show resonated powerfully.
The remarkable Peruvian singer, Susana Baca (Peru), celebrated her 79th birthday this year and delivered a masterful and elegant performance, as did Mari Kalkun (Estonia). Paprika (Serbia/Romania/UK) brought explosively charged Balkan sounds to the Ecotricity stage.
Beyond the music, festival attendees enjoyed a plethora of workshops, yoga dance classes, poetry readings, debates, and discussions. The delectable Taste The World stage featured Rokia Kone (Mali) and Balimaya Project (UK), providing a musical backdrop to the bubbling West Africa Yassa stew on Friday. Jason Singh’s immersive Moonscape and DJ set got festivalgoers grooving to a blend of Ibiza poolside sounds, with a twist of UK bhangra and afro-house selections.
The main stage finale featured reggae living legend Horace Andy & Dub Asante Band featuring Matic Horns (Jamaica/UK) and the enigmatic Femi Kuti & The Positive Force (Nigeria).
As the festival’s 300 magnificent flags flapped splendidly, attendees of all nationalities and ages danced their way into the night. WOMAD had once again left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who experienced its magic.
