WOMAD The World’s Festival

Express yourself

My wife and I have been going to WOMAD for several years now. We started off just going for a day way back in Reading in 2003, but one day wasn’t enough. We've often volunteered for Oxfam and last year I decided to make a film to capture the fun and atmosphere of the festival. Here it is:

WOMAD from Damian Prestidge on Vimeo.

Rice & Beans

Dear WOMAD team,

My husband and I first went to WOMAD in 2008. We went to the taste the world tent to see an African Harpist (I'm a harpist so was of interest). The music was fab but the cookery was so funny! He got up on the stage and the interviewer started talking to him about what he was going to cook. "Rice and beans" came the reply. She kept probing him for more ingredients that he was going to put in.. spices, herbs etc? "no, it's just rice and beans". So you fry the beans or soak them overnight? "No just rice and beans". She was making the most effort to make the recipe more complex but it was just a very simple african dish! Now whenever my husband and I have rice and beans we laugh and it reminds us of good times!

Looking forward to this year!

Best wishes,
Laura.

The WOMAD Group

We are a group who most years only see each other during WOMAD, we have our traditions, which grow and change, as has WOMAD itself over the years.

We all have many memories of many WOMADs. Every year we pick a WOMAD moment each which is our resounding memory of that year's festival.

But rather than choose a specific memory we thought we'd send you this picture which is a group effort, late on the last evening of WOMAD 2010 and to all of us encompasses the spirit of our shared experiences. We all hope you enjoy this picture, both as much as we did making it and as much as we love it now.

Jed, Sarah, Mark, Dominic, Phil, Alex, Gordon.

Give Peace the Chance

I have many fabulous memories of WOMAD but the one that stands out for me is this: Charlton Park 2009. My partner had to go home not feeling well and I was wandering around, soaking in the atmosphere, like you do. I walked through the Siam tent, which was almost empty as between performances, when Nenah Cherry crossed my path, paused, read my t.shirt that said 'Give peace the chance' and gave me the loveliest smile. It made my day. Sometimes the simplest things are the most precious.

See you in July and many many thanks. Happy birthday,
Brenda McGonigle.

Remembering Charlie

As part of the 30^th anniversary of WOMAD, it may be proper for someone from WOMAD to pay a little tribute to the late Charlie Gillett, immense contribution to WOMAD over the years.

Attached is a photo I took of him with the marvellous Mariza on 29 July 2007 at the Rivermead, Reading.

Best wishes,
Hamid.

Discovering Asian Dub Foundation

Thank you for your invitation to share special memories of WOMAD.

I have had the wonderful experience of WOMAD just 3 times, once in Reading & twice at Charlton Park. My overwhelmingly best memory is from Reading in 2006. Myself & my partner were on our way to see Gotan Project but en route we heard some deep drumming coming from another direction. A few moments later we both agreed that we felt drawn even more strongly to the drums & turned tail. To our excitement we discovered Asian Dub Foundation (if memory serves me correctly Asian Dub Foundation were not on the advertised programme) & stood (or rather, danced) open-mouthed watching the extraordinary sight of this spectacular & vibrant performance. I recall looking around me, watching the crowd, & noticing the heartwarming diversity in age & style of the audience. Many people were, it seemed, as awestruck as I, and the image of being surrounded by so many people enjoying the same musical, visual and palpably spiritual experience stays with me in a special part of my memory.

That for me is what WOMAD is all about - bringing together people from a broad range of ages, ethnic & cultural backgrounds to find a common joy in music, art and dance. It is a moment of feeling bonded to the human race. It is heartening to feel the real potential for peace and harmony is this world, even if only for a brief glimpse.

Whenever I hear 'Dhol Rinse' now that wonderful memory fills me with warmth & a very special smile. I never did get to see Gotan Project that year, but I hope to one day.

We are very excited to be attending the 30th Anniversary WOMAD at Charlton Park in July & look forward to making some new memories to treasure, and will continue to hope for peace & harmony in this world.

Only at WOMAD

Dear WOMAD,

I'm 33 and have been going to WOMAD since I was 11 (1989?). My first WOMAD was at Carlyon Bay in Cornwall. It was absolutely magical, camping on the beach with the sound of the waves from our tent at night. I had saved up £10 to spend on all the lovely things that weekend, but to my horror on the first day, I discovered I had lost my purse. I was beside myself with grief at this but my parents suggested we try the lost property. They must have been pessimistic, but to all our surprise, not only had my purse been handed in, it still had my £10 in it.

Only at WOMAD!

I never forgot that act of kindness and honesty. Please publish my memory so I can finally say thank you to whoever saved the weekend for a very distressed little girl and her parents!

Best wishes and thanks for all the memories,
Nicola Gregory.

Photographic Offerings

Dear all at WOMAD here is my offering:

Taken at Charlton Park 2011 on the way from the Radio 3 stage to the World of Wellbeing. I don’t know what it was but it was classic WOMAD!

The procession at Cáceres snaking through the old medieval town in 2002. A stunning venue.

The procession at Cáceres in the Plaza Mayor in 2002. It’s my favourite WOMAD venue and this photo reminds me why.

Charlton Park 2008 - Charlton House and the campsite. I wasn’t sure about Charlton Park after the first year but now it’s paradise.

A Message From The Drummers of Burundi

Happy birthday WOMAD!

Gabriel N'TAGABO on behalf of my band BURUNDI Drummers from the Makebuko village in Burundi I would like to say:

WOMAD for us is a family, bigger and bigger after years, becoming now like a big numerous family like our families in Burundi. You are travelling on earth bringing your splendid ideas, with strength and professionalism all over the world...

We discovered so much because of you, so many fantastic artists that we did not know, funny people and so many splendid landscapes. We have been warmly welcomed by your teams and your audiences in all Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

We The BURUNDI drummers know that if now people love our rhythms all over the world this is because of the power of our drums and in a very important way because of WOMAD.

Janine, Paula, Thomas, Chris, Amanda, Annie, Cathy, Annette, Peter Gabriel, Phil Clark and all the other members of the WOMAD family we wish you a happy peaceful birthday... Respect! The world needs you today more than ever.

Gabriel N'TAGABO.

Come Back WOMAD

The ad says Come Back to Jamaica, yet I pine for WOMAD to come back to southern California. Crossing the pond for a music festival is difficult for me, so please pack up the entire festival and bring it over here, please. My son was nine years old and found sitting on my shoulders the perfect spot for viewing Ziggy Marley and Peter Gabriel. The music, foods, artwork and technology exhibits are still fresh in the mind. Strolling back to the car to the drum beats of Biko echoing in the noggin still haunt, in a very good way. Now that the children are all grown up maybe a trip across the pond for a music festival is possible. Happy thirtieth WOMAD!

Michael R Nielsen.

Bang That Drum

One of my enduring memories was one afternoon when I was with two friends and we were wandering around the stalls. We came to a small tent selling musical instruments. There were a couple of tables and tea for sale. We were pretty thirsty and so we dropped in a sat down. We ordered some teas. Then we were looking at many instruments, drums, things to shake, wind instruments. All nature of things to make music.

One of the men in the tent began to play some music. He was slightly outside the tent and passerby's stopped to listen. Slowly people came into the ten saw the instruments lying around. They picked them and and started to play. more people who would have passed by also came in picked up instruments and started to jam.

Children also joined in. One toddler started to bang on a drum, he could barely sit up. One of the men, who obviously worked at the shop/cafe, started to deliberately play with the boy encouraging him and the little boy was in heaven. This went on for 10 or 20 minutes or so. The little boy became a central player. Everyone was spell bound.

It was just a magical moment when I saw a gentle beautiful scene of men playing with a little boy who was getting all the attention. When the little boy banged his final drum, it was the finale and everyone laughed.

Pulling Together

Hi,

This is my biggest memory of WOMAD.

It was 2007. Tewksbury was on the news and underwater. I was working at WOMAD as a volunteer steward with Oxfam. When you're stewarding, you have to be on site on the Wednesday before, to get all of your staff and safety briefings. First hint that WOMAD might be "interesting" was when we stopped at a local pub for some lunch. We met a farmer who delighted in telling us that he'd spent the morning towing vehicles ON to site. Hmmm.

We got on site, and got to staff camping. Tents up, old friends caught up with, tea drunk in epic quantities and off to the briefings. Child safety and emergency procedures briefings, fire safety talk and general staff briefings were being held in the Big Top in the Children's field. We are told a lot so that we can keep the paying public safe and happy. It was a little damp underfoot but not too bad. Briefings over it was back for food, more tea, convivial company and (for those not on night shift) eventually to bed.

Next day the Big Top in the Children's field was under a couple of feet of water.

You'd think this is going to be a tale of flooding and mud and misery, but no. WOMAD 2007 was certainly very soggy and very muddy, but what sticks with me was how people came together to help each other out. If you got stuck in the mud, there'd be half a dozen people bounding across to tug you out. Strangers coming together to get buggies and babies over the gloop. People sharing food and hot drinks. An all round sense of wanting to come together and have a fantastic time, in spite of the weather. It's amazing how in adverse situations, Brits are determined to have a good time and hang the mud! You hear about the Blitz spirit during the war. Well Oxfam stewards still talk about the WOMAD spirit of 2007, where mud and water wasn't allowed to ruin a good time.

The atmosphere at WOMAD is always amazing, but in 2007 it was something else entirely.

Yours,
Jo Selwood.

Fuzzy Memories

Dear WOMAD,

I remember the 1982 WOMAD at Shepton Mallet, just about. As with all memories, there is a slight fuzziness of detail, but the Burundi Drummers and the Musicians of the Nile stick out. The Drummers played several times and it was one of the most thrilling sounds I could ever have imagined, not to mention their heart-stopping leaps into the air. At one point they performed on the grass, in the middle of the audience. It was a huge energy blast. I also remember an Irish band, the Chieftains I think, playing outside. The Burundi Drummers were mingling with the crowd, jigging away with everyone else. And the Musicians of the Nile, so tall and distinctive in their flowing pastel robes, where also dancing in the crowd. For me it was amazing to experience such a cultural mix and to feel a common bond that went over and above any previously held concept of what music can create. I think it was also during a national rail strike, so there were far fewer people there than hoped for. As a punter, this was great because there was so much space and it created a unique kind of intimacy, sharing something new and special.

I have been to WOMAD many times; when I had children it became our summer holiday. We all made very special friends there and in a way created our own tribe. We loved the crowded chaos of Reading, and the transition to Charlton park was tricky. That first year at Charlton Park was difficult, a bit of a nightmarish mud bath. I would have left if I could have got my car out, but so glad I stayed. Met wonderful people and had a ball. When I went last year, the set-up was fantastic. It is such a beautiful site. Keep on keeping on WOMAD.

Happy birthday,
Tony Cook.

My Memories In Photographs

Fatoumata Diawara 2011

Abigail Washburn 2011

Fun fair 2010

Flags 2010

A Message From Baaba Maal

I have had the great privilege of performing at many WOMAD Festivals around the world over the past two decades. From an artists perspective, they really are a joy to attend. Very well run, with all the details professionally attended too and they cope effortlessly with the very worst weather conditions. But what makes them so very special is the audience that WOMAD attracts, they come to party, of course, but more importantly they come to listen. Always from the stages at WOMAD I can sense that I have to give my very, very best and I hope that I have. Also the mix of young and old people puts me in mind of the concerts that I perform in my home country of Senegal, where my concerts are occasions for all the family.

My I wish WOMAD a long future well into the 21st century and beyond…

Baaba.