WOMAD Festival returns to Abu Dhabi
With more than 35 artists from over 15 countries, WOMAD Abu Dhabi is returning to the UAE this April.
Headlining this year’s festival is Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley (Jamaica), Hakim (Egypt), Rachid Taha (Algeria/France), Transglobal Underground (UK), The Drummers of Burundi (Burundi) and Tinariwen (Mali).
The three-day open-air world music festival will take place on Abu Dhabi Corniche on April 22, 23 and 24 and at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain on April 22 & 23.
This festival is presented by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) in collaboration with WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) Organisation in the UK.
“ADACH is proud to present WOMAD Abu Dhabi as an annual event after the huge success of the festival last year” commented Mohammed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei, Director General of ADACH. “This glorious global festival celebrating the spirit of world music is another event that implements ADACH’s strategic plan to make Abu Dhabi the cultural centre of the region by reinforcing the message of multicultural understanding,” Al Mazrouei added.
The internationally-renowned WOMAD Festival came to Abu Dhabi for the first time last year. During this spectacular event, considered a huge success, over 80,000 people gathered on Abu Dhabi Corniche to enjoy the thrilling atmosphere of the festival and diverse musical offerings.
This year, the gathering of international performers on numerous stages in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain will be expanded and enhanced.
During the free festival, spread over three stages, WOMAD-goers will see performers from countries including the UAE, UK, Cuba, India, Palestine, Tanzania and many more. WOMAD Abu Dhabi’s far-ranging and musically adventurous selection of performers will have something for everyone’s tastes. One particular style – always popular – will be the drum-based groups, igniting the rhythm!
In addition to the imaginative line-up of performers – many of whom are stars in their homelands – WOMAD Abu Dhabi is offering family-orientated workshops featuring music, dance and visual art brought by the programme WOMAD Beyond.
This element of WOMAD Abu Dhabi will be experienced in the Tri-Span Tent on the Corniche, where a variety of schools across the Emirate are taking part. Food is an artistic side dish in the “Taste The World” segment, where artists cook up favourite dishes from their native countries, inviting the audience to sample them.
Also part of WOMAD is the “Desert Cultures” tent, in Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain. This highlights the heritage of the Arabic host emirate, presenting Abu Dhabi’s traditional hospitality and cultural richness to a world audience.
Inspired outreach – especially to young WOMAD-goers – will stimulate creative expression in an educational and entertaining experience.
WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2010 will offer a stunning array of artists and colourful cultural fusion.
For more information visit: womadabudhabi.ae