Rhythms of the world
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.If Womad has something all the other summer festivals don't, it's a near monopoly on a large chunk of the great and good in world music. On the other hand, the average rock fan might be too bewildered by unfamiliar names from lands as far flung as Israel, Brazil, Japan and Algeria, to step in and discover what a good time is being missed. That said, the presence of global techno club Whirl-Y-Gig will drag in the hippy dance freaks and the air will be heavy with happiness and demon weed. Today's line-up includes vocalist Natacha Atlas, current darling of the music press, together with South Africa's hip hopsters, Prophets of Da City.
Tomorrow's highlight is Baaba Maal (right) & Daande Lenol. Senegal's Maal is a modern African vocal star, in the sense that he can capture traditional spiritual intensity in his rich tunes but uses Nineties sounds. Also appearing tomorrow is Zaire's glorious Papa Wemba: great vocals with Zairean characteristics, but with a hint of Parisian and rhumba rhythms.
Sunday has its share of top singing stars as well. Diva Margareth Menezes from Brazil fuses black batucada with Latin rhythms, and Mali's Ali Farka Toure comes with the tag, "The greatest blues guitarist of West Africa".
Womad was a sell-out last year. A sign, perhaps, that we're finally beginning to appreciate it.
ANGELA LEWIS
Womad Festival, Rivermead, Reading (01734 591 591) today to Sun
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments