International Newsletter Number 18 • March 2008
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International Newsletter Number 18 • March 2008 1 1 Oslo World Music Festival – Balkan Beat Box (Photo by Lars Opstad) 2 Oslo World Music Festival – Bajofondo Tango Club (Photo by Lars Opstad) 3 Oslo World Music Festival – Cesaria Evora (Photo by Lars Opstad) introduction content Dear members, 3 Introduction By the time you read this Newsletter, As members, we welcome such cross- 4 the 2008 festival season will be upon fertilisation as a key facet of one of our The Jerusalem us and, once again, I will be asked what fundamental tasks; to showcase talent International Oud festival are the main advantages of belonging from across the globe and watch artists 5 to the efwmf. formerly unknown outside their local Africolor area develop into household names. Two fundamental reasons immediately 6 I believe we are right to be proud of our come to mind: Etnosoi! festival celebrated well-known success in this regard. 1 2 its 20th anniversary The mere experience of working and As we prepare the 2008 festival pro- 3 7 interacting with different individuals gramme, it seems particularly fitting More from and nationalities on something which to dedicate this issue of the Newslet- the Northern lands interests and binds us all – Music from ter to those artists – past, present and 8 different cultures – is, in itself enrich- future – who we have enjoyed and from efwmf news ing.This interaction is also invaluable whom we have learnt so much. They 9 from a practical point of view, with are the very essence of the efwmf. efwmf contacts, experience, ideas etc. shared Members List 2008 between members. After all, these are Wishing you all an enjoyable and 13 the seeds from which festivals and successful 2008 Sete Sóis Sete Luas & Talento programmes develop. 14 Sauti za Busara 15 Juana Burillo Festival in the desert 16 efwmf festivals to come 19 Colophon 2 3 The Jerusalem International Oud festival Africolor 2007 8 – 24 November 2007 24 November – 23 December 2007 By Effie Benaya The success of the eighth Jerusalem International The artistic program of the ninth Festival will With 5000 spectators and concert halls filled at composers were staged as well: Titi Robin worked Oud Festival was guaranteed from the opening continue to expand the Festival tradition. We 86%, Africolor maintains its attendance from on the Sufi poems of Rumi and Jean-Rémy concert. Barry Sacharof, one of the most popular plan to open it with a performance featuring the 2006. Many of the concerts were sold out and the Guédon took Beninese Voodoo as inspiration. rock musicians in Israel, performed 12 songs popular Israeli rock musician Ehud Banai with three Ethiopiques nights were especially crowded. This exceptional 19th edition has given a lot of that he composed to the words of Ibn Gabirol, lyrics by another poet of the Spanish Golden Age, They were indeed the highlight of the festival energy to prepare the 20th Africolor in 2008. An a Jewish poet of the Spanish Golden Age. The Moses Ibn Ezra. The Festival will also include a since they affirmed the Africolor mobility in the anniversary edition that has a lot of potential. audience gave him a standing ovation. Critics tribute to three of the great 20th century artists Seine-Saint-Denis department north of Paris 1 Artists in 2007: heaped praise upon this performance (“... rare of the Arab world--Sabah Fakhri (Syria), Um (Pantin/La Dynamo, Saint-Denis/Théâtre Gérard 2 Mahmoud Ahmed, Badume’s Band, Le Tigre des are those concerts at which the beating of the Kalthum and Abd al-Halim Hafez (Egypt). Also Philipe, Blanc-Mesnil/Le Forum). Ethiopian stars Platanes, Eténèsh Wassié, D’ de Kabal, Hélène wings of history finds its way into the score”), featured will be performances by a flamenco Mahmoud Ahmed and Etenesh Wassié were Labarrière, Dgiz, Etran Finatawa, Archimusic, & and the way was paved for the other Festival ensemble from Spain, musician Nabil Khalidi accompanied by French musicians from Bretagne Jean-Rémy Guédon, Dobet Gnahoré, performances, including those of the songs of the from France, an ensemble led by Greek lyra and Toulouse (Badume’s Band and le Tigre des Fakoly Percussion, Fanta Disco, Hassan Boussou great Egyptian vocalist Um Kalthum performed player Sokrates Sinopoulos playing Greek folk Platane). They confirmed brilliantly that, 18 years Djelimady Tounkara, Juan Carlos Cáceres, Négoce by Dalal Abu-Amnah; the performance by music, and a Turkish ensemble led by Erkan after the first festival, young musicians embrace et Signature, Cyrille Daumont & Adoumanman Armenian-American musician Ara Dinkjian; the Ogur, that will perform songs of the wandering without hesitation all the musical styles of the Pewkisyon, The Ex + Getatchew Mekuria, Titi fine performance by the French bass player Joel troubadours of Anatolia. African continent programmed since 1989. Robin, Ali Reza Ghorbani, Mamani Keita & Leandre; and numerous other performances by The ninth Festival will be yet another milestone Each year provides discoveries and blows of Nicolas Repac, Dédé Saint-Prix, Mimi Barthélémy fine artists from Israel, Turkey, France and other in our journey following the oud, its influences, heart, some even from new directions, as the Sufi Lindigo, La Fous’ Ousanousava, Ramata Diakité countries. and the impact of Islamic culture upon world night with Ali Reza Ghorbani who captivated the Renata Rosa, Sakésho, Séga Sidibé, Stay Calm!, However, despite our great pride at the culture, from the Middle East to Europe and audience with Rumi’s poetry. Some concerts left Tata Pound, Apkass, Abbèbè Feqadè, Jean Sangally 1 Barry Sacharoff (Photo by Nir achievements of the Festival’s artists, the greatest beyond. a very strong impression like that of the Slam Shanani) achievement by far, from our perspective, was the trio D’ de Kabal, Dgiz and double bass-player Info: www.africolor.com 2 Dalal Abu Amna (Photo by expansion of the Festival beyond the boundaries Info: www.confederationhouse.org Hélène Labarrière. The Reunion band Lindigo, Nir Shanani) of Jerusalem and the performances in the city of [email protected] invited for the second year in a row confirmed Nazareth – one of the most important and vibrant the expectations. The homage to maalem Amida Arab cultural centers in Israel. These received Boussou by his son Hassan was particularly extensive coverage in the Arabic media in Israel vibrant, same as the solo performance of and beyond (including Iraq and the US). In our Mandingo guitar player Djelimadi Tounkara. opinion, bringing performances to Nazareth is His first ever solo show showed his un equalled merely the beginning of a greater aim. We hope to talent. bring performances of the ninth International Oud Another revelation was Nigerian Etran Finatawa, Festival, which will be held from 22 November to an improbable meeting between Peul and tuareg. 4 December 2008, to this other Arab population Brazilian Singer Renata Rosa, Sakesho with Mario centers in Israel as well. Canonge on piano and Andy Narell on steel pan were highly appreciated as well. Two remarkable 4 5 Etnosoi! festival celebrated More from its 20th anniversary the Northern lands by Hans Hjorth 1 1 7- 11 November 2007 Not all musicians came from far away – also Associate member Magnus Bäckström (Sweden), al-Adawiyya. Divna, head of the ‘Melodi Ensemble’, 2 Finnish folk music was represented at the jubilee ceo & Artistic Director of the new Uppsala Concert an ensemble which dedicate itself to sacred, For already 20 years the Etnosoi! festival, organised year festival. Musicians and event promotors and Congress Hall, reports that the first edition of spiritual, ancient and contemporary works, will by Helsinki-based Global Music Centre, has gathered together at Etnosoi! theme seminar in the Uppsala International Sacred Music Festival perform a programme of Byzantine chants. brought Finnish world music lovers artists to order to brainstorm tour and concert activities on last year proved very successful. So successful in listen to from almost all the populated parts of the Stiftinga Førde Internasjonale Folkemusikk- the folk music field. After the seminar was released fact that a second edition is already announced to world. The aim of the festival has always been to festspel (Norway) will at the next edition of Førde contemporary folk music group Sanna Kurki- take place on October 30th – November 2nd 2008. encourage people to get to know music unfamiliar Folk Music Festival on July 3rd -6th 2008 focus on Suonio Trio’s album Huria. to them before, with curious and open-minded Uppsala International Sacred Music Festival says dialogue as 2008 is The Year of Intercultural Dia- attitude. The festival has brought to Finland many The festival culminated on the Day of the Human in its’ mission statement: ‘The spiritual dimension logue in unesco and eu, and The year of Cultural artists that have rarely or never before given Voice, which was organised in collaboration with in music is and always has been a powerful Diversity in Norway. A special project will be Gypsy concerts in Finland or elsewhere in Europe. Also, the Finnish Throat Singing Society, celebrating its force – throughout the ages and in all religions. Kings and Queens featuring Fanfare Ciocarlia, the event has definitely done its part in bringing 10th anniversary. The double jubilee concert of the The music, the song, the dance, the rites and the Esma Redzepova, Ljiljana Buttler and others. some entire genres into the knowledge of wider evening was starred by Vietnamese singer Huong prayers are as one’. String Sisters – the group featuring six famous audience in Finland, for example the visit of fado Thanh with Japanese koto player Mieko Miyazaki Re:Orient (Sweden) recently announced that the female fiddlers, namely Annbjørg Lien (Norway), singer Mísia in 1998 started a whole fado boom in and Mongolian throat singer Hosoo with his band main event on their busy agenda, the Re:Orient Emma Härdelin (Sweden), Catriona Mcdonald Finland.