Photos: Amandala
The WOMAD story Kōrero tuku iho WOMAD WOMAD is a celebration. A celebration of talented artists, of diverse cultures, of worldly flavours, and of the transformative power of music.
“Music is a universal language. It draws people together and proves, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism.”
The internationally acclaimed and award-winning event is one of the longest running cultural festivals on the planet, bringing together artists from all over the globe to celebrate, educate, inform and inspire.
Creating awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society has always been a core intention of WOMAD, and that ethos is more important than ever before, WOMAD Global Festival Director Chris Smith says.
Since its premiere in the UK in 1982 WOMAD has held more than 250 festivals, creating events in 27 countries and islands all over the world, including places such as Abu Dhabi, Japan, Singapore, Chile, South Africa, and Sicily, just to name a few. Renowned artist and humanitarian Peter Gabriel first dreamt of WOMAD nearly 40 years ago. It grew out of his pure enthusiasm for music from around the world and an authentic desire to offer an international platform to the non-western artists he loved. To him WOMAD festivals are “wonderful and unique occasions” that allow millions of people around the globe to hear the messages and enjoy the talent of intriguing artists they would otherwise not see. “The festivals have allowed many different audiences to gain an insight into cultures other than their own, through the enjoyment of music,” Peter says.
“At a time when the world seems to becoming less tolerant and more fearful, WOMAD has never been stronger as a force promoting the arts and intercultural understanding,” Chris says. Since 2003 that powerful force of WOMAD has been at home in the stunning TSB Bowl of Brooklands, a venue which helps make the event one of the best WOMAD festivals in the world, Chris says. “Everyone at WOMAD is very grateful to our supporters and partners in New Plymouth for making WOMAD the number one festival in New Zealand, and part of the cultural landscape of this amazing country.” This year is the 15th anniversary of WOMAD NZ being held at the stunning TSB Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park in New Plymouth.
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