offWOMEX 2013 to Present the Music of Quebec and South Africa on October 26

On Saturday, October 26, 2013 the offWOMEX program will present music from Quebec and South Africa.

Independent Music Exporters South Africa (IMEXSA) will present Nomfusi (South Africa). Spotlight Québec will focus on Bon Débarras (Canada) and Yves Lambert Trio (Canada). This show is presented by Folquébec, SODEC, Musicaction and Canada Council for the Arts.

Nomfusi

Since launching her singing career in 2009, Nomfusi has travelled more than six times around the globe, giving exciting performances at prestigious festivals such as WOMAD in England, FMM Sines in Portugal and shared the stage with icons such as Angelique Kidjo, Bebe Wynans and Hugh Masekela.

Nomfusi captured all of her vocal excitement on a powerful second album in 2012, made especially for the South African market, titled “Take Me Home.” Produced by the king of Afro-soul, Ringo Madlingozi, and fellow craftsmen Robbie Malinga and DJ Clock, the album sfeatured the tracks Uthando Lwam (“Qam Qam”) as well as a duet with Ringo, “Kunjalo,” which quickly made their way on to the charts of many leading radio stations.

Nomfusi will be portraying the character of Miriam Makeba in the long-awaited film adaptation of Nelson Mandela, “Long Walk To Freedom.” The film, which is due for release in 2014, will according to its producer Anant Singh be “the largest South African production ever mounted.”

Bon Débarras

The folk sound of Bon Débarras is deeply rooted in the memory of French-speaking America. The group uses guitars, banjo, mandolin, accordion, washboard and harmonicas, and integrating foot percussion, jig and body percussion.

Band members include multi-instrumentalist Dominic Desrochers, multi-instrumentalist Jean-François Dumas, and Cédric Dind-Lavoie on bass.

Charismatic singer and accordionist Yves Lambert’s trio performs a traditional Quebec repertoire. He surrounds himself with young talent and created the Bébert Orchestra in 2004, and later the Yves Lambert Trio in 2010.

offWOMEX provides another avenue for artists to present themselves to world music professionals during the annual WOMEX conference. WOMEX 2013 takes place in Cardiff, Wales, UK during October 23 – 27, 2013.