The WOMEX 2022 Awards, one of the leading world music industry awards, took place on Sunday, October 23, 2022. The ceremony honored the achievements of the two award recipients: Francis Gay, COSMO Head of Music, who received the WOMEX 22 Professional Excellence Award and Ivo Papasov (Bulgaria), who received the WOMEX 22 Artist Award.
Along with the Award recipients, the closing celebrated the independent recording industry with the 20 Top Labels of the Year presentation followed by a performance from Ivo Papasov and his band.
On receiving the Professional Excellence Award, Francis Gay stated: “WOMEX is a global village, but also a place where we have obligations. Obligations to build bridges, obligations to address global inequalities such as the struggle for democracy, corruption, climate change, misinformation, gender issues, and migration. The obligation to keep our community alive. Each of us has something to contribute. It’s up to each and every one of you to find a role in this community and use your privilege to really make a difference.”
On receiving the Artist Award, Ivo Papasov said: (Text translated from Bulgarian to English)
“I am very honored to receive this award. It is a vocation for our work, mine and that of my musicians. This high recognition fills me with pride for my work. I have been playing Bulgarian wedding music for more than 50 years. There are no boundaries between rich and poor, nor between color and nationalities. Our music is the music that brings joy to people, makes them happy, and makes them free.”
More about the 2022 WOMEX conference: Successful and Diverse WOMEX Conference in 2022
More about WOMEX: www.womex.com
(headline image: Ivo Papasov at WOMEX 2022 Awards – Photo by Yannis Psathas)
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central