Madrid Joins the WOMAD Franchise with WOMADRID

Madrid, Spain – The Spanish capital has added its name to the
growing list of WOMAD festivals held in Spain (WOMAD Canarias and WOMAD Cáceres). In a press conference, the

Madrid councilwoman for the Arts, Alicia Moreno; WOMAD’s artistic director,
Thomas Brooman; and the director for WOMAD in Spain and Portugal, Dania
Dévora, introduced the programming of the first edition of WOMADRID, which will
be held in May as part of the cultural programming of the San Isidro festivities
(San Isidro is Madrid’s patron saint).The festival will be held at La Casa de Campo park, May 20-22. WOMADRID
will have four simultaneous stages, as well as workshops, crafts and a space for
the NGOs that work in Spain. Alicia Moreno explained, “it will allow thousands
of citizens to enjoy a philosophy of respect to cultural diversity and the
harmonic coexistence between people from diverse places”.

WOMADRID will feature 19 artists from all corners of the world, such as Akim El
Sikameya (Algeria),
Femi
Kuti (Nigeria),
Totó
La Momposina (Colombia), Asere (Cuba), Amjad Ali Khan (India), Wicked Aura
Batucada (Singapore), Enzo Avitabile & Bottardi (Italy),
Te
Vaka (New Zealand/Pacific), Yasmin Levy (Israel), as well as Spanish groups
Buika,
adio Tarifa and Son de la Frontera.

WOMADRID will cost 10 euros per day or a three day pass for 18 euros. The
earnings from ticket sales will be used to fund an environmental project
developed by the city’s Environmental Department.

The multicultural Spanish metropoli also has a bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

[Photo: Femi Kuti].