We never thought it would happen, what with the volcano-based flight chaos across Europe, but after months of planning the second WOMAD Abu Dhabi festival is about to begin.
The dedicated team even chartered their own special flight from Marseille to transport those artists based in Europe to Abu Dhabi in time for the festival.
Starting Thursday at 7pm on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, and at 7.30pm at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain, WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2010 will be opened with an energetic performance by African group Drummers of Burundi leading a procession from the beach to the stage.
This will be followed by a special performance by children from schools in Abu Dhabi, who have spent the last two weeks rehearsing for the occasion, as part of the WOMAD Beyond programme, accompanied by Tanzanian performers, The Zawose Family. The entertainment continues with spectacular performances from over thirty-five world-renowned artists from around the globe, on the Abu Dhabi Corniche and Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain.
Each night of the festival in Abu Dhabi the Tri-span tent will be open for people of all ages to join the artists to learn more about the music, its development, the instruments, their inspirations and experiences, in a series of interactive workshops.
There will also be separate workshops just for children in Abu Dhabi where they can learn about the rhythms and cultures of other nations and make their own works of art and musical instruments, which they will then have the opportunity to display in the children’s procession on the Corniche at the start of the final day of the festival.
Plus, at Taste The World, also in the Tri-span Tent on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, some artists will be demonstrating their prowess in the kitchen as they prepare and cook a traditional dish from their country of origin whilst discussing many different aspects of their culture, from family, climate, history and religion to their local food and the ingredients they use.
