Tell us what you think:

Jamal Mohammad, Chicago
Great music. This music capture the heart.
Sat Nov 19 02:36:33 2005

Dave Peters - UK
Thanks for the link for womad Sri lanka photos at lastminute.lk a must visit photo gallery if you love womad
Fri Oct 7 06:28:23 2005

Niranjan - Colombo
Hi This is our First WOMAD - It was like Revival after Tsunami It was great and we like to share it with you, please share it with your friends WOMAD SRI LANKA 2005 - PHOTOS http://www.lastminute.lk/womadsrilanka
Mon Sep 26 04:19:43 2005

wendy madden somerset
yair dalal moved me to tears with his music iam also moved to tears by the plight of the Palestinians
Thu Sep 15 12:10:47 2005

dalile
very high quality music high standard just perfect i am impressed
Sun Apr 10 16:19:53 2005

Katherine (Laghoutaris)Koumoutseas
Dear Mr. Dalal, A friend came across your information regarding the OUD, and forwarded your site to me. I have been researching our family tree, and have learned that (my) family names "Laghoudaris, Laghoutaris, and Laghoutatzis" actually refers to the "laouto"(long neck lute/ OUD), the surname means "laouto-player". Of course we refer to the OUD(short- necked lute) as "outi" My grandfather lived in Mytelene/ Lesvos, Greece. However, I believe that they migrated from Turkey. There is an excellent reference to these OUD musicians in the Crete University Press (University of the Aegean, Research Unit, C.U.P. 9-10, LESBOS AIOLIS: SONGS AND DANCES OF LESBOS. I would appreciate any historic facts that you may have on the OUD, and OUD players. Thankyou for keeping the music and my heritage alive! Deepest Appreciation, Katherine Laghoutaris Koumoutseas
Thu Apr 7 02:52:49 2005

Candace Downing Mount Kisco NY
I heard the end of your interview with Yair Dalal today and was entranced by the two pieces played. It saddens me that some of your respondents represent those who are still tied to geographic/cultural/religious resentments. Can't we start fresh with this generation and appreciate and celebrate those things we have in common and those special gifts that each of us have and start building bridges instead of walls???
Wed Apr 6 21:58:16 2005

Stacey, Miami
I love to here the music you feature.It is the highlite of my day, I hate to miss it.Thankyou for providing us with the wonderful music.
Wed Apr 6 21:34:32 2005

Julius, Honolulu
I love listening to the various Artist you guys feature. Especialy from Africa. I am far from home, whenever I log onto this website, it makes me feel home. You have provided a home far from home. Keep on with the good work. You dont know how many souls you touch each day, dont even try to find out how many they are because you will not be able to count. Good job.
Sun Mar 20 08:51:59 2005

Rabbi Gaon
P.S lets forget words, just music -true music human music
Mon Feb 28 21:19:16 2005

rabbi avraham gaon usa
one of the best! a true artist and a great Man! Even in the cold us Yair can take me back to my days in the desert, Sinai, Ovda, home
Mon Feb 28 21:16:36 2005

Zak Lamont, Ottawa Canada
The commentary on Yair Dalal oozes with bias. The writer of this piece of sanctimoniousness carries on as though the bans were justified. The Arab world and Third World countries who carry out their punshiments ought to reflect on how not only they oppressed their Jewish minorities but how they have over the years carried out heavy oppression of the State of Israel, including the condoning of suicide bombings on Israeli streets. This bit of Calvinist black and white commenting is exactly what the Middle East situation doesn't need! Mr./Ms. BBC ...people like me will not so much feel a need to reprimand your sanctimonious approach the day the Church of England repents for supporting the African Holocaust of slavery. Capiche? Have a good day! And enjoy The Merchant of Venice.
Thu Feb 17 21:19:37 2005

Dalia Levi al-baghdadi, New York
And Judith Brown i hope that you too will think about the fact that us Mizrahi Jews, Jews from the middle-east and arab countries were expelled and our home countries literally ethnically cleansed from millenia old Jewish presence. I'm Jewish of iraqi origin and was born in Israel, the only home i know. My grand-parents, parents and our entire communities were ripped from the land where their roots had existed thousands of years before even the Arab Muslims set foot there. This isn't about pointing fingers, but about a man, who is a great example of the complex, rich, ancient and at times seemingly contradictory judeo-arabic identity. His music is a product of that millenia old experience in Babylon, Iraq, the land of the two rivers. Maybe you should just think a little a bit about that... Salam and Shalom
Sat Jan 8 23:56:59 2005

Joan, Pheonix AZ
Please comment more on the dancer at Yair's concert at WOMAD. Thank you.
Mon Aug 30 07:49:26 2004

Fred Dreiling, Ruthin, North Wales
Was off to Club Womad... queues were just too massive... good job too! Sat in Siam tent not knowing who was on,just waiting for something to happen ... and did it! The highlight of the Womad 04... Awesome music which just cut across all the Middle East tensions... just a shame the real world can't reciprocate and follow the lead set in WOMAD!
Sat Aug 14 14:15:37 2004

Allen Hoppes, Madrid
I'm a big fan of world music but must admit I hadn't heard of Yair Dalal. The late concert at the Siam tent evoked a deep calm and was lovely. We then attended the workshop and also the "Gala." WOMAD was wonderful overall, but Yair Dalal was my '04 favorite.
Thu Aug 5 00:14:19 2004

Judith Brown
I agree with many of the philosophies expressed by Yair Dalal, and this is neither a criticism of his music nor his philosophies, but of the website. Jews have a sad history due to persecution by European Christians over many centuries, and certainly not just Hitler, but people like 'us' and we should all accept our responsibility instead of pushing our own guilt on to the Germans. Arabs were not part of that anti-semitic movement until Jews, and later Israelis, ethnically cleansed Arabs from their homes and land. However, this artiste lives in a house from which an Arab family was ethnically cleansed and then he talks about the 'harrowing' experience of not being able to perform in an Arab country, plus his victimhood at the hands of bigots and even the Israeli political system. Stressing victimhood is one reason why bigots from each 'side' attack him and his work, if instead he took a position of understanding his own strength and power and aimed for true equality then his work could break down barriers instead of creating them. I wish him well and I hope he will be able to read my comments and think about them.
Wed Aug 4 12:50:43 2004

Frances Voelcker, Gwynedd, North Wales
This year was even better than last, with the World on Your Street moved away from the Siam and Open stages so that there were fewer interruptions by the big amplifiers. Yair Dalal's workshop was lovely - soulless room but the musicianship was extraodinary. The singer in the workshop was wonderful but he was eclipsed in the performance in the Siam tent. (That was fun but watch out that WOMAD does not become a totally drum and bass fusion or cross-over.We really need two zones - the amplified cross over which is exciting but not allthe time; and at the other end of the site unamplified or only very slightly amplified music from each region or culture.)
Tue Aug 3 18:05:54 2004

Roy Douglas - Bristol
A definite WOMAD highlight. Went to the gig not knowing what I was going to hear and was totally knocked out. The sort of thing that can only happen at WOMAD. Completely embodied the spirit and vision of the festival. Beautiful, global, inspiring, moving.
Wed Jul 28 22:07:28 2004

Munene Ng'ang'a, London.
What an astounding musician who crosses trivial boundaries such as race, religion and nationality to bring joy to our ears. His music was an utter pleasure to listen to.
Tue Jul 27 15:59:46 2004

Frances Bildner London UK
I went to Womad for the first time and was mesmerized. I think Yair Dalal and his musicians have an extraordinary gift,both in their music and in his vision. I loved every moment of their performance and would like to learn more of the music and his ideas. I was moved to tears!
Mon Jul 26 23:44:02 2004

Rod. South Lakes
You didn't mention the real highlight...the belly dancer!! I was transfixed by her sinuous movements. An insight into a middle eastern artform and culture. Please show on BBC4
Mon Jul 26 00:56:14 2004