Womad video interviews

The Strand goes backstage at the World's biggest global music festival to bring you some exclusive interviews and performances.

Rokia Traore

Ruth Barnes talks to Malian singer Rokia Traore about peforming at the festival and the ideas behind her last album Tchamantché.

Cimarrón

Carlos Rojas from Colombian seven-piece band Cimarrón - who perform traditional 'joropo' music of the Los Llanos cattle plains talks to Ruth Barnes.

Their distinctive percussive rhythms and unique melodies are steeped in the traditions and dances of the cattle ranchers - los llaneros.

Mamer

Chinese musician Mamer blends the music of his home province, the remote Western area of Xinjiang, and the traditional folk of the Kazak people with Western punk sensibilities, to create a unique hybrid, topped by his distinctive vocal style.

Mamer founded the alt-country scene in China, now dubbed ‘Chinagrass’.

17 Hippies

The members of 17 Hippies hail from across Europe. Their eclectic backgrounds can be heard in their energetic multi-genre music, from rock-pop to classical and jazz.

Ba Cissoko

Ba Cissoko are from Guinea. The band is named after lead singer and electric Kora player, Ba Cissoko. Their sound has been hailed as Africa’s answer to Jimi Hendrix.

Black Arm Band

Australian indigenous performer and songwriter Lou Bennett is a Yorta Yorta woman and member of Australian collective Black Arm Band.

Black Arm Band are a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal musicians who look to take contemporary indigenous Australian music, combined with a strong social message, to an international audience.

Womad highlights

Watch some of the best scenes and moments at Womad 2009.