The Kaurna Welcome. Photo credit: Rachel Wong

Welcome to our rolling coverage of WOMADelaide 2017! Rachel Wong and Masya Zabidi will be keeping you abreast of the world music festival that celebrates it 25th anniversary this year! Day #1 sees the traditional Kaurna Welcome as well as festival highlights Lamine Sonko & the African Intelligence and The Soil gracing the Taste the World Tent and the Zoo Stage respectively. 

Photo credit: Rachel Wong

Kaurna Welcome

Led by Steve Gadlabarti Goldsmith (taking a break from his stint in The Secret River), an Elder of the local Kaurna people, the traditional welcome was both momentous and stirring. The lively dance and didgeridoo performance was followed by a commanding speech by Goldsmith who reminded us of the land we’re on and its first, true owners.

Goldsmith’s passionate words were echoed by Joint Campaign Director of Recognise, Mark Yettica Paulson, who urged the audience to get involved in recognising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution.

Warsaw Village Band. Photo credit: Rachel Wong

Warsaw Village Band

This energetic folk band from Poland started their set by making a touching dedication to the Kaurna people. Accompanied by an array of string instruments, this seven-piece group subverted expectations and cranked out roots-y beats instead of the stereotypical Eastern European jams.

Cie Ekart. Photo credit: Rachel Wong

Cie Ekart

These dodo-riding dandies were gallivanting about the Adelaide Botanic Park piquing the interest of many passers-by. Highlighting the fragile nature of wildlife, this dodo duo was mobbed at almost every turn.

Ana Tijoux. Photo credit: Rachel Wong

Ana Tijoux

A spunkier version of Nelly Furtado, Chile’s Ana Tijoux and her merry men delivered an electrifying funk-heavy set. Drawing massive cheers with her speech commemorating International Women’s Day, Ana publicly thanked all the women’s organisations for their work. Bouncing up and down the stage, Ana and her band’s infectious energy got the crowd up on their feet dancing.  

The Hot 8 Brass Band

This Louisiana outfit brings a taste of New Orleans to Adelaide with their version of marching band tunes mixed with mainstream hip-hop and R&B. Their joyous sounds had the audience singing and bopping along to their tracks.

The Soil

Hailing from South Africa, this a capella collective successfully melded their voices using only their mouths as instruments. Featuring beat boxing alongside traditional South African music, The Soil makes singing in a choir looks ridiculously cool.

Oumou Sangaré. Photo credit: Rachel Wong

Oumou Sangaré

Coming all the way from  West Africa, Oumou Sangaré dominated the main Foundation stage with her powerful vocals and commanding presence. Two minutes into her set, it comes as no surprise that she is one of Africa’s most popular figures and a Grammy award winner.

– Rachel Wong and Masya Zabidi