WOMAD

Procession

18:00 24th April on the Undercover sessions

Mora Brothers Biography

Filiberto and Yanoski Mora are the renowned Mora Brothers from Cuba who have been creating their world famous papier-maché sculptures of Cadillacs, and Harley Davidson motorbikes since 1990. Fili and Yani are artists who work to commission and exhibit internationally but back home in Havana they also teach and lead community workshops for children. Their work is accessible and witty with social and political references. They created a wonderful piece of work for Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista fame. They have built on the heritage of artist Antonia Eiriez, pioneering community artist in Cuba, using papier-maché, theatre and music in the 1960s. Fili and Yani have been artists in residence with WOMAD in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Singapore and Spain.
(Biography 2009)

The Mora Brothers

Biography provided by WOMAD España, 2006:

Los hermanos Filiberto y Yanosky Mora están especializados en la creación de fabulosos vehículos y extraordinarias estructuras construidos con papel maché. Ambos se han ganado un merecido reconocimiento internacional gracias a sus esculturas a tamaño real de los taxis de La Habana, de un Chevrolet o de una Harley Davidson, que se exhiben en galerías y museos de todo el mundo. También se atreven con piezas futuristas de tono sarcástico sobre la vida del siglo XXI. En WOMAD Cáceres 2006 echarán mano de su inspiración y mágica creatividad para construir, junto a los niños que participen en sus talleres, objetos elaborados a partir de materiales como el papel, la pintura o el agua. Será la primera visita de estos artisas cubanos a la ciudad extremeña y garantizan que de sus talleres saldrán fantásticas y magníficas creaciones.

Zawose Family Biography

Dressed in costumes made from goatskins and porcupine quills, with ostrich feathered headdresses, the idiosyncratic Zawoses have been a celebrated and indelible feature of the world music line-up since the early 1990s.

They are returning to WOMAD after what has been a difficult few years with the unexpected death's of father Hukwe and his traveling partner and nephew, Charles - Wagogo music's revered master musicians. While leaving the family in a state of shock it also left their many fans across the world saddened.

Originally recognized by Tanzania's President Julius Nyerere as he drove through a village in the Wagogo, Hukwe's music and performance took on its own momentum as Tanzania's most extraordinary performing dynasty the world over. After producing several albums in the UK and Japan, Hukwe's music reached new heights when he supported Peter Gabriel on his Growing Up Tour in 2003.

Hukwe ensured that the unique and intrinsic sounds of the Wagogo would never die and his huge family now live together teaching the younger generations, and the many visitors who come to them having witnessed one of Hukwe's many unforgettable performances.

The family are at WOMAD celebrating the musical legacy left to them by Hukwe and Charles. Their signature voices encompass the high-octave vocal range; singing that switches between falsetto and deep guttural sounds. This unique singing combined with Wagogo fire dancing and the intense sounds of thumb pianos, African violins, ankle bells and drums provides and magical representation of Wagogo music with which Hukwe both charmed and fascinated audiences across the world.
(Biography supplied by artist management 2010)

Rango Biography

Lord of the trance
You could rightfully expect Hassan Bergamon's shoulders to buckle with the substantial weight of responsibility. He's the last living exponent of rango, the trance-inducing music of mystical, soul-cleansing ceremonies that have their origin - as does Hassan - in Sudan. Originally the music of 19th-century Sudanese slaves transplanted to Egypt, the music survived after slavery's abolition, although finally fell victim to religious opposition 40-odd years ago. As rango's sole surviving practitioner, Hassan is the owner of a battle-worn, 190-year-old balafon, also called a rango ¬- it's one of only three left in existence. Through this mighty, strident instrument, he forms the backbone of the Rango sound that's fleshed out by various cohorts playing lyres souped up with electric pick-ups and a whole arsenal of percussion. Add Hassan's commanding voice leading call-and-response chants and serious spiritual detoxification awaits. As Songlines magazine so precisely called it, this is "music that penetrates the bones like an X-ray".

(Biography written by Nige Tassell 2010)

Shona Watt Biography

Shona studied at the London College of Furniture and Ravensbourne College of Art. She has become known internationally for her stunning installations of individually crafted flags, banners and canopies, which she makes to private commission and for international events around the world.

Her site-specific work resonates with themes of architecture, landscape, people and climate. Working with global arts organisations such as, Welfare State International, national museums and international festivals, Shona brings an innovative approach to any project.
(Biography supplied by WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2010)

Dubai Drums Biography

With an infectious enthusiasm, making every workshop and performance totally fun and accessible to people of all ages, Dubai Drums has livened up many community gatherings, festivals and parades. Creating a uniquely dynamic musical collective, Dubai Drums encourages participants to join together in unity and express themselves through a single voice made up of young and old alike.

Hosts of regular community drum circles throughout the UAE, Dubai Drums provides drums for everyone and leads groups in melodic and rhythmic improvisations and create a vast sound world in an exciting and innovative musical programme with music that goes straight to the heart.
(Biography supplied by WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2010)

Zawose Family Products At Our Store

• Small Things Fall From The Baobob Tree

Find out more about Zawose Family at Real World Records