March 21, 2023
WOMAD celebration of indigenous survival
Womad has kicked off in New Plymouth with more than 120 performers bringing their music and dance from around the world to Pukekura Park and the Bowl of Brooklands this weekend.
Organising committee member Wharehoka Wano over the past 20 years the festival has become a cherished part of Taranaki life, and it’s great to have it back for the first time since the Covid pandemic.
He says last night’s pohiri at Muru Raupatu Marae was a chance for manaakitanga and whanaungatanga and for the guests to share some of their own language and culture.
“We’re ready to receive these guys and celebrate being indigenous peoples from around the world that have gone through all of the trials and tribulations of colonisation in some form or another but you know what, we’re still alive, we’re still signing and speaking our language and telling our stories,” he says.
Wharehoka Wano says based on last week’s Womadelaide, he’s looking forward to another chance to see acts like Afro-Cuban rock star Cimafunk and Fantastic Negrito from the United States, who’s playing tracks from his latest album White Jesus Black Problems.