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WOMAD Festival Brings More Than Music to Singapore

Singapore has many locally based cultural experiences offering rich examples of tradition and contemporary blends. It is also known for supporting cultural collaborations and art projects. An excellent example of this is seen in its bringing the music of the WOMAD festival to its stages. Singapore hosted the event for nine consecutive years from 1998 through 2006. WOMAD incorporates a diverse collection of musical styles and presentations, including musicians from many countries and backgrounds. The sounds of music from Peru, Korea, Nigeria and Australia is featured among many others. There is no boundary to the incorporation of styles and background WOMAD embraces and explores. WOMAD is based in the United Kingdom though it emphasizes travel and cultural expression, taking festivals to many countries around the world.

The 2006 event in Singapore took place on two large outdoor stages as well as three smaller spaces for a more intimate setting and workshops. The workshops included lectures from guest artists, and were structured for both adults and children. This interactive setting allows the audience to talk to and ask questions of the artists, which invites a much more personal relationship to the music. There were also many display booths inviting guests to purchase items from area and world vendors. This is a strong economic benefit to the festival and business hotels in Singapore fill to capacity with out of town and out of country guests who follow the festival as it travels the world.

This event offered more than music as part of its cultural experience. Many of the artists shared recipes and foods, offering tastes of South Africa and Asia to compliment the festival experience. While it might seem like a combination of two festivals, one of them being from the world kitchen and the other from the world music scene, it actually demonstrates the inherent connection between the two. There is a focus on the interaction of cultural elements and the association of senses, combining food with music. The relationship between the two creates a harmonious and holistic dynamic.

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Tags: Business, hotels, Singapore

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