rokia traore

setting the memory back 7 years to march 2001
and my first visit to womad in the city of adelaide
it was more by accident than design that i was there
i was in town on a semi-regular business trip
a good friend also happened to be in town at the same time
both of us had more than a passing interest in music
particularly music not of the mainstream
so we agreed to stay on over the weekend and attend womad
we went with absolutely no pre-conceived ideas
something i still carry forward on each annual visit
for then whatever is laid out before you is a gift
and not something to be measured against anything else
in the case of the numero uno attendence this was a good approach
i think i spent most of the 2 days and 3 nights kicking myself
why had i not made the effort to get here before?
answer - too late - but make sure you come back every time
even if it means at some future time rocking up in a wheelchair
which is entirely reasonable given platforms are set up for such attendees
in 2001 it was the hottest i have experienced womadelaide
40 degrees plus during the day with night coming as a relief
my memories are of the walk-through water-spraying frames
and banks of people clinging to shade under trees
with large empty spaces between them and the stages
the performers on stage dripping in perspiration
one hilarious lady in particular leading a gypsy band from eastern europe
reminding us she had come directly from her snow-bound freezing winter
but still gave her all on a minor stage in the blazing sun
stage 3 mid afternoon saturday played host to an african lady
a few hundred attendees braved the heat and parked themselves front of stage
myself and my companion included wanting to hear some african music
rokia traore is now regarded a world music superstar
whatever that means except that she performs in concert halls
very large concert halls in european cities e.g. paris
there's a brilliant dvd i own of her doing such a show
but in 2001 it was a small crowd on a very hot afternoon
on a small stage with an adequate sound system
shyness meant she rarely engaged the crowd
preferred to lock into giving her best vocally
or concentrating on playing her guitar
her backing band were with her completely
providing the unique sound that i now associate with mali
it was a totally exhilerating musical experience
opened my ears and eyes to a whole new world of music
as did other performers on that first womad weekend
the following clip is of this ultra talented lady
recorded at another womad festival
here showing much more confidence
but the same eclectic music and dance