Talented meeting during Storehesten

Tuesday night this year's talent had their first rehearsal. They met at Rytne farm where there was food, small talk and archery before the serious jamming began. Through the walls of the old barn at Rytne, one could hear the start of a new international musical adventure from Kenya, Malawi and Norway.   

The talent project is a collaboration between Førdefestivalen and the National Concerts. Every year, young talented musicians from Norway and two other countries gather for two week-long workshops. The first workshop takes place in conjunction with Førdefestivalen , the second in one of the other countries represented in the project. With the talent project, the festival wants to give young musicians the opportunity to develop themselves in the encounter with other musical traditions.

This year, the talent contestants come from Kenya, Malawi and Norway. 

Norwegian participants are all students at the Norwegian Academy of Music:
Helga Myhr from Torpo in Hallingdal - fiddle, dance, vocals
Ingeborg Ulberg Sommar from Røros - fiddle
Torfinn Hofstad from Verdal - fiddle

These three come from Kenya:
Faith Wangui – vocals, dance, guitar
Saumu Kazia – dance, drums, vocals
Omari Mwatela Swaleh – percussion (sengenya, marimba, chapuo, kayamba, leg jingles)

The tour guide for talents from Kenya is Wakake Otieno, who has previously participated in the talent project in Førde .

The three participants from Malawi are:
Asante Maulidi - percussion, dance, vocals
Thokozani M¹doko - vocals, dance, percussion
Patrick Chimbewa - tsansi (mbira)

Artistic directors for Talent 2016 are Ivan Mazuze and Unni Løvlid.

Text: Kamilla Mygland Storaker