'Gender at play' theme for Førdefestivalen 2020
The theme and the first artists are ready for Førdefestivalen 2020.
Førdefestivalen put the anniversary festival behind them, and in 2020 focus on a topical theme: Gender at Play. -Gender is often about boundaries, a distinction between one type of person and another, and a set of characteristics that characterize the people we place within the categories 'woman' and 'man'. In many cases, we don't know exactly where the boundaries are until someone challenges or crosses them. When someone does, it can be experienced as confusing, or even provocative. The festival program for the summer includes several artists that stretches the invisible boundaries. Perhaps this year's theme will challenge some norms, open some eyes and bring forth new tones. I hope so!, says acting festival director for Førdefestivalen , Sølvi Lien .
HERE you can see an overview of the artists who have been released as of December 17th.
Male-dominated industry
In many folk music traditions, the gender issue is central, but it is not just about women. The music and dance reflect society. We who program festivals must be aware that the music industry in general has been and is male-dominated. This applies to performers and among producers, technicians - and artistic directors. - Førdefestivalen has chosen to focus on gender because the topic has not been fully discussed, says Lien. First and foremost, it is women's place that is at stake, and therefore next year's festival program will have a large element of strong female actors. artists who are pioneers and important role models for others. No one comes to the program to Førdefestivalen because they are women, but because they are very good.
The Kartel with new dance production
"The festival's Gender at Play theme goes right to the core of what we do," says Sigurd Heide, artistic director of the dance company Kartellet, who will create a completely new dance production for Førdefestivalen . The Cartel is one of the few groups that, through their performance art and reinterpretation of folk dance, shows us some of the boundaries we consciously or unconsciously set for men in our society, in our time. They do this by showing something as fundamental as physical closeness between men.
-Women dance with women and men dance with men. Imagine if this were the rule, similar to women showering together and men showering together, says Sigurd Heide, artistic director of Kartellet. -By the way, it's called 'dancing on poles', and this will be central to the new performance, where Kartellet will also feature female dancers for the first time. -We look forward to showing how this gives new associations and interpretations to our inclusive, dance-based universe. Intimate zones between people are constantly changing. When can two of the same sex play? We think adults should play, says Heide. Immediately after the performance, there will be a panel debate where, among other things, closeness between the same sex will be discussed.
Rare women
To illustrate the theme of Gender at Play, we invite Førdefestivalen strong female instrumentalists, women in male traditions, but also men in female roles. Brazilian Dona Onete has become a cult figure in her homeland in just a few years. Onete is a professor of history and Amazonian studies, and has researched the rhythms, dances and traditions of indigenous peoples in the area. She sang in her youth, but after she got married, a singing career was not an option, so she made her debut at the age of 72. -The now 80-year-old lady is outspoken and has stood on the barricades for both gay and women's rights. She is known for her very danceable musical style, and has a fantastic stage presence. We experienced her in Finland this autumn, and invited her to Førde ! victory Sølvi Lien , who will be surprised if not the audience in Førde will love the Amazon Queen!
Sona Jobarteh is from Gambia and was born into one of the five main griot clans in West Africa. Jobarteh has an international career, and is the first woman from a griot clan to play the kora professionally. The kora traditionally belongs to the griot clans, and in a 700-year-old tradition, the musical tradition has been passed down from father to son. Sona Jobarteh not only challenges a male-dominated musical tradition, but has also distinguished herself as a composer, producer and cultural entrepreneur.
Gnawa pioneers
The Gnawa tradition in Morocco is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and is another male-dominated musical tradition where talented women have made a name for themselves in recent years, says the festival director. - Asmâa Hamzaoui is the first female gimbri musician in Morocco, and she and her band have started a small revolution in Moroccan gnawa music.
Male vocal tradition interpreted by women
The African vocal tradition mbube, best known through the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, is traditionally performed by men, largely because a deep bass is important in this genre. The five women in Nobuntu from Zimbabwe did not let that stop them. – Nobuntu says that many have asked them how they manage to sing like that, and where the bass comes from? But they do it, and they have bass. Not in the same way as men, but in their own way, says Lien.
Irish sister trio and Finnish accordion virtuoso
In Ireland and the UK, the debate about the absence of women on the folk music scene is in full swing. -A little reality check in our own archive shows that we have also traditionally presented Irish folk musicians, admits Lien, who this year has invited The Friel Sisters . The band with the three Friel sisters Anna, Sheila and Claire has in a short time established itself in the top echelon of Irish folk music, and are both brilliant instrumentalists and singers. From Finland comes Johanna Juhola , a colorful accordion player completely out of the ordinary. -Role models like Juhola are important, for example, for recruiting girls to certain instruments that may be perceived as masculine.
Distinctive dance tradition from India
One of the more unique traditions worth watching Førdefestivalen , is Kathakali from India. -Kathakali is an 800-year-old tradition, and a mixture of traditional dance and theater. Traditionally, both male and female roles have been danced by men, both because the dance was very physically demanding, but also because women had their place in the home, and they could not perform in public after they got married. Lien says that in recent years there has been a change, and that female Kathakali dancers have become more common. Now there is a whole generation of women who are becoming professional Kathakali performers, who are taking back the female roles. -At the festival in July you will, among other things, experience Dr. Hari Priya Nambudir, the most famous female Kathakali dancer, who is performing in Europe for the first time. In addition, you will be able to watch the dancers being made up, a process that takes several hours.
Diversity is the theme of Førdekonferansen
The theme of the festival also flows over to Førdekonferansen , the day-long conference that will take place on Thursday at the festival. The conference will focus on diversity in the cultural sector and have a special emphasis on the performing arts. Gender, disability and ethnicity are current topics, and among the speakers we find names such as Ole Reitov from Freemuse, theatre director Erik Ulfsby at the Norwegian Theatre and Marte Wilhelmsen Solheim from the Centre for Innovation Research at the University of Stavanger. The conference will be chaired by Maria Utsi. - Several exciting speakers are on their way to the program, which will be ready during the winter, says Lien.
These artists are ready for Førdefestivalen 2020 as of December 16:
Dona Onete (Brazil), Sona Jobarteh (Gambia), Kartellet (Norway), Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou (Morocco), Nobuntu (Zimbabwe), The Friel Sisters (Ireland), Johanna Johula (Finland), Haripriya Nambudiri Kathakali Ensemble (India) and Kajsa Balto (Norway)