'MUSIC IN CRISIS' THEME ON FØRDEFESTIVALEN 2022
Sevdah king Damir Imamovic is worth listening to Førdefestivalen in July. Photo: Samir CK
The theme of Førdefestivalen 2022 is 'Music in Crises'. - With the theme focusing Førdefestivalen on the power of music in difficult times. Music connects people, even across geographical and cultural divides. Music creates community and identity, and there are many examples of music playing an important role in important resistance movements, says Almås. This time, the festival will release six artists. Førdefestivalen will be held July 6-10, and the complete program will be launched on March 31. Ticket sales for the festival will also start then.
Music in crises
To Førde Artists come from countries we think of in connection with war and hardship, and the audience will meet musicians who have fled their homelands for political or religious reasons. Other theme artists highlight a musical tradition or use music to fight for freedom, justice and peace. - Førdefestivalen will first and foremost honor the music and pay tribute to those who make it live and will live in the future, says Almås.
Olav Torget and Ulla Pirttijärvi in Aššû.
Norwegian minorities
-In extreme cases, we know that governments ban music in all forms. Here in Norway, it is the Sami who have felt a ban on the body, when joik was banned until well into the 70s. The joik played an important role in the Sami fight against oppression, and thanks to our brave and wise singers, this tradition stands stronger today than ever. On the poster in Førde stands Aššû with Sami Ulla Pirttijärvi and Olav Torget.
Elias Akselsen. Photo: Knut Utler
Førdefestivalen has on several occasions presented the Roma people with their strong musical traditions from other parts of the world. This year we are fortunate enough to have the great voice of Elias Akselsen present the songs from the Norwegian tater tradition.
Damir Imamovic comes with his trio to Førde .
Bosnian national treasure
- Music heals our hearts and gets us through everything. It comforts in difficult times, and challenges in good ones. Then there are times, like the ones we live in now, when we need to heal with music. To repay a good friend, says sevdah king Damir Imamovic , from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The sevdah tradition in Bosnia has its roots back to the 16th century and developed in the cafes of Sarajevo and Mostar in the 20th century. The musical form was very popular in Yugoslavia in the 1920s and 1930s, and during communism from 1945-1990, it was sevdah music that entertained the masses. Sevdah could have gone down in history as an outdated culture that belonged to the Tito regime, but during the Bosnian war it got a new spring, thanks to a new generation of musicians, not least Damir Imamovic.
Ebo Krdum the musician who wants to create change through his music. Photo: Olof Grind
Desert blues activism
Ebo Krdum was active and used his music in the peaceful revolution against the corrupt and violent regime in the war in Darfur in his homeland of Sudan. At the age of 21 he fled to Sweden. To become a musician and to create change through music. The musicians in his band, Genuine Mezziga, are handpicked. They sing in Daju, Pels, Swedish, English, Arabic and French. -It's so nice. I really want people, even in refugee camps in Sudan, to be able to take part in what we sing about, about politics, love and freedom, says Ebo Krdum, who brings his desert blues activism to Førde .
Congolese rumba with Dizzy Mandjeku & Odemba OK All Stars.
Congolese rumba
Here also comes Dizzy Mandjeku & Odembe OK All Stars . -Mandjeku is a living legend when it comes to preserving and developing Congo's world-famous musical tradition, Congolese rumba. The rumba originated in Central Africa, and came with the slaves to the Caribbean. Here it was influenced by Cuban son, before it again made its way to Congo. -The Congolese rumba played a central political role in the country's fight against the colonial masters in the 20th century, and it is this role in the resistance struggle that has inspired musicians around the world. The musical tradition is an important part of the identity of both Congolese republics today, and on December 14, 2021, Congolese rumba received UNESCO status in line with Jamaican reggae, Spanish flamenco and the folk music tradition in Setesdal.
Vardan Hovanissaian & Emre Gültekin. Photo: Dieter Telemans
Armenia, Turkey, Iran and Palestine
Armenia and Turkey have a bloody history, but also many cultural traditions in common. Duduk player Vardan Hovanissian and saz master Emre Gültekin have explored the close ties between Turkish and Armenian traditions for many years. With their music, they open the doors to the rich musical tradition of this troubled belt, which also includes Georgia, Iran and the Kurdish regions.
Atine, with five female musicians from Iran, Palestine and France. Photo: Jeff Le Cardiet
In Atine , three of the five female musicians come from Iran, a country where women are not allowed to perform in public. They draw inspiration from Persian music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but Atine brings both music and lyrics into her own time. - Our music is free, says Atine. We don't want to copy, but create something new, and we want to show what it is to be Persian today. That it is more about being free than remembering.
Art in crises - theme at conference
On Førdekonferansen 2022, the one-day conference to be held on Thursday, July 7, will feature the theme of Art in Crisis, which will be discussed by exciting Norwegian and international presenters.
Artists to Førdefestivalen 2022 - as of January 28, 2022:
Aššû - Sapmi / Norway; Athens - Iran / Palestine / France; Damir Imamovic - Bosnia-Herzegovina; Ebo Krdum - Sudan / Sweden; Dizzy Mandjeku & Ok All stars - Congo; Vardan Hovanissian & Emre Gültekin - Armenia / Turkey; Elias Akselsen - Norway