The Oslo World Music Festival is back to present music from all corners of the world. Since its first edition in 1994, the Oslo World Music Festival team have worked tirelessy to craft programmes that create interest and promote understanding of cultural expressions of worldwide artforms. Open your mind (and your ears) and prepare to be amazed by one intense week from the October 29 to the November 4 2012. With over 300 artists programmed at 14 different venues - it's time to get ready, set, and go to Oslo!

Buy tickets here

Monoswezi (Mozambique/Norway/Switzerland/Zimbabwe)

Wednesday 31 October, 8.00pm, BLÅ

Monoswezi are an international band with members hailing from Mozambique, Norway, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. Their music sounds fresh and wide-open: traits that owe to the band's marvelously multi-cultural inspirations. Expect gentle mbira, looping percussion, memorable sung melodies, and subtle saxophone. The band will perform on the festival's 'Jungelscenen Stage', an evening of performances organised by the festival's media partner NRK National Radio. 

If you like the sound of Monoswezi, stay tuned for more information on Monoswezi's forthcoming album on Riverboat Records in 2013 & check out our album The Rough Guide To Undiscovered World featuring a track by them. 

El Gusto (Algeria/France)

Tuesday 30 October, 6.30pm, Rockefeller

El Gusto is an orchestra made up of of Muslim and Jewish musicians separated by the Algerian war of independence and reunited after 40 years thanks to the work of filmmaker Safinez Bousbia. The orchestra plays chaabi, a popular Algerian music genre that mixes Spanish Andalusian music, with Berber, Jewish and Arabic sounds. The story of the band and the reunion concert in Marseille has been made into a film with the same name and the orchestra has recorded an album produced by Damon Albarn. A great opportunity to see these legends of Algerian music live.

Angham Al-Rafidain Ensemble (Iraq)

Wednesday 31 October, 6.30pm, Kulturkirken Jakob

On Wednesday 31 October the great band Angham Al-Rafidain will perform their beautiful traditional songs based on Maqam Al-Iraqi in Oslo. This group has received several music awards and has performed around the world since 2003. Previously the political situation made it difficult for them to play in thier home country of Iraq. Fortunately, cultural activities are now promoted by the Iraqi Ministry of Culture and they can now promote their art at home. On this occasion their performance will be preceded by a talk with Iraq’s ambassador in Norway Ms Sundus Ali Omar Albayraqdar (the first female ambassador ever appointed from Iraq) and Arab spring journalist Asne Seierstad.

 

Boubacar Traoré (Mali)

Thursday 1 & Friday 2 October, 10:30pm, The Crossroad Club

African blues legend Boubacar Traoré needs no introduction. A huge star in Mali since the 60s, his lyrics influenced the formation of the national identity of the country after the independence. However, he didn’t release his first international record until 1987, when he finally became recognised all over the world. He will be playing twice in this festival, so there is no excuse to miss him! 

 

Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa  (Morocco/Senegal)

Friday 2 November, 9pm, Cosmopolite

Recognized Moroccan musician Aziz Sahmaoui arrives at the Oslo World Music festival with his first solo album, University of Gnawa and a Senegalese band to share the stage with him. Although gnawa refers to the traditional trance music found in Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Gambia, and Mali, this project combines sounds from different music traditions of those countries. Here his Moroccan gimbri and the Senegalese ngoni are accompanied by electric guitar, keyboards and percussion.

 

Karima Nayt (Algeria)

Saturday 3 November, 8pm, Riksscenen

Karima Nayt is not new to the European audiences. She has performed all over the world and won numerous prizes, such as Best Actress in the International Festival of Experimental Theatre of Cairo. She also participated in the album Wahdeni with Grammy-awarded Fathy Salama and the group Sharkiat. This multi-faceted actress, singer and modern dancer has been touring in Europe since she released her first long-awaited solo album Quoi d’autre earlier this year - an album full of carefully crafted songs sung in French, classic Arabic and Algerian. 

Joaquin Grilo’s ‘Leyenda Personal’ featuring Dorantes (Spain)

Saturday 3 November, 10pm, Rockefeller

One of the most well-known flamenco dancers in the world, Joaquín Grilo will present his production Leyenda Personal accompanied by pianist David Peña “Dorantes”. This piece has received many awards since its premiere in Spain in 2008 and combines flamenco with contemporary dance, as well as jazz fusion and drama.

 Click here to see the full program