In my thoughts…Yes in my thoughts I had been thinking already for a long time to participate in WOMEX. And from my part it finally came true in Tampere.

And you can believe that the Worldmusic Expo was worth visiting…WOW
Well a little bit of history first…
A long time ago – In the year 1994-1996 I was working in Berlin in FinD Finnland -Institut in Deutschland (Finnish Cultural Institute). At that time #PiranhaArts was organizing a festival called #Heimatklänge there. That festival Piranha Arts had organized already for many years then. And in the year 1994 they also started organizing WOMEX!
Both wonderful #Worldmusic #Festivals indeed!
WOMEX 25years:
Info from and more Info in – http://www.womex.com
WOMEX – the World Music Expo – is the most international music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and a showcase festival.
The WOMEX family has grown exponentially over the years – from hosting around 300 professionals at the House of World Cultures in Berlin, Germany in its first year, to a gathering of over 2,700 professionals including 260 performing artists from ninety-two countries now.
WOMEX is not only the number one networking platform for the world music industry, but also the most diverse music meeting worldwide.
Its musical spectrum is unparalleled in the international showcase festival scene, ranging from the most traditional to the new global local underground, embracing folk, roots, local and diaspora cultures and urban and electronic sounds from all over the globe as well as all musical juxtapositions of these. Jazz and classical are explicitly welcome!
WOMEX showcase artists 2019:
Info from and more Info in – http://www.womex.com
The Official Showcase Selection programme is created based on an annual call for proposals. Our independent, international jury – the 7 samurai – then chooses the finale programme. The Official Showcase Selection places special emphasis on newcomers to the international touring circut.
Everything began with WOMEX Opening and Finnish Folk Extreme Night.
In the official showcase selection and likewise during Expo my favorites were:
Cätlin Mägi EE – Dona Onete BR
El Cachivate Quinteto AR
The Cachivache Quintet is currently one of the most popular tango groups and is widely recognized on the world music circuit. Sometimes called ‘Tango Punk’ ‘, the group is characterized by its undeniably creative, original, and very “danceable ” style.
Elle Marja NO/sami – NST & Soul Sauce meets Kim Yulhee (KR) – Mari Kalkun EE – Mission Songs Project AU – Omiri PT
Oyme RUS/Fenno-Ugric
Translated from Mordvin “oyme” is a soul. Music of OYME is like a soul, it’s multifaceted and contradictory.
Oyme’s repertoire consists of traditional songs and laments in the Mordvin languages: Erzya, Moksha and Shoksha. At the core of the band’s music is a rare authentic Mordvinian polyphony – the “heart” of OYME. Electronic sounds underscore the uniqueness and sincerity of the “heart”, revealing integrity and spiritual richness of Mordvin people (ethnos) to the world.
Pauanne FI – Pekko Käppi FI – Suistamon Sähkö FI
TOPA-K ES
TOPA-K is the meeting of Basque folk group Korrontzi and DJ/producer/musician, DJ Makala, engendering a deep-rooted contemporary sound from the perspective of traditional instruments such as the txalaparta and alboka.
Tuuletar FI – Vildá FI/sami – Wimme&Rinne FI/sami – Duo Emilia Lajunen&Suvi OskalaFI