Festival International de Musiques et des Arts de Dakar

Senegal’s first World Music Fest

Promoter and journalist Issa Dial announced a new festival, the Festival International de Musiques et des Arts de Dakar (FIMAD) which will take place May 4-8th in Dakar. The festival will be Senegal’s first festival dedicated to world music, and will showcase regional and international artists. 

Programming Director Alex Boicel tells us each night will be organized around a different theme.

Thursday is a night of World Women artists: Virginie Dembele (Mali), Vivi Makado (Côte d’Ivoir), Chadia (Senegal), Kin Orchestra, Virginia Guantanamera (Canary Islands), Orchestre Jigeen ňi (Senegal), Koudy (Benin), Mabel Fa (Cameroon) will perform.

Friday will be the Visa For Music night in partnership with Rabat’s Visa For Music Festival. Suxaat (Senegal), Djam Neguin (Cape Verde), Mosayane (Cameroon), Arlley, Nina Wateko (Congo Brazzaville), Kissila (Cameroon) , Kane Diallo (Senegal), Askia Modibo ( Mali) will perform.

The Afro Mondo show on saturday will feature Sals Fateete (Nigeria), Mabel Fa (Cameroon), Jean-M Samba (Guadeloupe), Ilam (Senegal-Canada), Coumbis Sorra (Senegal), Jah Moko (Jamaica), Kin Orchestra, and Virginia Guatanemera (Canary Islands) 

Téranga Senégal, Folkloric performance precede the stage shows. Friday, Marraine Assy Gaye, Fatou Gueye, bongo and Tafa Seck, percussion perform. Saturday features troupes from the Casamance region.

Sunday the pilgrimage to Goree island will feature a special performance by JM Samba and Gwoka group, and an evening Jazz Jam session at Hotel de Ville.