Customarily, today and Tuesday are quieter days with three free concerts: Umafricana, the project of Luso-Guinean artist Sandra Baldé (today at 7:00 PM); Susobrino (Bolivia/Belgium) and Queralt Lahoz (Catalonia – Spain) on Tuesday at 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM, respectively.
At the Sines Art Center Auditorium, both at 10:00 PM, Mick Strauss ‘In the dark’ (USA/France) will perform today, followed by Sara Curruchich (Guatemala) on Tuesday, with tickets required for these performances.
From Wednesday to Saturday, the number of concerts will increase to around ten daily.
Youssou N’Dour (Senegal), Julieta Venegas (Mexico), Rokia Traoré (Mali), Orchestra Baobab (Senegal), and The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices (Bulgaria) are among the highlights of the 25th edition of the FMM, including a tribute concert to Jamaican Max Romeo, originally scheduled for the festival before his passing in April.
As usual, there is a significant presence of artists from Portuguese-speaking countries.
Portugal will be represented by Lena d’Água (July 23 at 6:00 PM), Capicua (July 25 at 10:15 PM), Miss Universo (July 26 at 6:00 PM), and Bateu Matou (early morning on July 27 at 3:30 AM).
Bonga will perform for Angola (July 23 at 12:45 AM) and Roberto Chitsonzo for Mozambique (July 26 at 4:30 PM).
Brazil will be present with Gabriele Leite (July 24 at 4:30 PM), Bia Ferreira (July 24 at 10:15 PM), Luca Argel (July 25 at 6:00 PM), and Nação Zumbi (July 25 at 12:45 AM).
Fábio Ramos (July 24 at 6:00 PM), Fidjus Codé Di Dona (July 25 at 5:00 AM), and Fidju Kitxora will bring Cape Verdean rhythms (July 26 at 2:15 AM).
Embracing the motto “Music with spirit of adventure,” this edition of the FMM, organized by the Sines Municipality, features artists from 34 countries, with first appearances from Bolivia, Gabon, Guatemala, Jordan, Indonesia (Java), and Somaliland (a state seeking recognition).
Beyond music, the festival offers various parallel activities, including debates.
Today, at 5:00 PM in the Pátio das Artes, Priscila Valadão, Gracinda Luz, and Shiv Kumar Singh will discuss “Immigration and its biases,” moderated by António Brito Guterres.
On Tuesday at the same time and venue, the debate will center on “Music: liberation and independence,” featuring André Xina, Selma Uamusse, and Roberto Chitsonzo, with Andreia Galvão as moderator.
The program also includes exhibitions, book launches, and even a sold-out Nepalese cooking workshop.
For children and families, there are performances, workshops (including one dedicated to traditional adufe and singing), storytelling sessions, and scientific dissemination activities about the marine world.
Maria Mazzotta, Bia Ferreira, Fidjus Codé Di Dona, and Roberto Chitsonzo will conduct music workshops for children aged six to twelve on July 23, 24, 25, and 6, respectively, all at 11:00 AM.
The festival’s classic backstage tours are already sold out, and there is also a Fair for Records, Books, and Posters at the Alentejo Coast Arts School, from 4:00 PM to midnight.
The World Music Festival received the EFFE Award 2017 from the European Festivals Association and has garnered 14 Iberian Festival Awards, eight Iberian and six national, between 2016 and 2024.
