Mokoomba, Alsarah, Dawuni and Fendika for Lotus Festival in USA

Ethiopia’s Fendika, Ghana’s reggae sensation Rocky Dawuni, Mokoomba (Zimbabwe) and Alsarah & the Nubatones (Sudan) are among those expected to perform at the US festival.

The four-day festival will feature eight venues, with internationally-recognized artists representing over 20 countries and genres, including Finnish folk music, Indian classical music, reggae, Swedish hip-hop, American roots music and Afro-pop.

Ethiopia’s Fendika draws deeply from the well of Ethiopia’s azmari music, a tradition developed by travelling bards. The band’s artistic vision is to present the rich musical traditions of Ethiopia to the world, while also including a natural innovation in their expressions.

Mokoomba was formed in 2001. The six-piece band fuses rhythms and melodies from their native Tonga culture with sounds from around the world. Ahead of their performance at the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival in September (and following their recent performance at the famous Apollo Theater in New York City in March), the band will be staging a series of performances in the UK in August:

• 11 August: 100 Club in London
• 12 August: Boom Town Festival, Winchester
• 13 August: Band on the Wall, Manchester
• 14 August: Thekla, Bristol

Also billed to perform are Alsarah & The Nubatones, who blend 1960s and 70s Sudanese music with Arabic and North African influences to create a sound with soaring vocal melodies based on eastern instrumentation and arrangements.

Rocky Dawuni will meanwhile seek to thrill fans with his songs that straddle musical boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the US, influenced by the soulful music of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and the positive messages of Bob Marley - infectious grooves to unite generations and cultures. He recently returned to the States following a successful European tour during July.

As the flagship programme of The Lotus Education and Arts Foundation, the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival is one of the oldest world music festivals in the USA and the only one of its kind in Indiana. Established in 1994, the event offers music lovers a rare opportunity to experience places far removed from their everyday lives.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the festival’s website.