One of the largest free outdoor festivals in North America delivers music, dance, crafts, films and food this weekend in Seattle.
The 33rd Northwest Folklife Festival’s cultural focus is on traditions from the Horn of Africa, but there will be more than 1,000 performances of various cultures on 20 stages on the Seattle Center grounds.
Immigrants and refugees, part of the nearly 40,000 people from the Horn of Africa who have settled in Western Washington, will present traditions of the East African countries of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.
The main event is the Horn of Africa concert Sunday, starting with traditional music and dance from Dinka Malual, formerly the Lost Youth of Sudan, orphans of the Sudanese civil war who have been resettled in Western Washington.
Their survival story is in the documentary film “A Great Wonder,” shown Sunday and Monday.
Each East African ethnic group has its distinctive musical rhythms and a complementary dance tradition.
That will be evident in other performances, including former Eritrean freedom fighter turned singer of traditional songs Tefeno; Ethiopian Afro-pop singer Seble Solomon; and fusion artist Ali Birra, the James Brown of East Africa.
The Horn of Africa focus continues through the weekend with arts and crafts demonstrations, cultural exhibits, food ($2 per sample) by Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali restaurants), panels, a coffee ceremony, and storytelling.
Other highlights include:
Music. The beauty of Folklife is that music is delivered in so many forms – bluegrass, jazz, hip-hop, folk, reggae, county western, blues, gospel, barbershop – by more than 1,000 musicians.
Workshops. Join a dance workshop, gather with strangers and form an instant band, perform at jam sessions or in participatory singing, share your family’s stories, or participate in music workshops, including songwriting and Senegalese drumming.
Northwest Baskets. Two tents on the Broad Street Lawn will feature demonstrations by the Northwest Native American Basketweavers Association and the Northwest Basket Weavers-Vi Phillips Basketry Guild. Visitors can try a technique or make a simple basket to take home.
Musical instruments. An instrument-makers showcase (formerly the Music Emporium) is in the upper Northwest Court Saturday and Sunday.
Partner Dancing. Four days and nights of instruction, dance exhibitions and personal coaching in the Exhibition Hall, with small combos and big bands covering swing, Latin, waltz, rhythm and blues, Cajun and zydeco, the Roaring ’20s and cabaret.
Old-time fiddlers. Doug Plummer’s photographic exhibit of 12 traditional fiddlers from Washington state, with some of their stories in text, is in the Lopez Room of the Northwest Court Saturday through Monday. Their oral histories and photographs, with a CD, are in the book “Roses in Winter.”
Filmfest. Documentaries and videos related to the festival’s cultural aspects, some with accompanying discussions, include the stories of the Lost Boys of Sudan, the role of pottery, and Taarab music of the East African coast.
Children’s Village. Performances and activities include traditional African songs and games, a coffee ceremony, and decorating East African scrolls under the Story Tree.
Readings. Authors at the Third Place Books Narrative Stage read from their books, including science-fiction author Octavia Butler, who talks about the craft of writing on the 25th anniversary of her book “Kindred.”
Northwest Folklife Festival
What: More than 1,000 performances representing 100 countries present traditional and ethnic dance, music and storytelling on 17 stages; plus visual arts and folklore exhibits, children’s activities, symposia, dance and music workshops, crafts, food and demonstrations.
When: today through Monday
Where: Seattle Center
Cost: free except as noted
Information: including detailed schedules, www.nwfolklife.org
Northwest Folklife Festival
What: More than 1,000 performances representing 100 countries present traditional and ethnic dance, music and storytelling on 17 stages; plus visual arts and folklore exhibits, children’s activities, symposia, dance and music workshops, crafts, food and demonstrations.
When: today through Monday
Where: Seattle Center
Cost: free except as noted
Information: including detailed schedules, www.nwfolklife.org
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