- 23-27 OCT 2024
- Manchester, UK
The Conference Samurai 2023
I am delighted for this opportunity and to be contributing to the curation of an exciting Conference programme, reflecting the hopes and challenges of your times.
- Gwendolenn Sharp (France)
Ouafa Belgacem (Tunisia)
Founder of CFW- Culture Funding Watch, Ouafa 's company is a leading CCI financing intelligence platform for the Global South. She is a Senior Business Development expert with over 15 years of experience designing and financing international cooperation and development programs in various contexts (Africa, Asia & MENA). Ouafa was among the 100 most influential creatives of African descent in 2021, 500 Most Powerful African 2022, Digital Africa program connector/ambassador for the North Africa region and creative director at the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce.
Photo by Jasmine Bannister
Gwendolenn Sharp (France)
Based in France, Gwendolenn is the founder of The Green Room, an NGO developing strategies for environmental change in the music sector. She carries out assessments, awareness-raising and operational training regarding sustainable practices for music professionals. She is a Keychange alumnus and a Villa Albertine Resident, researching green touring in the US.
The Showcase Samurai 2023
I’ve been attending WOMEX since 2004 and there I discovered so much amazing music and culture and met an incredible community of people that contributed to improve my work and develop my company’s network. I am extremely delighted to serve as a Samurai for this upcoming edition.
- Magali Berardo (Italy)
Magali Berardo (Italy)
In 2007 in Turin, Italy, Magali Berardo founded her company Musicalista, a booking agency representing artists like Bombino, Fatoumata Diawara, Bab L'Bluz and many others. Besides managing her agency, she works as a consultant collaborating with important national cultural institutions. An action taker and creative thinker, over the years, Magali oversaw the growth of her agency which is now a strategic hub for Italian artists abroad and international artists in Italy.
Lize Colson (Belgium)
Lize Colson is the jazz and traditional music representative at VI.BE, the contact point for musicians and the music industry in Flanders and Brussels. You might know her from the Belgium Booms stand at WOMEX, which she hosts with her partners from Wallonie-Bruxelles Musiques. Before working at VI.BE, she worked at Aubergine Artist Management, Ghent Festival of Flanders, was a board member of the European Folk Network for several years, and was an active blogger for This is Antwerp.
Photo by Marktsteeg
Francis de Souza (The Netherlands)
Based in The Netherlands, Francis has been part of the world music family for more than 30 years. He is an agent at EBB Music (a merger of Earth Beat and BLiP), a freelance DJ, and a programmer for a small venue called De X, along with three other music festivals.
Photo by Gideon Elfgen
Antonio Martinez (Spain/Germany)
Antonio Martinez grew up in Germany with Galician roots and founded Endirecto in 1997. As a label, booking agency and concert promoter, Endirecto is focused on promoting music and culture from Spanish-speaking countries with a particular emphasis on Cuba. Since 2012, Antonio has been part of Nordesía, the local partner for WOMEX in A Coruña. He is also one of the initiators of Primera Linea, a meeting for music professionals that have been taking place in Havana since 2016.
Takuya Salam Unagami (Japan)
Music and food writer, radio DJ, lecturer, and MC and resident DJ for Blue Galaxy at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, Takuya, since the 1980s, has been regularly visiting the Middle East and India to research local music, food and culture. He has published ten books (five about Global Music and five about Middle Eastern cooking). Takuya's radio show, 'Oriental Music Show' on J-WAVE, won the Best Radio Entertainment Award, and "Ongaku Yuran Hiko" on NHK is Japan's most popular Global Music programme in Japan.
The Club Summit Curator 2023
Photo by Miriam Kurztusch
Daniel Fernando Wahl (Mexico/Germany)
Daniel Fernando Wahl is a Germexican DJ, also known as Daferwa, based in Cologne, Germany. In addition, he is a radio journalist and music curator with WDR Cosmo. Daniel has been a part of the global club scene since 2007 and has shared decks, hosted, and premiered countless internationally renowned club acts at his events.
WOMEX Jury Process in a Nutshell
The WOMEX Jury, established in 1999, comprises independent jury members, who change annually and who come from all over the world.
Our yearly call for proposals is open to any artist or music professional, living in any country or region globally. Based on the proposals submitted to them, the WOMEX Jury aims and strives to build a balanced programme.
WOMEX aspires to reflect the music and the music community in all fairness and equity. The Jury balances their programme by taking into account various elements of diversity and inclusivity (among them gender, culture, indigeneity, age, performance style, representation, professional readiness, advocacy, tradition, innovation, and region) that are required on stage and in the Conference sessions.
Since 2012, WOMEX has hosted the Club Summit, a series of club showcases highlighting the most exciting and breakthrough DJs, music producers and electronic sounds from the global underground. An independent curator, along with the in-house WOMEX team, curates the lineup for the Club Summit.
The WOMEX Jury's selection reflects the proposals received every year. If you, our beloved community, perceive any elements missing, then please help us by spreading the word, and help us fill any gaps with your pro-active encouragement and outreach. We are open for all input!