'SFINKS Mixed' festival - The shared discovery of music

Europe once again played host to the SFINKS festival, where the greatest names in music headlined and the artists of the future were revealed. For its 22nd edition which took place from July 29 to 31, 2011 the ' SFINKS Mixed' festival (the festival has always avoided using the term "world music" since all music is considered to be world music) has transformed the small city of Boechout near Antwerp, Belgium into a cosmopolitan capital.

This festival is one of the very few to have managed to hold on to its relaxed feel and affordable entrance fees. It‘s a monument of the world’s cultural heritage. This year, Gypsy culture and the Far East were in the spotlight. As ever, there was a strong African and the Caribbean presence.

More than in the past, the songs of Alpha Blondy, an African star, mirrored the sorrows of his country, Ivory Coast. He won the public over with his sadly topical laments and songs conveying rebelliousness. Joaquin Diaz from the Caribbean country of the Dominican Republic performed a very exciting 'perico ripiao ’ - a meringue combining rhythmic brilliance with mellow moments.

SFINKS is a festival where fans come to spot the next exciting thing rather than to listen to well-known musicians. They definitely got their money’s worth this year.  Lead singer of Bomba Estereo, Li from Colombia is someone to watch. She can be compared with Nelly Furtado or Toto La Momposina, two other great musicians from the most Caribbean country of South America.

Hegel Goutier