An asset for Ghana and a treasure to Africa, Wiyaala is once again mounting the world stage at the annual HowTheLightGetsIn Festival, taking place at the Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh border, London.
The festival which covers music, philosophy, comedy and academics will work under the theme ‘Uncharted Territory’ for 2020 in celebration of its 11th year since inception. Coming in as performers alongside Wiyaala are; Nitin Sawhney, Molotov Jukebox, CoCo and the Butterfields, Grammy winner Aoife O’Donovan, Belle and Sebastian, Ren Harvieu, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Linton Kwesi-Johnson, Melt Yourself Down, Oh My God! It’s The Church, Stealing Sheep, Ferris and Sylvester, Harpo Smith, The Correspondents, Flats and Sharps, Blaenavon Male Voice Choir, Tugboat Captain, Black Kat Boppers, THePETEBOX, The Urban Voodoo Machine and Mr Tea and the Minions.
The festival is expected to run for four days from May 22-25 with 12 music stages set up for performances from the mentioned acts. This year will also mark the festival’s first ever dedicated Children’s and Young Adults’ Programme, with a specially curated programme of talks for younger minds plus interactive workshops, games and fairground rides and more.
On the bench of speakers to share in one or two experiences are currently confirmed names, Paul Mauldoon (Pulitzer-Prize winning poet), Penny Mordaunt (leading Brexiteer), Kwame Kwei-Armah (artistic director of the Young Vic), Simon Blackburn (philosopher of ethics), John Ellis (theoretical physicist) and Polly Tonybee (columnist and activist).
Based on the popularity and acceptance of the festival’s lineup of activities, it is able to attract a total of 30,000 participants each year.
Cited on the official website of the festival, Wiyaala is being described as ‘Ghana’s leading international touring artist’ and with obvious accomplishments in her fast running career, she sure does fit the description given.
