The 9th ESTAM World Music Festival is set to take place on August 28 and 29 at the Summer Stage of the Student Cultural Center in Kragujevac, Serbia. This year’s festival will feature performances from artists hailing from Italy, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Serbia, emphasizing the dynamic and evolving nature of world music. The event is open to the public with free admission, aiming to attract a diverse audience and encourage community participation.
The festival organizers have highlighted the fluidity of music as a central theme, focusing on genres that blend traditional and contemporary influences. “Music of the world is not a static exhibit in a museum of tradition. It is living matter that constantly travels, merges, and seeks new paths,” they stated. This year’s program showcases artists who reinterpret the past with a modern twist, creating a dialogue between tradition and contemporary expression.
Among the performers, the Italian trio Yarákä will take the stage on August 28. Known for their unique fusion of southern Italian tradition, Mediterranean melodies, and African and Amazonian rhythms, Yarákä’s music transcends genre boundaries. Their work explores ancient rituals and the primal connections between humans and nature, offering a universal musical language. The trio, consisting of Gianni Sciambarruto, Virginia Pavone, and Simone Carrino, has gained international recognition, with their album “Curannera” reaching the fourth position on the World Music Charts Europe.
Also performing on the first night is TRANSMIssION from North Macedonia, an original project by percussionist and composer Aco Petrov. This ensemble blends traditional Balkan music with contemporary jazz, centered around the ancient drum goč. The group includes vocalist Tanja Carovska, guitarist Filip Dinev, and double bassist Dine Donef, who together create a sound that bridges folklore and modern improvisation.
On August 29, the Croatian duo Dunjaluk will perform, featuring singer Dunja Bahtijarević and guitarist Luka Čapeta. Their work involves contemporary reinterpretations of Bosnian sevdah songs, infusing them with diverse musical influences such as noise, punk, jazz, and classical techniques. Bahtijarević, who moved to Croatia as a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, focuses on traditional songs, seeking new contexts to breathe life into them. Čapeta, a composer and producer, contributes to the duo’s exploration of their cultural roots and the creation of new musical narratives.
The ESTAM World Music Festival has a history of fostering cultural exchange and innovation in music. Previous editions have served as a platform for artists to explore and reinterpret traditional music within modern contexts, promoting a vibrant dialogue between different musical traditions. This year’s festival continues this tradition, celebrating music as a living, evolving art form that transcends geographical and genre boundaries.
Despite the festival’s international participation and innovative approach, there are uncertainties regarding audience turnout and the impact of recent cultural events on public interest. The festival’s public-interest score is relatively low, which may pose challenges in attracting attention. However, the organizers hope that the free access and diverse lineup will draw a wide audience, fostering community engagement and cultural appreciation.
The ESTAM World Music Festival in Kragujevac offers a unique opportunity to experience the dynamic interplay of traditional and contemporary music, highlighting the universal language of music that connects people across cultures and time.
