WOMAD festival returns to Cape Town with global sound and local soul

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford chats to WOMAD SA Festival Director Dan Chiorboli and CEO of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Janet Jobson.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:

The internationally renowned World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) Festival, founded by musician Peter Gabriel, returns to Cape Town from 23 September to 5 October.

It's promising a bold and intimate celebration of global music, arts, and dance. 

Hosted across multiple venues, including the V&A Waterfront and St. George’s Cathedral, the festival is rooted in cultural exchange, spiritual connection, and community engagement.

A major highlight will be the Desmond Tutu United for Humanity Concert on Friday, 26 September, at the Cathedral, honouring the late Archbishop’s legacy of Ubuntu and reconciliation. 

The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, a key partner, sees this as a powerful opportunity to bring diverse communities together. 

Performers include the acclaimed Stellenbosch University Choir and international artists from Spain, Austria, and the United States.

"The Arch and Peter Gabriel were good friends. They did quite a lot of different initiatives together. We've decided with WOMAD to really use this as an opportunity to celebrate the Arch and to celebrate our shared humanity."

- Janet Jobson, CEO - Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation

"We want to bring together all those people who loved the Arch and all those people who love music into one venue to really celebrate together."

- Janet Jobson, CEO - Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation

Beyond concerts, the programme includes free community workshops, spoken word performances, and a rare showcase of 100 flamenco box drummers, echoing WOMAD's mission of cultural immersion. 

According to organisers, the festival’s boutique-style format (favoured by Gabriel) creates space for meaningful artist-audience interaction and deeper community impact. 

For more information about the festival, visit womadsa.co.za. 

"We've got something for everybody... very much a family environment, and it's a voyage of discovery."

- Dan Chiorboli, Festival Director - WOMAD SA

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.