From August 5-9 in Nosy Be, the 13th edition of the Sômarôho Festival aims to bring together Malagasy people from all six provinces around music, culture and tourism. Wawa presents this 13th edition under the banner of unity.
Led by singer Wawa and organized in partnership with Yas Madagascar, the Sômarôho Festival returns to Nosy Be from August 5-9 with a clear ambition: to unite Madagascar's six provinces in a single cultural gathering as a symbol of national unity, where artists, residents, tourists and the diaspora will share five days of celebration.
This year holds special significance for the artist. The Sômarôho Festival reaches its 13th edition, while the Wawa group celebrates 23 years of existence and its founder marks 25 years of musical career. "I want above all to thank my audience. My goal is not only to make money, but also to offer a great moment of joy, despite the difficulties many people face," he says.
Born Joël Andriamahazo Issoubaly, Wawa began as a drummer with the group Dr JB, with which he performed for seven years and recorded two albums. In 2003, he launched a solo career in Nosy Be under the name Wawa. Over the years, his group's anniversary celebration grew until it became the Sômarôho Festival, now considered one of the country's major cultural events.
An accomplished musician, composer, arranger and performer, Wawa lives exclusively from his art. He is recognized for his warm rhythms, blending mainly salegy, reggae and mogotro. Author of over a hundred songs, he regularly composes new pieces inspired by his travels and emotions. "My audience's loyalty rests on respect for quality work and my constant desire to offer quality performances," he affirms.
The program will showcase the richness of Malagasy culture through numerous activities. A grand carnival will open the festivities with an opening ball, followed by sports activities, the election of Miss and Mister Sômarôho, and tourist discoveries of Nosy Be island. For Wawa, the festival goes far beyond music. "We are all one family in Madagascar. The festival must unite the six provinces so everyone can benefit," he explains. According to him, the event benefits the entire population, particularly hotels, merchants and tourism actors, thanks to the influx of visitors from different regions of the country, the diaspora and abroad.
The musical lineup will feature around twenty Malagasy artists, including Théo Rakotovao, Tence Mena, Wendy Catalina, Basta Lion, Lowis, Parish and Wawa himself. International artists are also expected, including Jamaican singer Shenseea, a rising figure on the international scene, as well as artists from Réunion and Mayotte. Wawa emphasizes: "Shenseea's participation responds to strong public demand and represents one of the major challenges of this edition."
Organizing an event of such scale presents real challenges. Between artist fees, plane tickets and unforeseen circumstances related to certain cancellations, Wawa acknowledges facing several difficulties over the editions. Despite these obstacles, he continues his commitment with the same conviction: "To make the Sômarôho Festival a showcase for Madagascar and a gathering capable of uniting Malagasy people around their culture."