New Mexico's Annual Celebration of World Music & Culture
BIA FERREIRA (Brazil)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Bia Ferreira is a Brazilian singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and artivist. Her music, which she defines as "MMP — Música de Mulher Preta" (Black Woman Music) - discusses topics such as feminism, anti-racism, homophobia and love all harnessed to a blend of funky beats, reggae and soul ballad grooves.
Bia comes from a rural town in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil, born into a family of evangelical missionaries. Her mother is a pianist and choir leader, and her father a pastor. She began studying piano at the age of three and continued her studies at the Brazilian Music Conservatory where she learned to play dozens of different instruments. She grew up singing in the family church, whic resuted in notable trauma: at the age of 12, she says, she wrote her first song – a plea to god to “cure” her thoughts that she was a lesbian. That didn't happen.
She claims her music is created to generate "discomfort" that in turn generates "movement", at the same time that she tries to write songs pleasant enough to get her message across. Her lyrics have been described as "escrevivência" - a portmanteau of escrita (writing) and vivência (life experience), a concept of Afro-Brazilian writer Conceição Evaristo.
New Mexico & Southwest Debut!
TARWA N-TINIRI (Morocco)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
The all-Amazigh (Berber) Tarwa N-Tiniri are a five-piece desert blues band from Ouarzazate, Morocco. These childhood friends came together to form a band that would become a musical force representing the soul of the Amazigh people and the vast, rugged landscapes of the desert. Their music is a vibrant tapestry of culture, tradition, and heartfelt expression. Tarwa N-Tiniri means "sons of the desert".
Through their songs, the band addresses a wide range of social and cultural issues, offering a glimpse into the everyday lives of the Amazigh people and the challenges faced by nomadic communities in the desert and mountainous regions. Their lyrical themes also delve into the universal realms of love, friendship, and the desire for peace.
“We are the desert generation, the generation that must accept the responsibility of restoring the desert people’s culture, dignity and confidence.”
New Mexico & Southwest Debut!
YEISON LANDERO (Colombia)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Yeison Landero was born in San Jacinto, Bolívara, a town located in the Montes de María region of Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
He carries in his soul a cumbiambero heart inherited from his grandfather Andrés Landero: a musician recognized as - the king of cumbia - nationally and internationally. At just seven years old, he began learning under Andrés' guidance, gaining not only technical skill but also an understanding of the emotional and cultural depth of música de la sabana (music of the savanna).
Not only did he inherited his grandfather’s love for cumbia and the accordion, but also the talent to interpret melodies. In his early years, Yeison’s home was a frequent stop by musicians entertaining at parties with their incomparable talents. Alfredo Gutiérrez, Lizandro Meza, Enríquez Díaz, Adolfo Pacheco Anillo, the legendary pipers of San Jacinto, and Abel Antonio Villa are all renowned musicians with whom Yeison nurtured his traditional style - a take on the style of cumbia that his grandfather adapted, which transposes harmony and melody suited to gaitas (traditional long wooden flutes), to the accordion.
“Cumbia is love,” says Landero. “It’s freedom, it’s resilience, and it’s legacy. It is also resistance. It’s music from farmers, from very humble people, but with a very deep message of love.
New Mexico & Southwest Debut!
CHEIKH IBAR FAM (Sénégal)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
As a child growing up in Dakar, Cheikh Ibra Fam sang spiritual songs in the Baye Fall tradition, a Muslim spiritual brotherhood focused on tolerance and peace, heard Afro-Cuban music on the home stereo and fell in love with the voice of Otis Redding. Later, he became enamored with hip-hop and released 3 albums under the stage name Freestyle. After 6 years singing with the legendary Orchestra Baobab, Cheikh Ibra Fam launched his solo-career in 2022 with an appealing blend of Afropop, funk, jazz, soul, and roots music.
Growing up, Cheikh was no stranger to change. His father, the director of Senegal’s Customs Office, frequently relocated the family, taking them to cities like Dakar, Thies, Rufisque, and Kaolack. These moves exposed young Cheikh to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Senegal. Amid these transitions, Cheikh found solace in music. From the age of seven, he joined kourels, traditional Senegalese choirs known for their spiritual melodies. These gatherings became his first classroom, teaching him the rhythms and tones that would one day define his career.
Cheikh’s songs are more than melodies - they are messages, a call to action. His songs remind us of the power of heritage, the necessity of love, and the courage to confront the challenges of our time. Cheikh Ibra Fam’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and a commitment to using music as a force for good. Cheikh’s true mission lies in connecting people.
“It’s not about me,” he says. “It’s about the messages in my songs - love, tolerance, understanding, and justice.”