By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Festival des Traditions du Monde (FTM) begins this Wednesday in Sherbrooke. The Record contacted general director Malika Bajjaje over the phone for the details.
“I’ve been the general director [of the festival] for about 11 years,” she began, which is a full-time job. This is the festival’s 26th year; 100 shows will take place over five days, along with many other activities and workshops.
North American, Quebecois and African cultures, amongst others, will be represented, she said, including local artists. “There will be many international groups this year,” she stated, from places like France and Morocco. “There will be many new [music] groups, and many [music] groups return, because the public loves them so much,” Bajjaje said.
According to the FTM website, musicians such as Namgar (Mongolian traditional music), Ishtar Connection (Arabic ‘vibrations’), and Yves Lambert (Quebec Traditional Music) will perform.
The event will include themed pavilions such as the Shack d’Amérique, Palais de l’Orient and the Pub Irlandias.
An area will be set up, the ‘Family Corner’, for activities for children, which will include a small water park.
