WOMADelaide audiences can look forward to seeing Yemi Alade, the Queen of Afropop from Nigeria, Grammy-nominated reggae/dancehall star Protoje & The Indiggnation from Jamaica, and the legendary 90s hip-hop trio Digable Planets from the USA.
These artists will join 48 previously-announced performers, such as Róisín Murphy (Ireland), PJ Harvey (UK), Mariza (Portugal), Khruangbin (USA), and Nitin Sawhney (UK), all taking to the stage at Adelaide’s Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla from 7–10 March 2025.
Global icons to watch
Yemi Alade (Nigeria) is a household name, celebrated for her captivating blend of Afropop, dancehall, Amapiano, Afrobeat, reggae, rumba, and R’n’B. With an impressive array of accolades, including two MTV African Music Awards, two BET nominations, and being the first African woman nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards, Alade’s live performances are a spectacle to behold.
Protoje & The Indiggnation (Jamaica) bring a unique fusion of reggae, dancehall, hip hop, soul, and jazz. As a key figure in the ‘reggae revival’ movement, Protoje gained mainstream success with his 2015 hit Who Knows featuring Chronixx. With collaborations with artists such as Jorja Smith and Alicia Keys, and multiple Grammy nominations, Protoje continues to shape the sound of modern reggae.
Digable Planets (USA), pioneers of jazz-infused hip hop, continue to impress audiences more than 30 years after their debut. Known for their Grammy-winning track Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat), the trio will perform their classic album Blowout Comb along with other iconic hits.
Even more talent
The lineup also includes Bess Atwell (UK), a contemporary folk singer-songwriter, and Nana Benz du Togo (Togo), whose electrifying electro-voodoo-soul sound combines handmade instruments with electronic beats and powerful female vocals. Elisapie (Canada), a talented Inuk artist from Quebec, channels her homeland’s beauty and harshness in her soulful music, sung in the indigenous Inuktitut language.
The festival will also feature O. (UK), a London-based duo blending jazz, metal, and breakbeats; Sofia Kourtesis (Peru), a Berlin-based DJ known for her Latin American-inspired electronic sounds; DEVAURA (NZ/Aus), a rising star in the Australian music scene; and Owelu Dreamhouse (Aus), a new band blending psychedelic soul with West African traditions.
Celebrating local talent and cultural heritage
WOMADelaide continues to spotlight Australian talent, with performances by the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, whose mix of baroque choral arrangements and sacred songs in Western Arrarnta and Pitjantjatjara languages promises to be a highlight. Aaron Choulai’s Ane Ta Abia choral concert, created in collaboration with the 12-piece Tatana Village Choir, will mark the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s Independence.
The WOMADelaide x Northern Sound System Academy music development program has also uncovered rising stars like Bousta, an exciting hip-hop MC from Alice Springs, and Meena De Silva, a Sri Lankan-Australian pop/R&B artist blending classical training with soulful vocals.
Art and dining at WOMADelaide
French street theatre troupe ilotopie will return to Adelaide for the first time since 1992, offering a surreal, interactive performance where painted performers transform into living sculptures. Tilda Cobham-Hervey’s Dear Stranger will bring audiences together through a delightful exchange of anonymous stories, creating unexpected human connections.
For those looking to enjoy a refined dining experience, Sanctuary Restaurant returns in 2025, offering dishes inspired by Australia’s native ingredients and botanical diversity, with views over Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla.
WOMADelaide is a vibrant annual celebration of global music, arts, and dance, bringing diverse talent from around the world to Adelaide while providing a platform for homegrown Australian artists.
WOMADelaide takes place from 7–10 March 2025 at Adelaide’s Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla.
Pictured at top is Yemi Alade, the Queen of Afropop from Nigeria.
For WOMADelaide tickets, the full lineup, and more details, visit womadelaide.com.au
