The Royal Drummers and Dancers of Burundi

Considered one of the best percussion ensembles on this planet, Burundi's top drummers have been touring the world since the 1960s. Their vibrant power and precision on twenty drums originally accompanied kings of this central African nation. At home, their music is considered sacred and is linked to regeneration and fertility. But the heart-stopping rhythms have crossed social and cultural barriers worldwide. Spectators at their concerts rarely remain indifferent to the complex and compelling sounds and dance the musicians create.

Few people are aware of the key rold played by these former royal percussionists in the genesis of the "world music" phenomenon. Yet it was one of their performances that inspired artistic director Thomas Brooman to set up the first WOMAD festival in 1982. By then, they had been touring the world for two decades and appeared on the Joni Mitchell album "The hissing of summer lawns" in 1975.