A Nyabinghi ceremony opened the festivities on the main Valley Stage at Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Boonville. Kat Gleason photo.
By Kat Gleason
There were smiles for miles happening this weekend at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Boonville.
It’s been five years since the annual festival last happened, and the joyful feeling of reunification of faraway friends of family was palpable.
The audience enjoying an afternoon set by recent Grammy Award winner Kabaka Pyramid at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, happening this weekend at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville.Kat Gleason photo.
The audience enjoying an afternoon set by recent Grammy Award winner Kabaka Pyramid at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, happening this weekend at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville.Kat Gleason photo.“The music has become almost secondary,” said the late SNWMF founder Warren Smith as he was interviewed in Australia several years back. “It’s the community, the vibe that is created with all of us coming together. We’ve been doing this since 1994…we have families that have grown up coming here.”
Smith was known for his gregarious and humble nature, and his love for reggae and world music. SNWMF is world renowned for bringing out a blend of classic roots Reggae artists and a unique combination of international acts.
SNWMF is a 3 day festival, with many people coming from all over and camping for the weekend.
Sundays line-up included the iconic Burning Spear, who now only rarely preforms. This was his only appearance in California.
Sunday also featured Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, out of Mail, Africa, who last preformed at the London Symphony and the Kennedy Center in D.C. Sunday also featured Jamaican star Protege, the venerable Lila Iké and Hawaiian star Jordan T.
SNWMF is about the music, yes, but it is also about the culture. The food, featuring flavors from throughout the globe, the vendors, selling unique articles of clothing and handmade collectibles, the Kids Zone with its full schedule of guided activities, and the late night dancehall.
And of course, this festival celebrates the global community of humans united under the banner of One Love. “We have a sign at the entrance that says ‘ Leave Your Troubles Behind’ said Smith. “And people do that, they come here and everyone just gets along.”
This year SNWMF was dedicated to the memory of Warren Smith. His wife Gretchen Franz, with the help of her amazing team, brought back the feeling and the vibe of the SNWMF has become famous for.
“Trust me, all over the world, people know Sierra Nevada World Music Festival,” said Jamaican Superstar Luciano in his post performance interview Friday. “This festival is on par with all of the great ones. It really is quite special, and Gretchen has done an incredible job of carrying that tradition on.”
“I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of people that believe that music has the power to transcend boundaries,” said Franz, “and, as Warren used to say to me, it makes us realize that we are so much more similar than we are different…this community has been a gift to my life, and I think we all just need to really love one another.”
“We absolutely love hosting this event in Boonville, said Franz, “I really want the good people of Mendocino County to get the opportunity to experience how special this event is.”
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