For those in Dubai, this weekend promises to be an exciting close to what is globally known as ‘Women’s Month’, with regional-favourite FemmeFest returning for its 2nd edition.
The concept was initially founded by DJ & Culture Producer Megatronic, with the last two editions being powered by creative umbrella and storytelling platform Tawahadna founded by Stavros Antypas. FemmeFest is both a local and digitally-global hybrid festival that celebrates female-identifying SWANA Artists and Musicians by forms of collaboration.
Being an audio/visual journey, rave, and educational movement, the festival aims to bring together audiences through live performances, parties, panel discussions, and workshops. In 2021, despite COVID restrictions, the show went on with the festival being screened for virtual audiences, with live acts for locals.
It was organically attended by over 2240 unique digital visitors and 500 in-person, garnering international attention and press. As a result, FemmeFest was invited to attend and partake in December 2021’s renowned XP Music Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This year, FemmeFest is back in full live-force – under the theme of ‘Digital Mother Earth’, the focus is not just celebrating female-identifying SWANA artists – but the relationships that were digitally formed between this creative community over the past year of the pandemic.
As FemmeFest shared with SceneNoise: “Through the rise of digital relationships, the long-distance dance kept us from darkness and solitude. We found the light through a digital conduit, a saving grace. As we rekindle our physical connections, we pay tribute to all things digital. As the ultimate embodiment of creation, Mother Nature guides and inspires us. This time we celebrate this personification of nature in our meta-lives.”
Visitors of FemmeFest can look forward to an all-female identifying lineup boasting live musicians, singers, and DJs. In the spirit of edutainment, visitors can also benefit from the various workshops and panel discussions from the region’s leading experts in music and SWANA-female empowerment.
FemmeFest will kick off on Friday March 25th at 7 PM with sets from Sudanese DJ Nourkay, South African talent Jade with the Hat, Dubai’s very own Parvané, and Colombian DJ Bushbby. Closing the night is headliner Coco Em, DJ and producer hailing from Nairobi, Kenya.
The following afternoon, Saturday March 26th, the day will begin at 3 PM with a workshop with official knowledge partner Ableton, facilitated by Coco Em herself. In this one hour workshop, participants will run through the process of navigating the Ableton interface and creating their own beat.
From 4 PM-6 PM, FemmeFest’s second education partner feminist media company Womena will be holding a panel discussion on ‘Owning the Narrative’. The panel will feature Reem Hameed, Businesswoman and Cultural Consultant; Leila Hamdeh, CEO and Co-Founder of Finyal Media; Sarah Alagroobi, Artist, Curator, and Educator; and Rythma Ekanayke, Writer and Creative Producer.
Saturday will end with live performances from Varshavin and Marcelina, with sets from Tunisian DJ Amal, Turkish-French DJ Vzline, Megatronic, Biirdperson, closing with Ronisa.
The festival will be held at One Life, Dubai Design District. Pre-ordered tickets are 100 AED, and 150 AED at the door. All tickets come with one free soft or hard drink.
Book your tickets via the link here: https://ra.co/events/1510737
