World London
World London is the first in an annual series of festivals planned by Southbank Centre to celebrate the deep cultural roots of London's diverse communities. Ever since the Festival of Britain in 1951, Southbank Centre's various concert halls and performance spaces have provided a window onto the music and cultures of the world through landmark festivals and one-off performances by international stars. From Ravi Shankar's first UK appearance at the Royal Festival Hall in the 1950s to the phenomenon of Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares at the dawning of the world music boom of the 1980s; from Baaba Maal's stunning 1998 concert, to the unforgettable concert featuring Ozomatli and The Orishas in 2001. As the newly refurbished Royal Festival Hall opens its doors again over 50 years on, World London is a potent reminder of just how London's many and diverse communities have become enmeshed within the very fabric of the capital's commercial, culinary and cultural life - demonstrating just what makes this city of over 300 languages the most exciting place on the planet.
