Amsterdam Roots Festival
For almost 40 years, Amsterdam Roots Festival has brought together a diverse crowd from the neighborhood, city, surrounding areas, across the Netherlands, and beyond. People of all lifestyles, ages, and backgrounds gather here, whether new to the city or lifelong residents. Everyone is welcome to enjoy Amsterdam Roots Festival together.
Through music, circus, dance, theater, conversations, and spoken word, artists tell their stories about their ‘roots.’ Amsterdam Roots creates a space for traditions and developments from around the world while also highlighting local happenings. New generations, for whom it is natural to have roots in multiple places and incorporate their heritage into their art, present their stories through music, circus, dance, theater, and discussions in an environment where everyone feels free and safe to be themselves.
History
Amsterdam Roots Festival is a festival with a long history of major artists and innovative collaborations. The first edition took place in 1983 at the Melkweg, under the name “Africa Roots Festival.” Many artists with millions of fans in Africa, but little recognition in Europe, performed here: Franco OK Jazz, Fela Kuti, King Sunny Adé, Salif Keita, Manu Dibango, and Youssou N’dour.
During Amsterdam Cultural Capital in 1987, the Amsterdam Roots Meeting ’87 took place: a large-scale festival at various locations with music not only from Africa but from all over the world. This led to the first World Roots Festival: a musical world tour featuring a wide range of cultures and music styles.
Over ten years of World Roots, the festival grew further, and new venues and theaters joined. In addition to the Melkweg, concerts were held at the Concertgebouw and Vondelpark, among others. In 1998, it was decided to merge the program of the World Roots Festival with the Sugar Spice program of the Holland Festival and the Tropentheater to form the Amsterdam Roots Festival. Since then, Amsterdam Roots Festival has been held annually in various venues and theaters, culminating in a grand finale with Roots Open Air in the Oosterpark.
In 2017, the scope of Amsterdam Roots was expanded from a world music festival to a multidisciplinary festival, including music, circus, dance, theater, and programs that offer more context. All these different art forms complement each other and enhance the impact. This way, we can do justice to the diversity of stories and bring new experiences to a broader audience. Amsterdam Roots focuses on art forms that are musical and physical, connecting the audience through music, dance, and circus, as well as art forms that tell stories, raise awareness, and stimulate conversation, such as theater, storytelling, spoken word, and in-depth programs.
