From August 5 to 9 in Nosy Be, the 13th edition of the Sômarôho Festival aims to bring together Malagasy people from the six provinces through music, culture, and tourism.
This year holds special significance for the artist. The Sômarôho Festival is celebrating its 13th edition, while the group Wawa marks its 23rd anniversary and its founder celebrates 25 years of his musical career. “Above all, I want to thank my audience. My goal is not just to make money, but to offer a great moment of joy, despite the difficulties many people are facing,” he says.
Born Joël Andriamahazo Issoubaly, Wawa began his career as a drummer with the group Dr JB, with whom he performed for seven years and recorded two albums. In 2003, he launched his solo career in Nosy Be under the name Wawa. Over the years, the celebration of his group’s anniversary grew into the Sômarôho Festival, now considered one of the country’s largest cultural events.
An accomplished musician, composer, arranger, and performer, Wawa lives exclusively from his art. He is known for his warm rhythms, primarily blending salegy, reggae, and mogotro. Having authored over a hundred songs, he regularly composes new tracks inspired by his travels and emotions. “The loyalty of my audience is based on respect for hard work and my constant desire to offer quality shows,” he asserts.
The program will highlight the richness of Malagasy culture through numerous activities. A grand carnival will open the festivities with an opening ball, followed by sports events, the election of Miss and Mister Sômarôho, and tourist discoveries of the island of Nosy Be. For Wawa, the festival goes far beyond music. “We are all one family in Madagascar. The festival must bring the six provinces together so that everyone can benefit,” he explains. According to him, the event benefits the entire population, especially hotels, merchants, and tourism stakeholders, thanks to the influx of visitors from different regions of the country, the diaspora, and abroad.
The musical lineup will feature around twenty Malagasy artists, including Théo Rakotovao, Tence Mena, Wendy Catalina, Basta Lion, Lowis, Parish, and Wawa himself. International artists are also expected, including Jamaican singer Shenseea, a rising star on the international scene, as well as artists from Reunion Island and Mayotte. Wawa emphasizes: “Shenseea’s arrival responds to strong public demand and is one of the major challenges of this edition.”
Organizing an event of such magnitude, however, represents a real challenge. Between artist fees, airfare, and unforeseen issues related to cancellations, Wawa acknowledges having faced several difficulties over the years. Despite these obstacles, he continues his commitment with the same conviction: “To make the Sômarôho Festival a showcase for Madagascar and an event capable of uniting Malagasy people around their culture.”
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-15 06:12:26 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/festival-somaroho-wawa-reunit-les-six.html