Sound of the World – Festival of Cultures, Kammgarn KL

Twelve Years of World Music in Kaiserslautern

Sound of the World is one of the oldest and most renowned world music festivals in Rhineland-Palatinate. Since 2015, Kammgarn Kaiserslautern has annually invited artists whose music transcends the boundaries of genres and continents. The 2026 edition consistently continues this program, bringing together three acts from three very different sonic traditions.

Kolinga – Franco-Congolese Sound Fusion

On June 10th, the Paris-based band Kolinga opens the festival. Influenced by the Congolese heritage of their singer Rébecca M'Boungou, the group combines Rumba, Jazz, Soul, and Hip Hop into music that oscillates between Africa and Europe. Their album Legacy received international attention; in the intimate setting of the Cotton Club, the band unfolds its special atmosphere between a concert evening and an acoustic travelogue.

Dobet Gnahoré – AfroPop from Ivory Coast

On June 11th, Ivorian singer and dancer Dobet Gnahoré takes the stage. With her voice, which blends Mandé traditions, Bété rhythms, and modern AfroPop elements, she is one of the most significant voices in contemporary African music creation. A Grammy for her collaboration with India.Arie made her known beyond the Francophone world. Her concert at Kammgarn is an encounter with the pinnacle of African pop.

Cristina Branco – Fado from Portugal

On June 12th, Portuguese singer Cristina Branco concludes the festival with a Fado evening. Branco belongs to the generation that developed classic Fado after Amália Rodrigues, reinterpreting it with literary texts, contemporary compositions, and subtle instrumentation. Her performance at the Cotton Club is a focused concert evening for lovers of Portuguese music and for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the melancholic depth of Fado.