WOMAD Festival has announced the first wave of artists for its 2020 line-up at Charlton Park near Malmesbury this July.

Fresh from her win at the Grammys last month, Angelique Kidjo makes a return to the festival with her striking voice, electrifying rhythms and fusion of West African traditions with R&B, funk and jazz.

Malian songstress Fatoumata Diawara’s distinctive, energetic and powerful performance will be kicking off the festival on Thursday night, whilst iconic wordsmith Kate Tempest makes her WOMAD debut.

Other acts include Queen of Portuguese fado Mariza, avant-garde rock band The Flaming Lips and iconic Haitian group RAM, who will showcase their exuberant, joyous mizik rasin – a mix of percussive Vodou music, rock and funk

Now celebrating its 38th, the festival is a melting pot of music, dance, food, art, spoken-word, poetry, science and more, embracing the joys of diversity and tolerance.

As well as the stellar line-up of musicians taking to the stage, the festival offers a chance to celebrate the spoken word in the World of Words with talks, debates, panels and performances, to get even closer to the artists as they rustle up their favourite dishes from home at Taste the World and to be inspired in the World of Physics with workshops galore.

Festival-goers can also chill out in style at the World of Wellbeing with hundreds of therapies to heal your mind, body and soul and, for the younger ones, a whole universe of fun and games at the World of Children.

Festival director Chris Smith said: “WOMAD has always been a beacon of positivity and joy in the world – a place where people can come and unreservedly be themselves without fear of judgment.

“We are proud to welcome artists, performers, traders and festival-goers from all over the world to come together and enjoy a wonderful weekend of music – this year’s line up is our most exciting and diverse yet and the stories behind some of the artists are just astonishing.”

Tickets are now on sale. The full line-up can be found at womad.co.uk