WOMEX 2005

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  Tiken Jah Fakoly, an Ivorian living in exile in Mali, is a gifted, articulate artist from who uses his reggae-driven lyrics to challenge the devastating condition of the Ivory Coast and gives the global status quo a verbal kicking too. (Photo by Dan Brady)

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  Tikan Jah Fakoly. (Photo by Dan Brady).

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  The mighty Tikan Jah Fakoly taking flight! Thanks Tiken for one of my best dances at Womex yet! I ate up the dance floor.

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  Africa on Your Street host, Rita Ray, being interviewed by Radio Newcastle's Ian Robinson in front of the BBC Bus.

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  AOYS hosts Rita Ray and Yve Ngoo in front of Newcastle's Millennium Bridge.

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  Bi Kidude, 93-year-old Taarab singer and Unyago drumming specialist from Zanzibar, receiving the prestigious Womex Prize. (Photo by Mark Savage).

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  Thandiswa Mazwai from South Africa, the red-hot rising queen of Afro-pop. (Photo by Dan Brady).

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  Thandiswa Mazwai's backing singers, belting out a mix of traditional amaXhosa roots with gospel, reggae and pop influences. (Photo by Dan Brady).

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  Julien Jacob et moi. I was so happy to finally meet him - a super gentle and very nice person... and look we have the same nose!

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  Julien Jacob performing his own well, 'made up' language. Here he's jumping around to a track from his latest album, 'Cotonou'. (Photo by Dan Brady).

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  Atongo Zimba in BBC Radio Newcastle's Blue blue bus, being interviewed by Ian Robinson before performing a showcase for AOYS.

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  Julien Jacob, from Benin and now living in France. (Photo by Dan Brady).

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  Cherifa from Morocco is a former herdswoman from the Atlas mountains, now bringing the power of Berber singing to the stage.

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  Derrick Ashong of Sweet Mother Tour and me, rocking on the dancefloor.

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  A Ghanaian star on the rise - Derrick Ashong, singer Maria de Barros (from Cape Verde) and DJ Dudu Sarr.

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  The powerful desert blues singer Mariem Hassan talks backstage to an American reporter about the hardships of the Saharaui people in the refugee camps. She has become a spokeswoman in their struggle to regain freedom and independence.

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  Backstage with the incredible Mariem Hassan and her drummers from Western Sahara.

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  DJs extraordinaire Dudu Sarr and Eric Soul at the Sage Gateshead.

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  Seeing her as you've never seen her before; AOYS Producer Tessa Watt throwing some shapes on the dancefloor with DJ Eric Soul.

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  Jagwa Music from Dar es Salam, Tanzania blew the audience away with their high octane performance.Their instruments are basic, from a small hand-held organ to a battered old stool hit with sticks, but their energy is awesome. (Photo by Dan Brady).

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  The dancers of Jagwa Music, with a combination of gymnastics, mime and suggestive pelvic action!

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  More pelvic thrusting from the amazing Jagwa Music. (Photo by Dan Brady).

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  Jagwa Music offstage, hanging out in the concourse of the Sage, Gateshead.

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  Vusi Mahlasela - much loved and known simply as 'The Voice' in his native South Africa.

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  Me and the gang on the last day of Womex.

Some of Africa's hottest acts played at the Sage Gateshead on Tyneside for WOMEX 05. See AOYS host, Shaheera Asante's photo-diary: