Benjamin Hunter: Let the Metamorphosis begin at Folklife Festival this weekend!

By Vaughn Williams

Metamorphosis; the process of transformation. The world is changing, and so are art and culture. The 51st Northwest Folklife Festival is upon us, and this year's festival is all about change. Metamorphosis is the theme of this year's event, witness the intersection between art and culture, from May 27-30 at the Seattle Center. The time is now to become a participant in the evolution of folk and help metamorphosize what it means to be a part of the Seattle community.

Today, the Morning Update Show was greeted by Artistic Director of Northwest Folklife Benjamin Hunter. Hunter opened his interview by captivating the entire studio with this phrase, "I believe folk will save the world.” To Hunter, folk is the center of human creative ingenuity. 

"When we talk about folk and craft and storytelling and music, we're talking about the things that reinforce our personhood. We're talking about the things that reinforce our individual and our collective identities," said Hunter. 

The central theme of this year's Northwest Folklife Festival is metamorphosis. Change has been happening all around us for years. The majority of the population experienced an abundance of change accelerated by the pandemic. “People are afraid of change, and intrinsic and inherent in folk is change," said Hunter. He believes that through folk, change can be articulated and embraced.

Hunter also wants to change the way people perceive the word folk. "There's this stigma that the word folk is assigned to, you know, maybe an old white dude playing a banjo, that's not wrong, but there's a bigger picture, folk is international," said Hunter. His mission is to open up the folk genre to everyone because storytelling is a part of everyone's culture.

During Hunter's time in Zimbabwe, he recalled learning dances and songs for a program and going around to multiple schools to perform these dances. According to Hunter, these dances were their way of storytelling. It was folk. "That's the folk music. That's their storytelling," said Hunter.

Hunter continued to mention famous blues singers and noted how they did not consider themselves blues musicians. They considered themselves folk. According to Hunter, these musicians were put into a box by the music industry. To Hunter, folk is more than just a label.

"Folk isn't a genre. It's a lifestyle. It's a feeling," said Hunter.

Northwest Folklife, partnered with Converge Media, will be live streaming this event. This year, the festival has many amazing opportunities that include but are not limited to live performances, and food and craft vendors. This event is free! Make sure to be there, "it's going to be a big party," said Hunter.

Northwest Folklife Festival will be from May 27-30, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Seattle Center visit https://nwfolklife.org/ to learn more.