'We come to Womad every year. It's perfect for the kids. It's so child-friendly. Femi Kuti is going to be absolutely electrifying this weekend. His voice is incredible. There are a lot of bands I haven't heard of, but I'm not going to rush around. The secret to a good festival is taking things as they come. Right now, sitting in the lunchtime sun, I'm feeling hot but also very chilled' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'I'm here on my own. My friends aren't into this sort of music – they prefer electronic – but I'm not going to let that hold me back. I absolutely love jazz, funk and African music. I want to see everything. People will come up and talk to me anyway, so I'll make friends. I think it's my ink sleeves – they're a conversation starter' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
Ella: 'We're dressed like rockabillies today, but tomorrow we'll probably look completely different. Rockabilly music is just one part of us.'
Josh: 'At Womad, you just follow your ears. Listening for syncopated beats, something you can jive to. Hugh Masekela is a must-see, and we're going to check out the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. We'll definitely be dancing to them. Sweating and dancing' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'Music is my language. I like everything. I'm into Black Sabbath, I play the cello, I like hip-hop. For me, Womad is all about the beats. I'll follow the sound of the drums, and see where they take me. I'll also be taking photos of the festival on my vintage Polaroid camera. The colours just glow, they're amazing. I want to capture the colourful flags, and the lovely way the blue sky and greenery come together.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'I'm working as a chef here. I'm originally from Tibet, but I'm a "free Tibet" protester so I can't go back. This weekend, I'm planning to smile at as many people as possible. I love how happy everyone is at Womad. The rest of the time everyone's so grumpy. I'll be at the Balkan Beat Box gig – I love Gypsy music. And it's my dream to see Jimmy Cliff play. I've got all his records.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'I'm a Spartan … The Spartans – Greece – Athens – the Olympics. It felt right. My toga had better stay on today. I don't normally wear boxer shorts, but I realised this morning that I couldn't go commando in this outfit, so I'm wearing my missus's cherry-print pants. They're giving me a wedgie.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'I bought this top hat at Womad last year. I spent ages looking for the perfect one. I wanted something that would make me stand out. It's helping me make friends. People are always coming up to me to ask for directions. I think I must look like a local; like a real festival person.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'The noisy things at Womad are my favourite. And the carousel. My mummy's going to help me make a felt dolly in the World of Kids area. I'm glad it's not muddy here and I don't have to wear wellies. It's just lots of nice grass.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'My mum got me a job selling balloons through a friend. It's very nice to walk around attached to a big bunch of colourful shiny things. Womad should be much better than Download. It was pouring with rain there. I got dragged into the mud by the wind and balloons and a man had to save me. I'm very happy to see the sun.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
Ryan: 'We've been together for nine months. Everyone thinks we're brother and sister, which is quite annoying. This is my fourth Womad and Amber's first festival. I come every year and work on the bar with a big group of friends. It's always a great atmosphere. I like how I've never heard of anyone on the line-up, and then I'll just stumble on some weird Chinese folk punk. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
Brenna: 'It can be stressful going to a festival with your parents. You're all cooped up in a hot tent and everyone's arguing. Luckily my friends are getting here later.'
Sarah: 'Brenna and I decided that we needed more colour in our lives so we went shopping together and only bought coloured clothes. That's why Womad's so perfect. You can wear whatever you want and no one will judge you.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'I'm busking with my hula hoops. I can make it move down my legs and back up, round my neck, up to my arm. I can even do it lying down. I've made about a tenner so far. Last year I made £70, and spent £40 of it on fairground rides and ice cream.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'When I'm busking in Bristol city centre for my train fare, dressed like this, I get odd looks. But I fit right in here. It's my first time at Womad. I've come with my mum and my brother. Mum's a big hippie at heart, and we're good mates. We both love art and music – that's basically all I'm interested in.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
Stephen: 'Corinne and I met at Womad nine years ago. I spotted her in the crowd watching Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango and thought: she looks nice. I moved closer and we started dancing. We've come back to Womad almost every year since. You'll find us at the BBC3 stage – it's great.'
Corinne: 'You can always spot a Womad kid; how chilled they are, how cultured. They're probably playing a flute or drums, and dancing. We want to bring the kids here every year so we raise them with a world awareness and a love of music.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'My dad's Nepalese and he sells jewellery on a stall at Womad. I've been to the festival four times. Our parents let us go off on our own and we do what we want. This is my favourite place: the Fire Toys store where we can learn to juggle. I'm not very good yet, but I'm practising as much as I can.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
'I'm here to see Khaled play on the Saturday night. I'd have come here just to see him. He's pretty much my favourite musician of all time. He's Algerian and the king of "rai" – a type of north African Berber music. He's totally anti-establishment, a Muslim that drinks and smokes. I'll be down at the front going for it. It'll be absolutely brilliant.' Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi
