During over 30 years of working on the English language folk scene, I've met performers from all over the world, but very few from Wales: Huw & Tony Williams, Robin Huw Bowen and Siwsann George...that's about it. But having moved into Wales – after a lifetime only 40 miles away in Manchester – I've discovered another world, with a history and culture I knew little about.
In the last couple of years I've started to learn the language, performed in the National Eisteddfod, and now I'm involved in a festival which can show the best of both cultures to an audience from both sides of the border. Hopefully, we'll share a wonderful weekend.
Dros mwy na thri deg o flynyddoedd yn gweithio yn y byd gwerin Saesneg, dw i 'di cyfarfod a pherfformwyr o'r holl fyd, ond dim llawer o Gymru: Huw a Tony Williams, Robin Huw Bowen a Siwsann George...'na gyd. Ond ar ol i mi symud i Gymru – o Fanceinion, dim ond pedwar deg milltir i ffwrdd – dw i 'di darganfod byd arall, efo diwylliant a hanes ag wybum i ddim.
Dechrais i ddysgu'r iaith dwy flwyddyn yn ol; dw i 'di perfformio yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru, a rwan dw i'n aelod pwyllgor Tegeingl, sy'n medru dangos y gorau'r dau ddiwylliant i gynulleidfa o'r dwy ochr y ffin. Dw i'n gobeithio bod ni'n rhannu penwythnos fendigedig.
Dw i'n gobeithio bod fy Nghymraeg yn iawn hefyd.
Les Barker
