Minyo Crusaders

When Film fra Sør and Cosmopolite join forces once again, we open the doors to an evening where film and music reflect one another — across continents, traditions, and expressions.

The night begins with mingling and screenings of short films, before we gather for the concert. In the days leading up to it, you’ll also have the chance to get to know the band through special festival screenings of their documentary.

Minyo Crusaders draw from the Japanese folk music tradition of min’yō — songs historically connected to work, rituals, and everyday life across different regions of Japan. With deep respect for the material, but without being bound by it, they open the tradition up and let it meet rhythms from around the world.

The result is a sound where Japanese melodies move seamlessly through cumbia, afrobeat, reggae, and Latin American influences. It is precise, rhythmic, and full of energy — yet still rooted in something older, in stories that continue to resonate.

Since forming in Tokyo in 2011, Minyo Crusaders have built a strong international following, performing at festivals such as Roskilde Festival, WOMAD, and Sziget Festival. With their album From Japan With Love (2026), they continue to develop their sound — guided by a clear love for the tradition they come from, and a curiosity for where it can go next.

This evening at Cosmopolite is an invitation to experience exactly that: how old songs can find new life, and how music and film together can open spaces we didn’t know we needed.

More information about the short films before the concert will be announced soon.

Please note: In the days leading up to the concert, you can also get to know the band through screenings of the documentary Bring Minyo Back! at the festival.

About Film fra Sør:

Film fra Sør is the world coming to Oslo. A world of strange, moving, unsettling, and joyful stories that hit you in the gut and open hearts. With the newest and best from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Oslo’s oldest film festival brings us closer to cultures some know deeply and others are only beginning to discover. Together with powerful stories, international guests, and exciting events, Film fra Sør has become one of the city’s most important cultural arenas.

The 36th edition of Film fra Sør takes place from November 5–15, 2026.