Evangeline Kim’s Top World Music Albums of 2011

World music writer Evangeline Kim shares her list of Top World Music Albums of 2011. Evangeline is writer/contributing editor for National Geographic Music, TRACE Magazine, Afropop, Giant Step, Songlines Magazine and occasional contributor to World Music Central.

Top World Music Albums of 2011

Brazil: Baiana System – Ao Vivo Em 20 De Maio De 2011, Shanghai (Import)

Brazil: The Rough Guide to Brazilian Cafe (World Music Network)

Brazil: Red Hot + Rio 2 (Red Hot Organization)

Cambodia: The Cambodian Space Project – 2011: A Space Odyssey (Metal Postcard)

Cameroon: Blick Bassy – Hongo Calling (World Connections)

Colombia: The Original Sound of Cumbia (Soundway)

Cuba: The Creole Choir of Cuba – Tande-La (Real World Records)

Dominican Republic: Bachata Legends (iASO)

England: Andrew Cronshaw – The Unbroken Surface of Snow (Cloud Valley)

Finland: Arto Jarvela – Avovireessa Cross-tuned (OArt Music)

Iran: Sussan Deyhim – City of Leaves (Venus Rising)

Israel: Yasmin Levy – Sentir (Four Quarters Entertainment)

Mali: Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal – “Chamber Music” (Six Degrees)

Mali: Bombino – Agadez (Cumbancha)

Mali: Fatoumata Diawara – Fatou (World Circuit Import)

Mexico: Nuriya – Tanita (Musica Almaya)

Morocco/Spain: Amina Alaoui – Arco Iris (ECM)

Norway: Ragnhild Furebotten – Never On A Sunday (Ta:lik)

Norway: Sinikka Langeland – The Land That Is Not (ECM)

Norway: Dei Beste Damene – Soli (Ta:lik)

Compilations: Rough Guide to Sufi Music (World Music Network), Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends (World Music Network), Rough Guide to World Lullabies (World Music Network), African Beat (Putumayo); Kids World Party (Putumayo)

Special Mention: Putumayo Kids Coloring Books & Sticker Collections: Africa, Latin America, Europe

You can read the Best of 2011 lists from other world music writers here.