Best World Music Albums of 2021 | World Music Central

World Music Central presents the Best World Music Albums of 2021 selected by its editors and contributors.

Daryana Antipova (Russia)

San Salvador – La Grande Folie – La Grande Folie / Pagans / MDC
Mahsa Vahdat – Enlighten the Night – Kirkelig Kulturverksted
Staritsa – Klyukva – CPL-music
Khöömei Beat – Changys Baglaash – ARC Music
Various Artists – Henna: Young Female Voices from Palestine – Kirkelig Kulturverksted
Witch Camp (Ghana) – I’ve Forgotten Who I Used to Be – Six Degrees
Danyèl Waro – Tinn Tout – Cobalt / Buda Musique
Dalinda – Átjárók – Fonó
Vedan Kolod – Gorodische – CPL-music
Tania Saleh – 10 A.D. – Kirkelig Kulturverksted

“These albums made this year special for me: some of them I was listening to in the hospital waiting for delivery, some of them helped me to get through the first 3 months with the new born Yaroslav, some I reviewed and received a lot of positive feedback and some are just great!” – Daryana.

Watch videos from Daryana’s list:

Madanmohan Rao (India)

Samba Touré – Binga – Glitterbeat
Shujaat Husain Khan, Katayoun Goudarzi, Shaho Andalibi & Shariq Mustafa – This Pale – Lycopod
Various Artists – Cameroon Garage Funk – Analog Africa
Angelique Kidjo – Mother Nature – Decca
Femi Kuti & Made Kuti – Legacy + – Partisan
Las Lloronas – Soaked – Muziekpublique
Various Artists – Henna: Young Female Voices from Palestine – Kirkelig Kulturverksted
Baba Sissoko with Jean-Philippe Rykiel, Madou Sidiki Diabate, Lansiné Kouyaté – Griot Jazz – Caligola
Natacha Atlas – The Inner & The Outer – Wise Music Publishing
Antonis Antoniou – Kkismettin – Ajabu!

Watch videos from Madan’s list:

Angel Romero (USA)

Khöömei Beat – Changys Baglaash – ARC Music
Rafiki Jazz – Nduggu Dust – Konimusic
Rubén Blades & The Roberto Delgado Orquesta – Salswing! – Ruben Blades Productions
Namgar – Nayan Navaa – ARC Music
Shujaat Husain Khan, Katayoun Goudarzi, Shaho Andalibi, & Shariq Mustafa – This Pale – Lycopod Records
Ogún Afrobeat – Unite – Ogun Afrobeat
Orquestra Afrosinfônica – Orin, a língua dos anjos – Máquina de Louco
Rachel Magoola – Resilience – Songs of Uganda – ARC Music
Petrona Martínez – Ancestras – Chaco World Music
Transglobal Underground – A Gathering of Strangers 2021 – Mule 20