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Thursday, September 10, 2026

World Music Central

Your Connection to traditional and contemporary World Music, including folk, roots, global music, ethno and crosscultural fusions
World Music Central
Your Connection to traditional and contemporary World Music, including folk, roots, global music, ethno and crosscultural fusions
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  • Album reviews

    Faris Ishaq Takes the Palestinian Ney to the Future on Solo Album ‘JASAD’

    Faris Ishaq – JASAD (self-release, 2026) Bethlehem-born Palestinian ney (or nay) player and percussionist Faris Ishaq uses breath, rhythm, and Arabic musical tradition on JASAD…

    Madison Quinn September 10, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    Rite of Strings’ Extraordinary Debut, Dust and the Moon

    Rite of Strings – Dust and the Moon (Bright Shiny Things, 2026) Dust and the Moon is the debut album by a remarkable act called…

    Angel Romero September 8, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    A Teahouse Exile, Tuned to Badakhshan

    Panjshanbe Maftun – Made in Lyublino: Afghan Songs (Antonovka Records / Hindukush Tapes, 2026) Recorded on 15 January 2024 at the Afghan teahouse Takhar in…

    Tyler Bennet September 7, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    King Ayisoba Teams With Adrian Sherwood for Seventh Album ‘Pure Confusion’

    King Ayisoba — Pure Confusion (MAIS UM MAIS, 2026) Ghanaian musician King Ayisoba‘s seventh album, Pure Confusion, presents a captiovating mix of Ghanaian roots music,…

    Angel Romero September 6, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    Birdvox’s Shamming The Drama Soars on Folk Instinct, Stumbles on Pop Ambition

    Birdvox – Shamming The Drama (Hudson Records, 2026) New British folk outfit Birdvox packs serious pedigree on Shamming The Drama. Sarah Hayes, Inge Thomson, Jenny…

    Ryan Emmert September 4, 2026 No Comments
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Featured News

  • Frank Maza black and white photo. Frank in front of microphone.
    Music videos

    Frank Maza Connects Madrid and Boston on ‘Back Then’ With Chucho Valdés and Javier Limón

    World Music Central News Room September 10, 2026 No Comments
  • Jah Bast Shadow of the Future cover artwork. a photo of a young black boy lifting his arm.
    Music videos Single reviews

    Bast and Future

    Tom Orr September 4, 2026 No Comments
  • Laurelyn Dossett - How Many Moons cover artwork. A colorful folk-art-style album cover featuring a red-orange coyote filled with floral and geometric patterns against an orange moon and blue starry sky. “LAURELYN DOSSETT” appears prominently across the center, with “HOW MANY MOONS” curved along the upper left.
    Music videos

    Laurelyn Dossett Shares “How Many Moons” Music Video

    World Music Central News Room September 3, 2026 No Comments
  • Shy-Anne Hovorka — Raise My Fist cover artwork. A colorful illustrated cover showing a hand holding a black-and-white feather against a glowing sunset over water and rolling green hills. Ghostly figures appear in the golden sky, surrounded by flowers, trees, and exposed roots. The title “Raise My Fist” appears prominently above, with Shy-Anne Hovorka and Suckle Creek Drum Group & Friends credited below.
    Music videos

    Shy-Anne Hovorka Unites More Than 30 Indigenous and Ally Artists on “Raise My Fist”

    World Music Central News Room August 28, 2026 No Comments
  • Black and white photo of Sheila Chandra with hands holding her head.
    Music videos

    Sheila Chandra Presents “Lament of McCrimmon / Song of the Banshee”

    World Music Central News Room August 27, 2026 No Comments
  • Shovel Dance Collective — Photo by Brad Gilbert. a set of three horizontal sepia photos of the band members.
    Music videos

    Shovel Dance Collective Announce ‘Everything in Readiness,’ Share First Single

    World Music Central News Room August 26, 2026 No Comments

Amadou & Mariam - Photo by Julio Bandit
Obituaries

Amadou of Malian Duo Amadou & Mariam Dies at 70

World Music Central News Room April 5, 2025 No Comments Amadou & MariamAmadou BagayokoMalian musicworld music

(headline image: Amadou & Mariam – Photo by Julio Bandit) Amadou Bagayoko, guitarist and vocalist of the acclaimed Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, passed away…

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Rafael Energía Dominicana - “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno)” single cover. a photo of the artist raising his hands in the sign of a horn.
Music videos

Rafael Energía Dominicana Hits Home With “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno)”

World Music Central News Room April 5, 2025 No Comments bachataDominican musicRafael Energía Dominicanaworld music

Rafael Energía Dominicana returns with “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno),” a new single that mixes classic Dominican bachata with modern production elements. The track is…

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The single cover for HoAgnan's "Mama Afreeka" features an earthy painting that merges a tree with the shape of the African continent. The tree’s roots and branches form intricate black lines against a textured backdrop of ochre, rust, teal, and gold. The title “Mama Afreeka” appears in large, stylized block letters—“Mama” in sage green, “Afreeka” in brick red. The artist’s name, “HoAgnan,” stands at the top in classic serif type with a soft shadow.
Music videos Single reviews

Gettin’ Freeky

Tom Orr April 4, 2025 No Comments African musicHoagnansaxophoneworld fusionworld music

With a style rather reminiscent of Manu Dibango, France’s Hoagnan gives us “Mama Afreeka,” which starts off jazzy before bringing in an African undercurrent that…

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Cheikh Ibra Fam wearing a hat, standing by a house next to a blue window
Artist Profiles

How Senegal’s Cheikh Ibra Fam Found His Voice Between Roots and Rhythm

Angel Romero April 4, 2025 No Comments African musicCheikh Ibra FamSenegalese musicworld music

Born Cheikh Ibrahima Ousmane Fame in Mbour, Senegal, Cheikh Ibra Fam grew up amid constant relocation due to his father’s role as director of the…

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The album cover for Ithaca by Lullahush features a close-up photograph of tangled seaweed in various shades of brown, black, and translucent white. In the bottom left corner, the album title Ithaca and artist name Lullahush are displayed in a stylized Celtic-inspired font, framed by an intricate knotwork design.
Album reviews

Homeward Sound: Lullahush Reimagines Irish Tradition in “Ithaca”

Ryan Emmert April 4, 2025 No Comments Celtic musicfolktronicaLullahushworld fusionworld music

Lullahush – Ithaca (Future Classic, 2025) Athens-based Dublin artist Lullahush is set to release Ithaca, his new album, on April 11, 2025. The record meshes…

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View More Homeward Sound: Lullahush Reimagines Irish Tradition in “Ithaca”
The album cover for Man Raíz by Darío Moreira features two hands symmetrically intertwined against a dark background. The fingers form a symbolic shape.
Album reviews

Rooted in Galician Tradition: Darío Moreira’s Man Raíz Bridges Past and Present

Madison Quinn April 3, 2025 No Comments Darío MoreiraGalician musicSpanish musicworld music

Darío Moreira – Man Raíz (Self-Released, 2025) Spanish composer Darío Manuel González Moreira, better known as Darío Moreira, reinterprets traditional Galician cantigas through an intimate…

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The album cover features a serene, blue-toned landscape dominated by a dense forest reflected perfectly on a calm body of water. Above the reflection, the name Mehmet Polat appears in simple typography.
Music videos

Rooted, Yet Restless: Mehmet Polat Unveils ‘Curious’ Single

World Music Central News Room April 3, 2025 No Comments Mehmet Polatworld music

Mehmet Polat introduces “Curious,” the first single from his upcoming album Roots in Motion, a project that reflects his journey as both a musician and…

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The image shows John Barleycorn as a rustic, bearded figure with barley stalks woven into his hair and beard. He holds a frothy mug of nut-brown ale, standing at the center. Around him, a circular composition illustrates the full brewing process: sowing the grain, harvesting, malting, fermenting, and finally, the pouring of ale. The style resembles an old woodcut or vintage folk-art print, with warm, earthy tones and detailed, symbolic elements.
Articles

The legend of John Barleycorn

John Philpott April 2, 2025 No Comments alebarleybeerBeowaCeltic mythsCeltic paganismEnglish Folk musicharvestIrish folk musicJohn BarleycornJohn Barleycorn Must DieOsirisRobert BurnsRolling StonesThe BeatlesTraffic

Writer and musician John Phillpott delves into the darkness of pre-history and unearths a mysterious character known on both sides of the Atlantic by the…

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The single cover for Mi Pueblo by Yelem shows a lively and colorful street scene. Musicians are performing with traditional instruments such as congas, trumpets, and saxophones. In the background, a charming village with southern Spanish-style buildings, tall palm trees, and a prominent church tower.
Music videos Single reviews

Zesty Sauce

Tom Orr April 1, 2025 No Comments FlamencosalsaSpanish musicworld musicYelem

Spanish singer Yelem gives classic salsa its due but also adds a splash of contemporary production value to “Mi Pueblo,” a sizzling tune accompanied by…

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Trio Da Kali - Bagola cover artwork. A color photo of the trio outdoors with clouds in the background.
Charts

Trio Da Kali Dominates with Top Spot on Transglobal World Music Chart for April 2025

World Music Central News Room April 1, 2025 No Comments global musicMaliMalian musicTrio Da Kaliworld music

The album Bagola by Malian group Trio da Kali has sailed to the top of the Transglobal World Music Chart (TWMC) for the month of…

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View More Trio Da Kali Dominates with Top Spot on Transglobal World Music Chart for April 2025

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Recent Posts

  • Faris Ishaq Takes the Palestinian Ney to the Future on Solo Album ‘JASAD’
  • Frank Maza Connects Madrid and Boston on ‘Back Then’ With Chucho Valdés and Javier Limón
  • Ray Lema Quintet to Open São Paulo Bienal’s Berlin Edition at HKW
  • Habib Khan and Parisa Vaaleh Unite Indian and Persian Traditions at the Orinda
  • Rite of Strings’ Extraordinary Debut, Dust and the Moon
  • A Teahouse Exile, Tuned to Badakhshan
  • Napoli World Sets Submission Record With 534 Artists From 85 Countries

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