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Thursday, April 09, 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

    Sam Bergquist Finds the Sweet Spot Between Satire and Soul on Devils & Doves

    Sam Bergquist — Devils & Doves (self-released, 2026) Sam Bergquist’s 2026 album Devils & Doves charts the tension between hope and doubt, humor and heartache,…

    Ryan Emmert April 9, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials Return With Slideways

    Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials – Slideways (Alligator Records, 2026) Slideways, the grand new album from Chicago blues band Lil’ Ed & The Blues…

    Ryan Emmert April 8, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    A Soundtrack Fit for a Sultan: Kamperman’s Prince Achmed Shines Beyond the Screen

    Steven Kamperman – Prince Achmed (Zennez Records ZR2025013, 2025) Dutch composer and multi-instrumentalist Steven Kamperman brings new life to Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (1926),…

    Tyler Bennet April 7, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    Ana Crismán Revolutionizes Flamenco with Her Harp

    Ana Crismán Arpa Flamenca — Arpaora (Andalouse Alhambra / InOuïe Distribution, 2026) Spanish harpist Ana Crismán has released her debut album Arpaora internationally in physical…

    Angel Romero April 6, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    Jazz, Raga, And Black Holes: Quadrature Plots Debut Black Hole Blues

    Quadrature – Black Hole Blues (Deko Entertainment, 2025) Black Hole Blues is Quadrature’s debut album. The quartet grew out of the long-running Brooklyn Raga Massive…

    Tyler Bennet April 5, 2026 No Comments
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Featured News

  • An illustration of a Gnawa drum and karkabas (metal castanets) on top of the drum.
    Music videos

    Desert Blues Band Tarwa N-Tiniri Weaves Gnawa and Amazigh Music on “Nbina”

    World Music Central News Room April 9, 2026 No Comments
  • A protest-style illustration shows three raised hands against a beige background: a black clenched fist on the left, a red hand in the center pointing upward, and a black open palm on the right with an eye symbol. Along the bottom, blocky lettering reads We Were Made For These Times by The Klezmatics.
    Music videos

    The Klezmatics Face The Music With We Were Made For These Times

    World Music Central News Room April 8, 2026 No Comments
  • Sufian Ararah - Asdaa cover artwork. An interior space with arched columns.
    Music videos

    Oud Maestro Sufian Ararah Revisits Memory on “Asdaa”

    World Music Central News Room April 5, 2026 No Comments
  • Shelton & Williams Shifting Sand cover artwork. An image of a house over sand dunes.
    Music videos

    Bluegrass With Heart: Shelton & Williams Share “Shifting Sand”

    World Music Central News Room April 3, 2026 No Comments
  • Sami Yusuf sitting leaning against a wall. An architecturally ornate building is behind him.
    Music videos

    Sami Yusuf Unveils Transfixing Single “Being”

    World Music Central News Room March 31, 2026 No Comments
  • Ashby Frank Stokes County Buck Dancing Man cover artwork. A photo of the dancer jumping.
    Music videos

    Ashby Frank Salutes a Festival Original, “Stokes County Buck Dancing Man”

    World Music Central News Room March 30, 2026 No Comments

Album reviews

Changing Rhythms: Alsarah & The Nubatones Navigate New Musical Terrain

Madison Quinn April 8, 2025 No Comments AlsarahAlsarah & The NubatonesSudanese musicworld fusionworld music

Alsarah & The Nubatones — Mawasim Altariq – Seasons of the Road (self-release, 2025) Alsarah & The Nubatones have unveiled their third studio album, Seasons…

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Ra di Spina, Alexsandra Ida Mauro and Laura Cuomo standing back to back
Artist Profiles

Spinning Voices: Ra di Spina Weaves Polyphony into Southern Italian Tradition

Madison Quinn April 7, 2025 No Comments Alexsandra Ida MauroCalabrian musicItalian musicItalyLaura CuomoRa di Spina

(headline image: Ra di Spina, Alexsandra Ida Mauro and Laura Cuomo) Ra di Spina is a musical project founded by the talented singer and ethnomusicologist…

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WITCH Queenless King. A still from a live performance.
Music videos

Zambia’s WITCH Reignites With “Queenless King”

World Music Central News Room April 7, 2025 No Comments WITCHZambian musicZamrock

Zamrock pioneers WITCH return with the single “Queenless King,” the first release from their forthcoming album Sogolo, due June 13 via Partisan Records. The title,…

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Helene Cronin – Maybe New Mexico cover artwork. A photo of the artist playing guitar.
Album reviews

Helene Cronin’s ‘Maybe New Mexico’: A Roadmap of Reflection

Ryan Emmert April 7, 2025 No Comments American folk musicAmericanaHelene Cronin

Helene Cronin – Maybe New Mexico (self-release, 2025) Helene Cronin’s Maybe New Mexico is her most personal album to date, presenting an intimate, acoustic-driven sound.…

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Niarela Papou - Le Renouveau album cover - a photo of the artist wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Music videos Single reviews

Tradition Plus

Tom Orr April 6, 2025 No Comments kamalé ngoniMalian musicNiarela PapouWassulu musicworld music

Malian artist Niarela Papou gives his country’s wassulu music an extra danceable twist on “Sigui,” where instruments like the traditional kamalé ngoni lute are prominent…

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The album cover for Frigg – Dreamscapes features a painted forest scene. Colorful tree trunks in shades of turquoise, magenta, and orange rise through a landscape of rolling hills, blending purples, greens, and warm earth tones.
Album reviews

Frigg – Dreamscapes: A Silver Anniversary

Angel Romero April 6, 2025 No Comments Finnish musicFriggNordic musicworld music

Frigg – Dreamscapes (Bafe’s Factory, 2025) Remarkable Finnish folk ensemble Frigg is celebrating 25 years with the release of Dreamscapes, an album that expands their…

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Alana, winners of 2024 Runas contest - Photo by David Bermejo
Competitions

Runas Competition: Ortigueira Festival Boosts Prize Pool for Emerging Celtic Talent

World Music Central News Room April 5, 2025 No Comments Celtic musicFestival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueiraworld music

(headline image: Alana, winners of 2024 Runas contest – Photo by David Bermejo) The Ortigueira International Celtic World Festival in Galicia, Spain, has officially opened…

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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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View More Rafael Energía Dominicana Hits Home With “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno)”
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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Recent Posts

  • Desert Blues Band Tarwa N-Tiniri Weaves Gnawa and Amazigh Music on “Nbina”
  • Sam Bergquist Finds the Sweet Spot Between Satire and Soul on Devils & Doves
  • Spain On Stage Connects Spanish Roots Music With Europe
  • The Klezmatics Face The Music With We Were Made For These Times
  • Spanish Harlem Orchestra Joins Dudamel And New York Philharmonic For Anniversary Concerts
  • Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials Return With Slideways
  • A Soundtrack Fit for a Sultan: Kamperman’s Prince Achmed Shines Beyond the Screen

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