world fusion | World Music Central

Album reviews

Arcs & Rivers: A Fusion of Jazz and Greek Tradition

Joel Lyssarides and Georgios Prokopiou – Arcs & Rivers (ACT Music, 2024) Pianist Joel Lyssarides and bouzouki virtuoso Georgios Prokopiou bridge cultures and genres in…

Sauljaljui - Vaivaik cover artwork. A photo of the artist leaning forward with a red background.

Album reviews

Sauljaljui’s Vaivaik: A Bold Fusion Rooted in Taiwanese Indigenous Traditions

Angel Romero January 18, 2025 No Comments Sauljaljui Taiwanese music world fusion world music

Sauljaljui – Vaivaik (Wind Music, 2024) Sauljaljui’s new album, Vaivaik (embarking in the Paiwan language) is a groundbreaking exploration of world fusion music. The album…

The album cover for "Salta!" by Peixe e Limão features bright yellow hues. The background appears to be a large spiral or wavy structure, resembling a slide or artistic architectural element, creating a sense of movement and fluidity. Three individuals are central to the image, walking downward on this structure, each carrying musical instruments. They are dressed in neutral, light-toned clothing, contrasting subtly with the intense yellow backdrop.

Album reviews

Peixe e Limão Dives Deep with Salta!

Tyler Bennet January 14, 2025 No Comments Peixe e Limão world fusion world music

Peixe e Limão – Salta! (Muziekpublique, 2024) Peixe e Limão (fish and lemon in Portuguese), a trio formed by two Italians and a Belgian in…

Mulatu Astatke - Tension cover artwork. A colorful illustration of Mulatu's face.

Album reviews

Ethio-Jazz Pioneer Mulatu Astatke Collaborates with Hoodna Orchestra on New Album Tension

Iliana Cabrera January 10, 2025 No Comments Ethiojazz Mulatu Astatke world fusion world music

Mulatu Astatke – Tension (Batov Records, 2024) Ethio-jazz legend Mulatu Astatke partnered with Tel Aviv’s Hoodna Orchestra on Tension, a fantastic seven-track album that mixes…

The cover of Vedan Kolod's album Birds features a surreal and vivid illustration of a forest. Brightly colored birds with purple, pink, and blue feathers fly among skeletal bird skulls that appear suspended in the air. The background consists of tall, leafless trees with hints of vibrant green grass at the forest floor. The band's name and album title are prominently displayed in white, stylized fonts.

Charts

Russian World Music Chart Reveals Top Albums in 2024

World Music Central News Room January 9, 2025 No Comments AINA ALA-TEY Bai-Terek Carmen Rizzo Choduraa Tumat Dhani Harrison Dobranotch Ensemble "Voskresenie"Huun-Huur-Tu Ilmu Kadim Almet Kokora Nikadimus Experience Otava Yo OYME post-dukes Russian World Music Chart Testo The Unknown Composer Tyva Kyzy Vedan Kolod Vereya world fusion world music ZOR

The Russian World Music Chart has released the list of top albums in 2024. In total, 67 albums in the genres of world music, ethnic…

Syna Awel Mazel Mazel artwork. A color phoo of Syna smiling, wearing traditional clothes in a forest.

Music videos Single reviews

Marvelous “Mazel Mazel”

Tom Orr January 6, 2025 No Comments Algerian music Amazigh music Berber music Syna Awel world fusion world music

Combining the traditional Amazigh music of her native Algeria with global influences gleaned in her adopted homeland of France, Syna Awel’s “Mazel Mazel” is a…

Zangbeto Noussin artwork. A photo of 5 men, three black and two white.

Music videos Single reviews

You go, Togo

Tom Orr January 5, 2025 No Comments Togolese music world fusion world music Zangbeto

A mix of jazz, traditional rhythm and chant from the West African nation of Togo and some particularly expressive trombone playing,”Noussin” by a band called…

Tiken Jah Fakoly - Photo by Youri Lenquette. This photo features Tiken Jah Fakoly seated in the center of a musical setup. He exudes a commanding yet serene presence, dressed in a flowing, traditional African garment adorned with warm orange and earth-toned patterns. His long, gray-tinted dreadlocks frame his face. Behind him, an ensemble of musicians surrounds the space, playing traditional West African instruments such as koras, balafons, and ngonis.

Artist Profiles

Afro-Reggae Musician Tiken Jah Fakoly

Angel Romero January 5, 2025 No Comments Ivorian music Ivory Coast Reggae Tiken Jah Fakoly world fusion world music

Tiken Jah Fakoly, born as Doumbia Moussa Fakoly, entered the world of reggae in the late 1980s, forming his first band, Les Djelis. Amidst political…

Kananayécover artwork. A colorful illustration of African women working in a field.

Album reviews

Kananayé Celebrates Burkinan Music and Resilience

Madison Quinn January 3, 2025 No Comments Abdoulaye Traoré Achille Nacoulma Boubacar Djiga Burkinabe music Burkinan music Clotilde Rullaud Kanazoe world fusion world music

Kanazoe, Clotilde Rullaud, Abdoulaye Traoré, Boubacar Djiga, Achille Nacoulma – Kananayé (TZIG’ART, 2024) In Burkina Faso, the phrase “ka nana ye” translates to “it’s not…

Events

Secret Planet 2025: A World Music Celebration in New York City

World Music Central News Room January 2, 2025 No Comments Chicha Libre Lollise Los Crema Paraíso Luciferin Miramar Secret Planet world fusion world music Yallah Yallah Yeison Landero

The 2025 edition of Secret Planet is set to take place on Saturday, January 11 at DROM in New York City. Performances begin at 7:00…