World music

World music is a way to describe styles of music from countries where people don't usually speak English. This includes music that has been passed down for a long time, as well as new mixes of different musical traditions. Because world music covers so many different kinds of sounds, it's hard to give one clear definition.

The idea of world music became popular in the 1980s, especially in Europe and North America, as a way for music industries to talk about traditional music from places outside of Western pop and folk styles. Over time, it has grown to include many different types, like mixes of cultures and lively, rhythmic styles.

Some famous artists in world music include Clannad, Ry Cooder, Enya, and the style known as worldbeat. World music lets us explore and enjoy the rich variety of sounds from all around the globe, showing the beauty of local traditions far away.

Lexicology

The phrase "world music" was first used by ethnomusicologist Robert E. Brown in the early 1960s. He worked at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he created programs for students to study music from different cultures. To help students learn, he brought performers from Africa and Asia to give concerts. The term became popular in the 1980s as a way for the media and music industry to describe music from many parts of the world.

Forms

World music includes many different styles of music from countries that do not primarily speak English. Popular examples are classical music from places like China and India, such as guzheng and raga music, as well as folk music from Eastern Europe, Nordic countries, Latin America, and many parts of Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Over the last century, new technologies like sound recording and easier travel let musicians share their music with the world. This created a mix of different musical styles, called "crossover" music. While this sharing brings many people closer together, it can also sometimes make local music traditions change or disappear.

Hybrid examples

Since the term "world music" was created, people have started mixing different kinds of music from around the world. This mix includes traditional music from many cultures, and new styles have emerged, like ethnic fusion and worldbeat. Examples of these mixes include the blend of Irish and West African music in Afro Celt Sound System, the global sound of AO Music, and the jazz mixed with Finnish folk music in Värttinä. These examples often have modern Western influences.

World music can also sound similar to new-age music, which sometimes includes calm and peaceful sounds from different cultures. Examples are Tibetan bowls, Tuvan throat singing, Gregorian chant, or Native American flute music. When world music mixes with new-age music, it is called 'ethnic fusion'. One example is Nicholas Gunn’s "Face-to-Face" from Beyond Grand Canyon, which combines Native American flute music with synthesizers.

World fusion

The term world fusion is sometimes thought to only mean mixing Western jazz fusion with world music. However, "fusion" in world fusion does not always mean jazz fusion. When Western jazz mixes with world music, it is better called world fusion jazz, ethnic jazz, or non-Western jazz. World fusion and global fusion are very similar to the term worldbeat. Even though these are types of popular music, they also represent the broader idea of world music. In the 1970s and 1980s, "fusion" in jazz often meant mixing jazz with rock music, which is why some people get confused.

Precursors

See also: Afro fusion

In 1964, Millie Small released the song "My Boy Lollipop," which became very popular in both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. During the 1960s, musicians like Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela also had big hits in the USA. In 1969, Indian musician Ravi Shankar played the sitar at the famous Woodstock festival.

In the 1970s, Manu Dibango had a hit with "Soul Makossa" in 1972, and the group Osibisa released "Sunshine Day" in 1976. Fela Kuti started a style called Afrobeat, which was later carried on by his sons Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, as well as Tony Allen. Many Salsa musicians, like José Alberto "El Canario", Ray Sepúlveda, Johnny Pacheco, and others, helped grow Latin music.

In 1979, an American group called Libana was formed to share folk traditions from around the world through music and dance. They traveled to many countries and used many different instruments like guitars, hammered dulcimers, ouds, pan flutes, and double bass.

The Breton musician Alan Stivell helped mix traditional folk music with modern rock music in his 1972 album Renaissance of the Celtic Harp. Around the same time, Meic Stevens helped make Welsh folk music more popular.

Popular genres

The world music category includes popular music from non-Western urban areas, like "township" music from South Africa and Afro-Cuban music.

Musicians from Zimbabwe, such as Thomas Mapfumo, mixed traditional Mbira style with electric guitar, influencing others like The Bhundu Boys. Their Bhundu Jit music became popular in Europe in 1986.

Paris has long been a home for musicians from West and North Africa. Algerian and Moroccan music, including Amazigh (Berber), raï, and Gnawa music, are important there. Large communities from Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea also contribute to the West African music scene.

In America, Latin music is seen as its own genre, including music from Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Western

This type of music is often called "folk music" or "contemporary folk music." It began in the US and includes styles like folk rock.

1987 industry meeting

On 29 June 1987, music labels met to promote non-Western folk music. After Paul Simon’s album Graceland in 1986, which used world music influences, there was interest in reaching more listeners. They planned a campaign with a special cassette for the magazine NME and aimed to create a world music chart to show popular songs. They also wanted to work with DJs and use leaflets to share the music widely.

Relationship to immigration and multiculturalism

Further information: Music of Canadian cultures

In many rich countries, people from other parts of the world have been moving in for many years. This has brought music from faraway places to people in these countries. It's not just heard as something strange; it's played by neighbors and friends. This mixing continues to create new kinds of music. In the 2010s, musicians from places like Haiti, Somalia, and Tamil areas became famous worldwide. They often mix their traditional sounds with popular styles like hip-hop or pop. For example, a singer from Cuba started her career in Germany by blending old styles with modern pop.

Today, young musicians are creating whole new bands and styles by mixing different traditions. One group mixes music from Punjab and Ireland, and they are based in Vancouver, Canada. Another group in Istanbul mixes American country music with the sounds of Syrian refugees and Turkish music. Musicians also work together to write new songs using both Western and non-Western instruments.

Immigration plays a big role in shaping world music. It gives people many choices and helps them learn about different cultures. Music helps immigrants feel connected to their roots, and it teaches new generations about their heritage. For example, Punjabi music became very popular in the UK because of the large Punjabi community there. It also spread to cities like New York and Chicago. Over time, this music mixed with other styles and became even more popular.

Radio programs

World music radio shows today often feature artists from African hip-hop, reggae, crossover Bhangra, and Latin American jazz groups. These shows can be heard on public radio, webcasting, the BBC, NPR, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. When music comes from many places around the world, it is usually called world music.

Some popular world music radio shows include The Culture Cafe on WWUH West Hartford, World of Music on Voice of America, Transpacific Sound Paradise on WFMU, The Planet on Australia's ABC Radio National, DJ Edu's D.N.A: DestiNation Africa on BBC Radio 1Xtra, Adil Ray on the BBC Asian Network, Andy Kershaw’s show on BBC Radio 3, and Charlie Gillett’s show on the BBC World Service.

Ethnomusicological Perspective

Ethnomusicologists study the idea of "world music" and say it is more than just a name for different kinds of music. They believe this label shows the relationship between Western and non-Western music traditions and can sometimes make non-Western music seem less important.

These experts also talk about how using the term "world music" can change how people see and treat different musical traditions. They say it is important for researchers and performers to respect the communities where the music comes from and to think about who benefits when music is shared around the world.

Awards

Main article: Awards for world music

The BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music was a special award given to world music artists from 2002 to 2008. It was started by the editor of fRoots, Ian Anderson, and was inspired by the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. The awards had many categories like Africa, Asia/Pacific, Americas, Europe, and more. A large group of experts helped choose nominees, and a smaller group of judges picked the winners. The winners received an award called a "Planet". The awards stopped in 2009.

After this, the magazine Songlines started its own awards in 2009 to honor great world music talent.

The WOMEX Awards began in 1999 to celebrate the best in world music around the globe. Each year in October, a special statue is given to someone who has made a big impact in world music.

Festivals

See also: Category:World music festivals

Many festivals around the world are known for their world music. Here are a few examples:

• The WOMAD Foundation organizes festivals in countries around the world.

Australia

• The Globe to Globe World Music Festival takes place in the City of Kingston, Melbourne, for 2 days each year in January.

Bangladesh

• The Dhaka World Music Festival takes place in Dhaka.

Belgium

• Sfinks Festival in Boechout, Belgium is a 4-day world music festival.

Canada

• Sunfest is an annual 4-day world music festival that happens in London, Ontario, primarily in Victoria Park; it typically runs the weekend after Canada Day in early July.

Croatia

• Ethnoambient is a two- or three-day world music festival held every summer since 1998 in Solin, Dalmatia, in southern Croatia.

France

• The Festival de l'Inde takes place in Evian, Haute-Savoie.
• In 1982, Fête de la Musique ("World Music Day") was started in France. World Music Day has been celebrated on 21 June every year since then.

Germany

• The TFF Rudolstadt takes place annually on the first full July weekend in Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany.
• The German World Music Festival der Klangfreunde takes place every first weekend of August, at Schlosspark Loshausen. Klangfreunde e. V. is a non-profit organization.
• Wilde Töne, Festival für Folk- und Weltmusik in Braunschweig Germany

Ghana

• SUNSET MUSIC FESTIVAL (Free Electronic Dance Music Festival) was started in 2020 at Busua Beach in the Western Region, by Djsky S K Y M U S I C.

Hungary

• WOMUFE (World Music Festival) in Budapest, Hungary (1992)
• The WOMEX when in Budapest (2015)

Iceland

• Fest Afrika Reykjavík takes place every September.

India

• Udaipur World Music Festival
• The Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF) takes place annually during December–January, often across several major cities in India. The LGMF has also traveled to 22 countries.

Indonesia

• Matasora World Music Festival is held in Bandung, West Java, and Jakarta.
• Toba Caldera World Music Festival in Lake Toba, Toba Regency, North Sumatra.
• Canang World Music Festival in Riau

Iran

• The Fajr International Music Festival is Iran's most important music festival, started in 1986. The festival is linked with UNESCO and includes national and international contests. Since it began, many musicians from several countries like Austria, Germany, France have taken part. The festival has many musicians from Asian countries.

Italy

• Some, in every region of Italy.

North Macedonia

• OFFest is a five-day world music festival held every summer since 2002 in Skopje.

Malaysia

• The Rainforest World Music Festival is an annual three-day music festival held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Mali

• The Festival au Désert took place every year from 2001 until 2012 in Mali, West Africa, and became well-known around the world even though it was hard to reach.

Morocco

• Mawazine is a festival of world music that takes place each year in Rabat, Morocco, with musicians from Arab and other countries.

New Zealand

• A world music festival is held in New Plymouth, New Zealand, in early March each year, the New Zealand location of WOMAD.

Nigeria

• World Music day is usually celebrated for one week in Lagos, Nigeria at different places around the state.

Poland

• Poland's Cross-Culture Warsaw Festival is held in September each year.
• Brave Festival, Wrocław, Poland. July each year.
• Ethno Port, Poznań, Poland. June each year.
• Ethno Jazz Festival in Wrocław, Poland. Several events through the year.
• Different Sounds (Inne brzmienia), Lublin, Poland. July each year.
• Nowa Tradycja (New Tradition), Warsaw, Poland. May each year.
• Siesta Festival, Gdańsk, Poland. First edition in April/May 2011.

Portugal

• Festival Músicas do Mundo, Sines, Setúbal District is a world music festival first held in 1998.

Romania

• Méra World Music Festival takes place each year at the end of July or the start of August (including the first weekend of August) in the rural farms of Méra village (Kalotaszeg Region/ Țara Călatei, Cluj County, Romania). It was first held in 2016 and is the only world music festival in Transylvania. Besides many international musicians, "Méra World Music" shows local traditional culture.
• "Plai Festival" in Timișoara

Serbia

• The Serbia World Music Festival is a three-day world music festival held each summer in Takovo, a small village in central Serbia.

Spain Spain's most important world music festivals are:

• Etnosur, in Alcalá la Real, Jaén (Andalucía region)
• Pirineos Sur, in Aragón region
• Festival Internacional de Música Popular Tradicional in Vilanova i la Geltrú / Vilanova International World Music Festival (Catalonia)
• La Mar de Músicas, in Cartagena (Murcia region)
• Fira Mediterrània, in Manresa (Catalonia)
• The WOMEX when in Seville (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008)
• Territorios, in Seville

Sweden

• The "Yoga Mela" Yoga & Sacred Music Festival is held each year in Skåne County.

Tanzania

• Sauti za Busara is a music festival for African music, held each year in February in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Turkey

• Konya Mystic Music Festival is held each year in Konya since 2004, recently to honor Rumi's birthday. The festival has music from around the world with a spiritual theme, religious meaning or sacred messages.
• The Fethiye World Music Festival has musicians from different countries.

Uganda

• The Milege World Music Festival has become a big festival in Uganda with musicians and fans from all over Africa and the world to enjoy live music, games, sports and more. The festival happens for three days each November at the Botanical Gardens, Entebbe, Uganda.

Ukraine

• Svirzh World Music Festival (Lviv region)

United Kingdom

• Glastonbury Festival is an annual five-day festival of modern performing arts held in Pilton, Somerset, near Glastonbury.
• Musicport World Music Festival is held each year at The Spa Pavilion, Whitby, North Yorkshire.
• The Music Village Festival is held every two years in London and started in 1987. It is organized by the Cultural Co-operation.
• Drum Camp, started in 1996, is a special world music festival, with singing, dancing, and drumming activities during the day and live concerts at night.
• World Music Month, started in October 1987, is a music festival held at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London; it was the start of the winter season for both WOMAD and Arts Worldwide.
• WOMAD Charlton Park has been held each year since 1986 and takes place at Charlton Park in Wiltshire.

United States

• The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival is an annual music festival held each June on the weekend of or the weekend after the summer solstice. It is now held at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville, California.
• The Lotus World Music & Arts Festival is a four-day event held each September in Bloomington, Indiana.
• The California World Music Festival is held each July at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
• The World Sacred Music Festival is held each year in Olympia, Washington, organized by Interfaith Works.
• FloydFest in Floyd, Virginia, United States, has musicians from many different styles.
• The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg, New York, has musicians from many world and ethnic music styles.
• Stern Grove Festival is a San Francisco celebration of music and culture, including symphony orchestras and operatic stars.
• The Starwood Festival is a seven-day neopagan, new age, multicultural and world music festival that has been held in July each year since 1981 in different places in the United States.
• The World Music and Dance Festival is held each spring at the California Institute of the Arts.