Ravi Shankar at Monterey Pop
The Indian sitar master's legendary 1967 performance that introduced Indian classical music to Western audiences. A pivotal moment in world music.
Mustt Mustt
The Pakistani qawwali master's collaboration with Peter Gabriel. Nusrat brought Sufi devotional music to global audiences.
Zombie
The Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer's protest song against military rule. Fela's music combined jazz, funk, and Yoruba rhythms with political activism.
Buena Vista Social Club
The documentary and album that revived Cuban son music. Elderly musicians like Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo became global stars.
Talking Timbuktu
The Malian guitarist meets American blues. This Grammy-winning album revealed the African roots of the blues.
7 Seconds
The Senegalese mbalax star's global hit. N'Dour brought West African music to pop charts worldwide.
Enta Omri
The Egyptian singer's legendary love song, often performed for over an hour. Oum Kalthoum is the most famous Arab singer in history.
Li Beirut
The Lebanese singer's tribute to Beirut during the civil war. Fairuz is an icon across the Arab world.
Tropicália
The Brazilian artist's revolutionary album mixing bossa nova with rock. Tropicália challenged Brazil's military dictatorship through art.
Aquele Abraço
The Brazilian musician's farewell to Rio before exile. Gil later became Brazil's Minister of Culture.
Gracias a la Vida
The Argentine folk singer's definitive version of Violeta Parra's song. Mercedes Sosa was the voice of Latin American nueva canción.
Te Recuerdo Amanda
The Chilean singer-songwriter's tender love song. Jara was murdered by Pinochet's regime, becoming a martyr for social justice.
Libertango
The Argentine composer who revolutionized tango. Piazzolla's nuevo tango brought classical sophistication to the dance hall.
Sodade
The Cape Verdean 'barefoot diva' singing of longing and loss. Évora brought morna music to the world stage.
Soro
The Malian 'Golden Voice of Africa' blending traditional Mandinka music with modern production. A landmark of Afropop.
Amassakoul
Tuareg desert blues from Mali. The band formed in Gaddafi's Libya and became global ambassadors for Saharan culture.
Speaking in Tongues
The British-Indian vocalist exploring drone-based vocal traditions from around the world. A pioneer of world music fusion.
Making Music
The Indian tabla virtuoso in collaboration with global musicians. Hussain bridges Indian classical and world music.
Kodo: One Earth Tour
Japanese taiko drumming at its most powerful. Kodo's performances are athletic, spiritual, and thunderous.
Gamelan of Central Java
The hypnotic bronze orchestras of Indonesia. Gamelan's interlocking patterns influenced Debussy and minimalist composers.