With keys sat on banana stems across a 50cm-deep hole dug into the ground, the embaire looks as extraordinary as it sounds. Jim Hickson navigates the mysteries of this unique multi-manned instrument from the Ugandan village of Nakibembe
The Georgian male vocal group Iberi celebrate the country’s predilection for feasting with their new album. Simon Broughton gets a taste from the choir’s leader Buba Murgulia
Maya Youssef’s second album is a stunning meditation on the essence of home. The Syrian qanun player speaks to Alexandra Petropoulos about how the music helped her find her own spiritual home
This year's Songlines Encounters Festival, captured in pictures via the photographic lens of Miguel Santos
Tony Gillam spoke with Frigg’s Esko Järvelä and Petri Prauda before the septet’s belated 20th-anniversary tour and finds the irrepressible Nordgrass veterans in buoyant mood
Meeting Ibibio Sound Machine, the groove-riding octet funking up southern Nigerian culture in the shadow of adversity
Fiona Talkington looks back over the impressive career of one of Norway’s most celebrated fiddlers and gets a glimpse of where she’s going next
Nigel Williamson rounds up a list of great concept albums, from Nitin Sawhney's Beyond Skin to Angélique Kidjo's Remain in Light
It’s been a tough road for Colombian-Canadian artist Lido Pimienta, but she’s finally having her moment. She speaks to Russ Slater about her music and activism
The charismatic Congolese singer, and niece of the late rumba king Franco, speaks with Jane Cornwell about her long-awaited solo debut, Mabanzo
The frontman with Tel Aviv four-piece El Khat outlines the DIY aesthetic that has him digging into his Yemeni roots and through the neighbourhood's rubbish bins
The young Catalan duo explain how their polyphonic folk creations bridge the divides of space and time
Simon Broughton gives the lowdown on his new documentary about Hungary’s folk revival and its most famous practitioners
Champion of an obscure Ainu lyre, Oki Kano talks to Charlie Cawood about the late-night encounter that launched his life’s passion
Robin Denselow learns how a chance pairing of melodeon player John Spiers and fiddler Peter Knight evolved into one of folk’s most inspired acts, exploring well-worn tunes in new and improvisatory ways
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