Artists
Anouar Brahem
A exceptional oud player and collaborator, Anouar Brahem is one of the leading lights in Tunisian music
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Features
Introducing La Perla: “We sing about the raw violence that we’ve lived in this country”
Meet the Colombian trio who are using the rhythms and vernacular of their traditional culture to transmit a message of defiance
Features
Masa Nazzal’s 'Slovenia Inshallah' turns sound into solidarity
Masa Nazzal returned from the Bosnian-Croatian border with an archive of sounds and stories that became a new way of understanding the world. “Listening [is] like a hand that reaches out”, she reflects
Features
BCUC: Trusting in Love
Diane Coetzer talks to the South African band BCUC who are exporting their traditional Soweto music across the globe and mesmerising audiences, one transcendental show at a time
Features
Rokia Traoré: “You cannot know how jail is if you have not been there. These people are human too”
Robin Denselow speaks to Malian singer and musician Rokia Traoré, who is finally able to return to performing after a custody battle that led to her imprisonment in several countries
Live reviews
Orpheus at The Lowry, Salford, November 19
East-meets-West as Opera North and South Asian Arts-UK present their riveting modern-day makeover of Monteverdi’s mythical marvel, L'Orfeo
Features
Youssou N’Dour interview: “Even today music can carry a message and change people’s lives”
Senegal has recently seen the long-anticipated opening of a museum dedicated to black civilisations. One of its chief supporters is Youssou N’Dour whose latest album, History, reflects on the past and acknowledges the next generation of artists. Jenny Cathcart reports
Artists
Angélique Kidjo
The Benin-born singer Angélique Kidjo is a global superstar – a leading figure in African music as well as being a prominent activist and ambassador for UNICEF. In 2018 Kidjo won the Songlines World Pioneer Award.
Features
Franck Biyong: “I just want to tear down the barrier that separates African music from the mainstream”
Frustrated by the state of popular African music, Franck Biyong decided to create his own ‘Afrolectric’ sound inspired by Le Grand Kallé, Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango and the greats of yesteryear
Features
Tiken Jah Fakoly: “In Africa, I can’t perform as much as I’d like. Sponsors are afraid of my image”
During his career, Tiken Jah Fakoly has fused reggae with unwavering pan-African activism. The Ivorian reggae icon speaks to Daniel Brown about his latest release and how the fight for justice in Africa is far from over
Features
Terry Riley interview: “Every decade of my life has had a different focus”
The pioneering minimalist composer talks about the Indian music that captured his imagination and his tutelage under Pandit Pran Nath
Features
The Rough Guide to World Music: Chile
Jan Fairley looks at the history and legacy of nueva canción – a music rooted in the guitar traditions of the troubadour that have played a part in Latin America’s political and cultural struggles
Features
Welcome to Africa’s largest music festival – Nyege Nyege
At the heart of Uganda’s vibrant, innovative and optimistic music scene, ‘Africa’s largest music festival’ Nyege Nyege continues to surprise and delight
News
Question Time
Progress is being made as the National Folklore Survey for England’s questions take shape
Features
Introducing: wordsofAzia
Chinonso Ihekire speaks to a young Ivorian spreading messages of hope, faith and heritage
