Calypso has its roots in canboulay music brought to the Caribbean by African slaves, but the style is constantly being revitalised and reinterpreted. Charles de Ledesma traces its history and chooses his top ten albums
Nigeria's best-known cultural exports – juju, Afrobeat and fuji music – barely scratch the surface of the vast and vibrant cultural topography of the nation
Nearly 50 years a¤er his death, Víctor Jara’s songs continue to inspire idealism across Latin America. Chris Moss recalls Chile’s pre-eminent protest singer
Alex Robinson visits Cambodia, where a new generation are using hip-hop as a force for social change despite repression that carries dark echoes of the country’s past
Nathaniel Handy speaks to English singer-songwriter Eliza Carthy, who is the happiest she’s ever been with her new band, new voice and newfound freedom
Nikolas-Kaan Yilmaz picks out ten albums that trace the nation’s fascinating musical timeline, asking Bulgarian musicians and fans of Bulgarian music alike to share some of their favourites along the way
Founded in 2001, 127 are a cornerstone of Iran’s alternative scene. Erin Cobby asks the group’s drummer Yahya Alkhansa to map out the country’s underground music scene in ten albums
Known as the 'Wassoulou songbird', Oumou Sangaré is one of Mali's greatest singers and activists who is constantly challenging gender inequalities
One of British folk music’s most influential figures is marking his 80th birthday. Julian May delves into his prolific and remarkable recordings
The new voice of Mali, Rokia Koné, teamed up with producer-to-the-stars Jacknife Lee for an album sure to go down as a classic. Jane Cornwell catches up with this seemingly improbable, though quite inspired, pop partnership. Photography by Karen Paulina Biswell
All of these albums received a maximum of five stars when reviewed in the 2020 issues of Songlines. Featuring Sam Lee, Shirley Collins, Will Pound, Sam Sweeney, Hamish Napier, Trio Tekke, Rura, and many more
Erin Cobby reports on six projects using music as a platform to build communities and give the systematically marginalised a voice, both now and in the future
Here are 10 of our favourite albums from the past 12 months, including releases from Sam Lee, Cocanha, Afel Bocoum, Siti Muharam, Damir Imamović and more...
Laudan Nooshin reports on the revival of Iranian classical music since 1979 and Simon Broughton takes the pulse of the folk and pop scenes
Another year, another full season of festivals to revive the soul and please the senses! Where better to plan your summer of culture than with our annual guide to the best festivals in the UK?
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