Around the World - Preview
6 September 2024
This Week
It being the beginning of the month, further down you’ll see both the World Music Chart Europe and Transglobal World Music Charts for September. They are a great way to begin finding new music.
Music from: Benin, Berlin, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, France/Guadeloupe, India, Italy, Japan, Louisiana, Morocco, Niger, Portugal, Shetland, South Africa, Tunisia, USA, and Venezuela
Music by: A Cantadeira, Amy Laurenson, Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, Assurd, Aysanabee, Benin International Musical, Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, Cristina Clara, Dario Muci, Delgres, Ensamble B11, Hermeto Pascoal, Lauren Collier, Marta Topferova, Mdou Moctar, Meridian Brothers, Muddy Gurdy, Oonga, Otherish, Raghu Dixit with Béla Fleck & Neeraj Rajawat, RAH & The Ruffcats, Sages comme des sauvages, Tiganá Santana, Varijashree Venugopal, Wasia Project, and Wesli.
The Featured Album: Tidet by Amaka Jaji
AMAKA - SHIN NE9DAR NDEER (Official Music Video)
Blending desert rock, Sufi mysticism, Tuareg rituals and electronica, Amaka Jaji has produced one of the most original albums of the year. It has complex rhythms, fascinating soundscapes, and yet, accessible to anyone.
He and his family have roots in Ghat, an oasis town in the south of Libya, about 500 km inland from Tripoli. This is where Jaji started singing spiritual music and reciting the Qur’an at the age of ten. His father was a Sufi who is authorized to teach, initiate and guide aspiring dervishes in the Islamic faith.
He moved to Tunisia in 2017.
Speaking to OkayAfrica.com he said, “When I was a kid, us children would go to the sand and do gymnastics and when we got tired, my friends would ask me to sing, but I didn’t take it seriously.” When Jaji started playing the guitar, the same friends told him that he should be a sheikh, not a guitarist. It wasn’t until he grew tired of his life in Ghat and moved to Tunis that he picked up the guitar again and started making music with a colleague from his hometown.
“In Libya, I wasn’t interested in my culture at all,” says Jaji. “I felt we had to move on and develop. But after living in Tunisia for one year, I realized that I miss my town, my people, my culture, our music, everything.” The move from Ghat to Tunis threw him into a whirlwind, feeling estranged in his chosen home for the first four years. When he returned to the guitar, he did it to remember his people through sound.
Speaking to the African Music Forum he said “My vision is to take Tuareg and Sufi music and make it popular and understandable, so those who don’t know what I’m saying can still enjoy it, because music is a feeling.”
His move to Tunisia was in early 2017. The plan was to get to France, but his visa application was declined.
Libyan Wanderer a blog by Malak Altaeb, “an analyst, independent writer, and researcher from Libya based in Paris, France” wrote:
In the past four years, Amaka has changed enormously. Now, he thanks France for declining his visa because he no longer wants to go.
He realized that he lacked awareness and his train of thoughts was random. The impact of Tunisia in him has been great. He got the chance to be an individual thinker which was not possible in Libya. Back home, the flock concept prevailed the scene in which the group way of thinking was the leading concept. It is not accepted to be a unique individual back home and it is a sad reality to admit. [Full article here.]
Delgres - Promis le Ciel (Official Music Video)
Delgres are based in France, but their lyrics are mostly sung in Creole – and they tell stories, both lyrically and musically, that are informed by lead singer Pascal Danae's family history. His ancestors were enslaved on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, and the band is named after Louis Delgrès, who led the fight against the re-institution of slavery there in 1802. Find out more at NPR
Varijashree Venugopal - Ranjani ft. Béla Fleck (Official Music Video)
The American banjo player Béla Fleck appears twice on this week’s show. Both times he is guest of Indian musicians. Fleck appears on Raghu Dixit’s Shakkar and with Varijashree Venugopal on Vari.
Varijashree was born to musician parents Vidwan Sri H.S. Venugopal and Smt. T.V. Rama. Varijashree. She was initially trained to play flute by her father.
Varijashree began undergoing formal training in Carnatic music under Vidhushi H. Geetha at the age of 4. She learnt a few rare compositions from Vidhushi Vasantha Srinivasan and Vidwan D.S. Srivatsa and later, took higher music lessons under Gaanakalanidhi Vidwan Salem P. Sundaresan.
She gave her first full fledged Carnatic vocal performance at 7, at the prestigious platform of Bangalore Gayana Samaj. As a flautist, Varijashree performs solo concerts and duo concerts with her father, and is a sought-after recording session artist. More at her website.
WORLD MUSIC CHARTS EUROPE
September 2024
141 nominated releases
1 GYEZZ prev month: 10
Söndörgö • Hungary • GroundUP Music
2 L’BNAT prev month: 2
Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou • Morocco • Ajabu!
3 DJUDJON prev month: 1
Bassekou Kouyaté & Amy Sacko • Mali • One World
4 VOICES & MOUNTAINS prev month: ---
Russudan Meipariani • Georgia • Timezone
5 BUZZ´ AYAZ prev month: ---
Buzz´ Ayaz • Cyprus • Glitterbeat
6 LÚIREACH prev month: 5
Landless • Ireland • Glitterbeat
7 ZOUZOU prev month: 3
Dobet Gnahoré • Ivory Coast • Cumbancha
8 TECELA prev month: 4
A Cantadeira • Portugal • Repasseado
9 CUCKOO prev month: ---
Lemon Bucket Orchestra • Canada • self released
10 TU GULI prev month: 7
Olcay Bayir • Turkey (Kurdish) • ARC Music
11 SEVEN prev month: ---
Muddy Gurdy • France • Buda Musique
12 LIVE prev month: 48
Naragonia & guests • Belgium • Trad Records
13 KANZAFULA prev month: 8
Ahmed Moneka • Iraq • Lulaworld Records
14 MAQEDA prev month: 19
Atse Tewodros Project • Ethiopia/Italy • Galileo
15 BANZO prev month: 14
Os do fondo da barra • Spain (Galicia) • Mare
16 CARNATIC NOMAD prev month: 13
Jyotsna Srikanth • India/UK • Naxos World
17 TALASSA prev month: 15
Dario Muci • Italy • Zero Nove Nove
18 SWAKEN prev month: 36
Bab L’Bluz • Morocco • Real World
19 GORDAN prev month: 9
Gordan • Serbia/Germany/Austria • Glitterbeat
20 MAISHA prev month: 24
The Zawose Queens • Tanzania • Real World
Compiled by Milan Tesar on behalf of the World Music Workshop of the European Broadcasting Union from playlists of 43 radio producers in 25 European countries.
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Some notable albums below the official Top 20:
21 AL RITMO DELLA LUNA prev month: ---
Clara Graziano • Italy • Finisterre
22 VANDER IKH MIR LUSTIK prev month: 22
Dobranotch • Russia • CPL Music
24 DETAILS prev month: ---
Driss El Maloumi Trio & Water Quintet • Morocco/various • ContreJour
25 YOUR FACE IS LIKE THE MOON, YOUR EYES ARE STARS prev month: 25
Bhutan Balladeers • Bhutan • Glitterbeat
27 THE WHEEL OF LIFE prev month: ---
A Moving Sound & Ethel • Taiwan/USA • ARC Music
31 INKERIN LAULU prev month: ---
Maco Oey • Finland • Eclipse
32 NADELOSE O prev month: ---
Phonix • Denmark • GO´ Danish Folk Music
33 LES BELGICAINS – NA TANGO YA COVADIA 1964–1970 prev month: 23
various artists • Belgium/Congo • Covadia
34 MILTON + ESPERANZA prev month: ---
Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding • Brazil/USA • Concord
36 WE prev month: 72
Vigüela • Spain • Mapamundi Música
38 CABANA prev month: 41
Lau Ro • Brazil • Far Out Recordings
Transglobal World Music Chart | September 2024
1. Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko · Djudjon, l’Oiseau de Garana · One World [2]
2. The Zawose Queens · Maisha · Real World [1]
3. Vigüela · We · Mapamundi Música [6]
4. Buzz’ Ayaz · Buzz’ Ayaz · Glitterbeat [-]
5. Bab L’ Bluz · Swaken · Real World [3]
6. Meridian Brothers · Mi Latinoamérica Sufre · Les Disques Bongo Joe [14]
7. Ruşan Filiztek · Exils · Accords Croisés [-]
8. Arooj Aftab · Night Reign · Verve [37]
9. Varijashree Venugopal · Vari · GroundUP Music [11]
10. Dobet Gnahoré · Zouzou · Cumbancha [4]
11. Jyotsna Srikanth · Carnatic Nomad · Naxos World [10]
12. Bhutan Balladeers · Your Face Is Like the Moon, Your Eyes Are Stars · Glitterbeat [15]
13. Landless · Lúireach · Glitterbeat [7]
14. Russudan Meipariani featuring Ensemble Anchiskhati · Voices & Mountains · Timezone [13]
15. Marta Topferova · Sombras · Moravia Publishing [30]
16. Nfaly Diakité · Hunter Folk Vol 1: Tribute to Toumani Koné · Mieruba [-]
17. Tiganá Santana · Caçada Noturna · Ajabu! [12]
18. Ali Doğan Gönültaş · Keyeyî · Mapamundi Música [5]
19. Maré · Maré · Sons Vadios [-]
20. Carla Pires · VaiVem · Ocarina [-]
21. Driss El Maloumi Trio & Watar Quintet · Details · Contre Jour / Zig Zag World [-]
22. Wowakin · Latem · Baba Studio [-]
23. Martina Camargo · Canto y Río · Chaco World Music [-]
24. Los Cumbia Stars · La Cumbia Une a Latinoamérica · Discos Fuentes [-]
25. Hamed Sadeghi · Empty Voices · Hamed Sadeghi [17]
26. Lemon Bucket Orkestra · Cuckoo · Lemon Bucket Orkestra [-]
27. Huun-Huur-Tu, Carmen Rizzo & Dhani Harrison · Dreamers in the Field · Dark Horse / BMG [9]
28. Assurd · ‘O ‘Mbruoglio · Suonitineranti [-]
29. Söndörgő · Gyezz · GroundUP Music [19]
30. Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou · L’Bnat · Ajabu! [8]
31. Okwy Osadebe and Highlife SoundMakers International · Ifunanya · Palenque / Odogwu Entertainment [22]
32. Aziza Brahim · Mawja · Glitterbeat [24]
33. Kadim Almet · Gayar Janay · Karakuz Label [-]
34. Arun Ramamurthy Trio · New Moon · Greenleaf Music [-]
35. Ahmed Moneka · Kanzafula: Afro-Iraqi Sufi Soul · LulaWorld [18]
36. Tenzin Choegyal · Whispering Sky · 4000 [-]
37. Sam Lee · Songdreaming · Cooking Vinyl [27]
38. Olcay Bayir · Tu Gulî · ARC Music [16]
39. V.A. · Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds in the Diaspora 1980-1993 · Soundway [29]
40. Moira Smiley · The Rhizome Project · Moira Smiley [-]
Download the chart as a PDF file
Transglobal World Music Chart (TWMC) is a network of journalists, critics, writers, DJs... from all continents specialized in world music, that produces a monthly chart and also an annual one, according to quality criteria, selecting the best recent world music albums from all over the world.
How to hear the show
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio 2:00 pm local New Zealand Time (3:00 am GMT 4:00 am CET)
NAR-GROUP Germany – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Mosel Radio – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
NAR-Alf – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Saturday:
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany 3:00 – 5:00 pm CET
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Essential Radio Midnight to 2:00 am GMT (1:00 am CET)
Sunday:
West Coast FM Namibia 10:00 pm to 12:00 noon Central Africa Time (2:00 to 4:00 GMT)
NFRS Osaka Japan: 12:00 noon local time (3:00 am UK time 4:00 am CET)
973FM in Singapore and 11:00 pm local time (3:00 pm/15:00 hours UTC – Universal Time).
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Ferry FM 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Armagh City Radio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Monday:
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
KNC Radio St Lucia 10:31 AM - 12:41 PM local time (16:30 to 17:40 CET)
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa Blanca, Spain 10:00 pm local time (CET)
Akaroa World Radio 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Wednesday:
World FM 4:00 am local New Zealand Time (5:00 pm Tuesday GMT, 6:00 pm CET)
Slice Audio 4:00 am local time GMT (5:00 am CET)
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Stirling Community Radio 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)