Around the World with Five Bestselling Global Musicians

“World music is about taking things from different places and bringing them together – which is great.”

– Youssou N’Dour

Music is the universal language of people around the world. Every culture has a distinct kind of music. Till the 1980s, western music was considered mainstream. Though brilliant and unique, seldom did unconventional musical genres from any other places than the United Kingdom or the United States of America make it into the global charts. These brilliant musical pieces had very little exposure outside their own countries. All this changed in the 1980s.

Record labels and music producers from the USA and the UK began to release non-English recordings. All of a sudden, Indian classical music, Pakistani Sufi music, Tuvan throat singers, Zimbabwean guitar brands, Hawaiian slack-key guitarists, and Cajun fiddlers, among others, began to take center stage. The global audience finally got to get a taste of the diverse music around the world. In the 1990s, world music gained recognition. The renowned magazine, Billboard, started a world music chart in 1990. In 1991, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences introduced a category for world music to the Grammy Awards. The term “world music” soon lost its charm. By the 21st century, it came to be associated with colonialism. Hence, the genre became known as global music. The Grammy Award for Best World Music Album was renamed the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in 2020.

Today, global music is a huge genre. With increased technological advancements, people from all over the world are able to showcase their music on the world stage.

Let us have a look at some of the bestselling and award-winning global music artists.

Artist: Angelique Kidjo

Country: Benin

Known as Africa’s premier diva, Angelique Kidjo is a Beninese-French singer-songwriter, actress, and activist born in Ouidah, French Dahomey. With a musician father and a choreographer mother, she gained an appreciation for traditional music and dance from a young age. Her first performance was with her mother’s theatre troupe when she was merely six. Since then, there was no stopping her. Due to the political turmoil in Benin, Kidjo relocated to Paris in 1983 to begin her blooming career as an independent artist. She went on to become a successful artist famous for her out-of-the-box music videos and varied musical influences. On July 23, 2021, Angelique Kidjo performed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. She won five Grammy Awards in the Global Music category. Also, she is the winner of the 2023 Polar Music Prize in 2023.

Artists: Ladysmith Black Mambazo 

Country: South Africa

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is an iconic South African choral group, primarily specializing in isicathamiya and mbube. Dr. Bhekizizwe Joseph Shabalala had a moving series of dreams of isicathamiya harmonies. These dreams prompted him to form the Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They released their first album, Amabutho, in 1973. Soon, more albums followed. Each of these was bestowed with the gold disc certification. In no time, the group gained enormous popularity in their native country. In 1986, Ladysmith Black Mambazo collaborated with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland. This brought them into the limelight and opened doors for international releases. They are the winners of five Grammy Awards in the Global Music category.

Artist: Soweto Gospel Choir 

Country: South Africa

The Soweto Gospel Choir is an award-winning South African musical group. Formed in 2002, the ensemble consists of thirty members. It was incepted by David Mulovhedzi, Beverly Bryer, Andrew Kay, David Vigo, and Cliff Hocking. The Soweto Gospel Choir is famous for its enthralling mix of African gospel, reggae, Negro spirituals, and American popular music. They have gone on a number of international tours. In fact, they had the privilege to perform at the first 46664 concert in front of Nelson Mandela. Their albums, Blessed, African Spirit, and Freedom won the Grammy Award in the Global Music Category.

Artist: Ravi Shankar 

Country: India

Born in a prominent Bengali family, Ravi Shankar is the most popular proponent of North Indian classical music in the world. Shankar started his career as a dancer touring with the group of his brother, Uday Shankar, throughout Europe and India. At eighteen, Ravi Shankar had a change of heart. He immersed himself in music and did a seven-year course in sitar under Allauddin Khan, the court musician for the Maharaja of Maihar. Shankar then went on to compose the music for Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy and worked as the music director of All India Radio, New Delhi, from 1949 to 1956. Since 1956, Shankar dedicated his life to popularizing Indian classical music around the world by touring Europe and America. Soon, he formed iconic associations with world famous Beatles guitarist, George Harrison, and renowned violinist, Yehudi Menuhin. Ravi Shankar was a sitar virtuoso who was the recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 1999. He won five Grammy Awards and a Polar Prize, along with many other prizes. Ravi Shankar was a master who influenced countless musicians around the world. 

Artist: Ry Cooder 

Country: United States of America

Ryland Peter Cooder, popularly known as Ry Cooder, is a multi-talented enigma. The American musician is a record producer, film music composer, songwriter, and writer. Though he is known for his prowess at playing the slide guitar, he is an expert at playing multiple instruments. Cooder is a fan of traditional music and has made a mark on the world music stage through his collaborations with traditional musicians from diverse countries. His associations with John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Warren Zevon, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, David Lindley, The Chieftains, The Doobie Brothers, Gordon Lightfoot, and Captain Beefheart, among many others, have always produced stellar musical pieces. It is no wonder that Ry Cooder has won several accolades, including two Grammys.

Conclusion

Listening to global music is a great way to get acquainted with different cultures. It helps us diversify and understand the world much better.

Do comment and let me know which of these amazing musical talents have grabbed your attention.