In the Western world, "World music" refers either to music that doesn't fall into the North American and British pop or folk traditions or to hybrids of various indigenous musics. Certain styles -- such as Jamaican reggae or Latin pop -- grew large enough to be classified as their own genre, but everything else, from traditional Chinese music to African folk, is classified as world music. Worldbeat is something different than world music, since it's usually the result of Western hybrids and fusions, yet it still falls under the world music umbrella because it borrows styles, sounds and instrumentation from various indigenous musics.
International Styles
Africa
- African Folk
- Afro-Beat
- Afro-Pop
- Bikutsi
- Chimurenga
- Djabdong
- Fuji
- Highlife
- Jit
- Juju
- Kora
- Makossa
- Marabi
- Mbalax
- Mbaqanga
- Mbira
- Mbube
- Mbuti Choral
- Omutibo
- Pygmy
- Séga
- Soukous
- Taarab
- Township Jazz
African Folk
Afro-Pop
- Afro-Beat
- Chimurenga
- Highlife
- Jit
- Juju
- Makossa
- Marabi
- Mbalax
- Mbaqanga
- Mbube
- Mbuti Choral
- Omutibo
- Séga
- Soukous
- Taarab
- Township Jazz
Asian Folk
Asian Pop
Australasia
Calypso
Celtic/British Isles
- British Folk
- Celtic Folk
- Celtic Fusion
- Celtic Gospel
- Celtic New Age
- Celtic Pop
- Celtic Rock
- Contemporary Celtic
- Drinking Songs
- Irish Folk
- Pipe Bands
- Scottish Folk
- Traditional Celtic
- Traditional Irish Folk
- Traditional Scottish Folk
Central Asia
Central Europe
Chouval Bwa
Contemporary Flamenco
Danzon
Eastern Europe
European Folk
- Bava
- Bulgarian Folk
- Fado
- Flamenco
- Greek Folk
- Hungarian Folk
- Klezmer
- Rembetika
- Scottish Folk
- Swedish Folk
Far East
Flamenco
Foreign Language Rock
- Aboriginal Rock
- Asian Pop
- French Pop
- French Rock
- Hong Kong Pop
- Italian Pop
- J-Pop
- Japanese Rock
- Rock en Español
Greek Folk
Hebrew
Indian Classical
Jewish Music
Latin America
- Afro-Brazilian
- Afro-Peruvian
- Andean Folk
- Banda
- Bolero
- Boogaloo
- Bossa Nova
- Brazilian Pop
- Cha-Cha
- Conjunto
- Corrido
- Cuatro
- Cumbia
- Danzon
- Forro
- Jibaro
- Latin Big Band
- Latin CCM
- Latin Folk
- Latin Jazz
- Latin Pop
- Latin Rock
- Latin Soul
- Mambo
- Mariachi
- Modern Son
- MPB
- New York Salsa
- Norteño
- Nueva Cancion
- Nueva Trova
- Onda Grupera
- Pachanga
- Plena
- Quechua
- Ranchera
- Rock en Español
- Salsa
- Samba
- Son
- Tango
- Tejano
- Tropicalia
- Trova
- Vallenato
Latin Jazz/World Fusion
Mediterranean
Middle East
Non-Western Classical Music
Nordic Traditions
Pygmy
Raga
Reggae/Caribbean
- Belair
- Bluebeat
- Cadence
- Calypso
- Chouval Bwa
- Contemporary Reggae
- Dancehall
- DJ/Toasting
- Dub
- Dub Poetry
- Gwo Ka
- Junkanoo
- Lovers Rock
- Mento
- Nyahbinghi
- Party Soca
- Political Reggae
- Ragga
- Rapso
- Reggae Gospel
- Reggae-Pop
- Rocksteady
- Roots Reggae
- Ska
- Smooth Reggae
- Soca
- Spouge
- Steel Band
- Vaudou
- Zouk
Rembetika
Scandinavia
Slack-Key Guitar
Soca
South Asia
South Pacific
South/Eastern European Traditions
Southeast Asia
Traditional European Folk
Tropical
- Bachata
- Beguine
- Beguine Moderne
- Beguine Vide
- Compas
- Cuban Pop
- Guaguancó
- Lambada
- Merengue
- Merenhouse
- Mini Jazz
- Rumba
- Sonero
- Tropical
Western Europe
Worldbeat
Worldbeat
Top Artists
Click here for full listTop Albums
Click here for full list- Columbus Lied Shadow
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In Concert: Live at the University of Puerto Rico
Batacumbele - Mama Afrika La Maafia
-
Cumbia Cumbia
Various Artists -
Cuban Counterpoint: History of the Son Montuno
Various Artists - Cem Anos de Samba Os Caretas
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20 Exitos Inolvidables
Trio Matamoros -
Tango: Zero Hour
Astor Piazzolla -
Black Orpheus [1989 Verve Bonus Track]
Henri Crolla -
Bebo Rides Again
Bebo Valdés
Top Songs
Click here for full listRelated Essays
- Access to World Music Via Shortwave Radio by Bob Tarte
- Accordion Music Throughout the World by John Storm Roberts
- African (Rai & Taarab) by j. poet
- African Music by John Storm Roberts
- African Music Terms by John Storm Roberts
- African Pop Music by j. poet
- Bengali Music by Ken Hunt
- Bhangra and Giddha by Ken Hunt
- Brazilian Music by Terri Hinte
- Bulgarian Music by Myles Boisen
- Call and Response Forms by Don Hill
- Calypso and Steelband Music of the Caribbean by Gene Scaramuzzo
- Calypso on Record by Don Hill
- Cante Jondo: The Legacy of the Spanish Gypsy by Brook Zern
- Caribbean Music Styles by Gene Scaramuzzo
- Celtic Music by Steve Winick
- Chinese Music in the XXth and XXIst Centuries by Bruno Deschênes
- Compas by Jean D. Pierre
- Compas (Haitian) by Robert Leaver
- Cuban Music by Ned Sublette
- Development of Pan by Don Hill
- Dominican Republic: Introduction and Merengue by Paul Austerlitz
- Essay on The Beat magazine by Bob Tarte
- European Music by John Storm Roberts
- Filmi Qawwali by Ken Hunt
- Flamenco by Roy Brewer
- Flamenco -- A Brief Introduction by Deirdre Towers
- Flamenco Guitar on CD by Brook Zern
- Flamenco History by Brook Zern
- Flamenco Singers on CD by Brook Zern
- Flamenco: Old, New, Borrowed & Blue by Brook Zern
- French Antilles (Martinique & Guadeloupe) by Robert Leaver
- Greek Music by Myles Boisen
- Guide to the Music of Brazil by John Storm Roberts
- Haitian Music by Robert Leaver
- Haitian Music Styles by Jean D. Pierre
- Hawaiian Music by Myles Boisen
- Hindu Devotional Music by Ken Hunt
- Hindu Religious Drama by Ken Hunt
- Indian Art Film Music by Ken Hunt
- Indian Film Music by Ken Hunt
- Indian Music (east) by Myles Boisen
- Indian Pop Music by Ken Hunt
- Indonesian Music by Scott Bultman
- Introduction for Mainland Southeast Asia by Terry Miller
- Introduction to Indian Classical Music by Ken Hunt
- Introduction to Worldbeat Section by Bob Tarte
- Karnatic (Southern Indian) Classical Mus by Ken Hunt
- Latin American Connection by Brook Zern
- Latin Music Glossary by John Storm Roberts
- Middle East Vocal Styles by John Storm Roberts
- Middle Eastern Music by Linda Kohanov
- Mongolia Music by Robert Walker
- Moorish Influence, The Fandango Family by Brook Zern
- Music of the Bauls by Ken Hunt
- Music of the Lesser Antilles by Don Hill
- New York Salsa by Al Santiago
- Other Gypsy Forms: Tango, Bulerias, Rumba Gitana by Brook Zern
- Other Religions' Music by Ken Hunt
- Pathani Music by Ken Hunt
- Punjabi Music by Ken Hunt
- Rajasthani Music by Ken Hunt
- Reggae Music by Roger Steffens
- Regional Folk Music Forms by Ken Hunt
- Religious and Devotional Music/Qawwali by Ken Hunt
- Reshma by Ken Hunt
- Salsa Music by Max Salazar
- Sikh Religious Music by Ken Hunt
- Slack Key Guitar by Bob Tarte
- Some Terms -- Indian by Ken Hunt
- Sounds of Islam by Virginia Daniel
- Spanish Forms by Brook Zern
- The Blended Forms by Brook Zern
- The Great Names of Early Calypso by Don Hill
- The History of Calypso by Don Hill
- The Japanese Shakuhachi and the Western World by Bruno Deschênes
- The Music of Japan by Bruno Deschênes
- The Music of Vietnam by Bruno Deschênes
- Throat Singing by Bruno Deschênes
- Types of Calypso by Don Hill
- World Music by John Storm Roberts
- World Music Guide -- Chapter on the Mande Kora Jali Tradition by Roderic Knight
- Worldbeat by j. poet
- Zaire, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo Pygmies by Ted Greenwald
- Zouk Music by Gene Scaramuzzo