Afrobeat
Originating in West Africa, Afrobeat combines traditional African rhythms with elements of jazz, funk, and highlife.
- Notable Musicians: Burna Boy, Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Antibalas.
- Fela Kuti - "Zombie"
- Tony Allen - "Black Voices"
- Antibalas - "Who Is This America?"
- Femi Kuti - "Shoki Shoki"
- Mulatu Astatke - "Mulatu of Ethiopia"
- Burna Boy - "African Giant"
Reggae
A Jamaican genre known for its distinctive rhythm, political themes, and cultural significance.
- Notable Musicians: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff.
- Bob Marley & The Wailers - "Legend"
- Peter Tosh - "Legalize It"
- Jimmy Cliff - "The Harder They Come" (Soundtrack)
- Burning Spear - "Marcus Garvey"
- Steel Pulse - "True Democracy"
Samba
A Brazilian genre associated with carnival celebrations, featuring lively percussion and dance rhythms.
- Notable Musicians: João Gilberto, Carmen Miranda, Martinho da Vila.
- João Gilberto - "Chega de Saudade"
- Cartola - "Cartola" (self-titled)
- Martinho da Vila - "Canta Canta, Minha Gente"
- Elza Soares - "A Mulher do Fim do Mundo"
- Gal Costa - "Gal Costa" (self-titled)
Flamenco
Hailing from Spain, flamenco music is characterized by passionate vocals, guitar, and rhythmic handclaps.
- Notable Musicians: Paco de Lucía, Camarón de la Isla, Tomatito.
- Paco de Lucía - "El Duende Flamenco"
- Camarón de la Isla - "La Leyenda del Tiempo"
- Tomatito - "Rosas del Amor"
- Paco Peña - "Flamenco Guitar Music of Ramón Montoya"
- Vicente Amigo - "Ciudad de las Ideas"
Fado
A Portuguese genre known for its melancholic and soulful singing, often accompanied by the Portuguese guitar.
- Notable Musicians: Amália Rodrigues, Carlos do Carmo, Mariza.
- Amália Rodrigues - "Fado Amália"
- Carlos do Carmo - "Um Homem na Cidade"
- Mariza - "Fado em Mim"
- Ana Moura - "Desfado"
- Aldina Duarte - "Roubados"
Celtic Music
Originating in the Celtic regions of Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany, it includes styles like Irish folk, Scottish folk, and Breton music.
- Notable Musicians: The Chieftains, Altan, Clannad.
- The Chieftains - "The Chieftains 4"
- Altan - "Harvest Storm"
- Clannad - "Macalla"
- The Dubliners - "A Drop of the Hard Stuff"
- Wolfstone - "The Chase"
Bossa Nova
A Brazilian genre characterized by its smooth, bossa (swing) rhythms and melodic guitar and vocals.
- Notable Musicians: João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto.
- João Gilberto - "Chega de Saudade"
- Antônio Carlos Jobim - "Wave"
- Astrud Gilberto - "The Astrud Gilberto Album"
- Stan Getz & João Gilberto - "Getz/Gilberto"
- João Gilberto - "Amoroso"
Balkan Music
Encompasses music from the Balkan Peninsula, including genres like Balkan folk, klezmer, and Romani music.
- Notable Musicians: Goran Bregović, Fanfare Ciocărlia, Emir Kusturica.
- Goran Bregović - "Arizona Dream" (Soundtrack)
- Fanfare Ciocărlia - "Baro Biao: World Wide Wedding"
- Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra - "Unza Unza Time"
- Taraf de Haïdouks - "Band of Gypsies"
- Balkan Beat Box - "Balkan Beat Box"
Klezmer
Traditional Jewish music characterized by expressive melodies, often played at weddings and celebrations.
- Notable Musicians: Klezmatics, David Krakauer, Naftule Brandwein.
- Klezmatics - "Jews with Horns"
- David Krakauer - "Klezmer Madness!"
- Naftule Brandwein - "King of the Klezmer Clarinet"
- Andy Statman - "Flatbush Waltz"
- Brave Old World - "Klezmer Music"
Highlife
Originating in West Africa, highlife music blends African rhythms with Western instrumentation, influenced by jazz and swing.
- Notable Musicians: Osibisa, E.T. Mensah, Amakye Dede.
- E.T. Mensah - "All For You"
- Amakye Dede - "Iron Boy"
- Gyedu-Blay Ambolley - "Simigwa"
- S.E. Rogie - "Palm Wine Guitar Music"
- Osibisa - "Osibisa" (self-titled)
Raga
A classical music tradition from India, featuring intricate melodies and rhythmic patterns.
- Notable Musicians: Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Zakir Hussain.
- Ravi Shankar - "The Sounds of India"
- Ali Akbar Khan - "Morning and Evening Ragas"
- Zakir Hussain - "Making Music"
- L. Subramaniam - "Fantasy Without Limits"
- Shivkumar Sharma - "Call of the Valley"
Kora Music
Hailing from West Africa, it features the kora (a harp-like instrument) and is associated with griot storytelling.
- Notable Musicians: Toumani Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko, Seckou Keita.
- Toumani Diabaté & Ballaké Sissoko - "New Ancient Strings"
- Seckou Keita - "22 Strings"
- Salif Keita & Kante Manfila - "The Lost Album"
- Mamadou Diabaté - "Tunga"
- Rokia Traoré - "Bowmboï"
Salsa
A lively Latin American genre with roots in Cuba, known for its danceable rhythms and horn sections.
- Notable Musicians: Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Marc Anthony.
- Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco - "Celia & Johnny"
- Tito Puente - "Dance Mania"
- Rubén Blades & Willie Colón - "Siembra"
- Héctor Lavoe - "La Voz"
- Fania All-Stars - "Live at the Cheetah"
Tango
Originating in Argentina and Uruguay, tango music is characterized by passionate vocals and dance.
- Notable Musicians: Carlos Gardel, Astor Piazzolla, Gotan Project.
- Carlos Gardel - "Tango Argentino"
- Astor Piazzolla - "Libertango"
- Gotan Project - "La Revancha del Tango"
- Osvaldo Pugliese - "Recuerdo"
- Juan D'Arienzo - "El Rey del Compás"
Gamelan
Traditional music from Indonesia, featuring intricate percussion ensembles of metallophones and gongs.
- Notable Musicians: I Wayan Lotring, I Wayan Balawan, Rahayu Supanggah.
- Various Artists - "Gamelan of Central Java"
- I Wayan Lotring - "Gambang Semar Pegulingan"
- I Wayan Balawan - "Magic of Nusantara"
- Rahayu Supanggah - "Joged Bumbung"
- Lou Harrison - "Gamelan Music"
