We have ample opportunity to broaden our listening and get beyond the output of the US and Britain but many people seldom do. This is changing slowly, especially as Western artists such as Damon Albarn promote these musicians hard and absorb their sounds and techniques into their own compositions.
Here are two sections on world music. The first section is straight questions; the second simply asks you to match 15 artists to their geographical roots.
Answers: here
1 Which British magazine, founded in 1999, champions world music and sponsors awards for artists in that field? From which culture is the magazine’s name taken?
2 Which musician co-founded the WOMAD festival in 1982? What was the name of the world music label he established in 1989?
3 Dimanche à Bamako was a 2005 breakthrough success for which Malian duo? What disadvantage have the couple overcome?
4 Which Congolese band consists of four paraplegic instrumentalists and a percussion section of street children? Which side project of the band released their debut album, From Kinshasa, in 2015?
5 Argentinian musician Astor Piazzolla was perhaps the most famous performer of which style of traditional dance music? Which Paris-based multi-national band blended this music with dance beats and samples on their 2006 album Lunático?
6 ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ was a worldwide number one single for Shakira with contributions from Wyclef Jean. In which two countries were these two stars born?
7 Ibrahim Ag Alhabib is the founder and main composer of which African guitar band? Which African culture do they represent?
9 What was the Ry Cooder-produced 1997 album that gave a number of talented Cuban musicians a wider audience? Who was the German director of the 1999 documentary of the same name?
10 Which flamenco guitar band found popularity in the UK with their 1989 album, Mosaique? Where are the band from?
11 Which multi-lingual artist released his debut album Clandestino in 1988? For years he was a busker on the streets of which city?
12 Who, in 2005, organised a benefit concert against world poverty in Cornwall, featuring exclusively African artists, in response to criticism of the mainly white line-ups at the global concerts organised by Bob Geldof’s organisation? Which Senegalese star headed and hosted the event?
13 Which classic 1970 Santana album contains the tracks ‘Oye Como Va’, ‘Se a Cabo’ and ‘Samba Pa Ti?’ What was the brilliant Nicaraguan musician Jose Areas’ contribution to the album?
14 Music in Exile was the 2015 debut of which African guitar band? They got their break when a group of European musicians went on a talent-spotting mission to which country?
15 What was the name of the South African vocal group who rose to fame through their work on Paul Simon’s 1986 album, Graceland? Who produced their successful 1987 follow up, Shaka Zulu?
Match the artist to his/her geographical roots:
16 Pioneering Nigerian musician and composer;
17 New York gypsy-punk blues act;
18 Aboriginal rockers and protesters;
19 Brazilian goth metal band;
20 Acclaimed diva of Portuguese fado singing;
21 Percussion-heavy Zimbabwean band beloved of the late John Peel;
22 Albino pop star from Mali;
23 Mexican Flamenco guitarists;
24 Jamaican guitarist and pioneer of the ska guitar sound;
25 Senegalese singer and percussionist;
26 Iran’s best-known master of traditional Persian music;
27 Trinidadian pop-reggae star;
28 Indian fusion musician and film composer;
29 Alternative rock duo from Leamington Spa;
30 Bermudan singer-songwriter.
Choose from these artists: Bhundu Boys; Gogol Bordello; Raghu Dixit; Salif Keita, Fela Kuti; Cheikh Lo; Mariza; Nizlopi; Heather Nova; Billy Ocean; Ernest Ranglin; Rodrigo y Gabriela; Sepultura; Shajarian; Yothu Yindi.