WORLD MUSIC concept

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The concept of "World Music" has revolutionized our perception of music globally. For centuries, music existed in diverse forms across the world, each region with its own distinct terminology. However, these musical traditions remained confined within their respective regions, lacking widespread recognition beyond their borders. The advent of the term "World Music" served as a gateway, connecting these diverse musical cultures and allowing them to reach audiences worldwide.

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JESSE WALTER FEWKES - The first field recording, 1890

 

Many expeditions and recordings were made in the early 1900s in Africa and the Caribbean by French, English and American musicologists. One of the earliest recordings known was made by James Mooney, who recorded various natives American ghost dances on the 15 mars 1894. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAUHAR JAAN

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India's first disc had Gauhar Jaan recorded on 2 november 1902, by Fred Gaisberg, an assistant to Emile Berliner, the father of Gramophone record, who left America to become the first recording engineer with the Gramophone Company, London.  It was the start of a long history of world music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALAN LOMAX, PAUL BOWLES - THE PIONNERS

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They recorded the shamanic chants of the Siberian rim, the dying folk music of isolated European villagers, the ecstatic gamelan sounds of Bali, and the trance drumming of Africa. They lugged their ponderous gear into the high Andes and to remote Pacific islands. Some of their names are well-known, such as Paul Bowles, Alan Lomax, Bela Bartok, Gilbert Rouget, Ida Halpern, Henry Cowell, Henrietta Yurchenco, and Laura Boulton; others are unknown and unsung. They did more than bring back sound. They brought back adventure; they broadened the idea of what music meant and what culture could produce.

 

THE 60 - 70´S

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The 1960s and 1970s marked a period of independence for the majority of countries in Western Africa. The sense of euphoria and newfound freedom during this era gave rise to the creation of modern urban music genres such as highlife and Afrobeat in Nigeria and Ghana, juju music in Nigeria, rumba in the Congo, and salsa in Senegal. Additionally, national orchestras emerged, including the Star Band de Dakar in Senegal, the Rail Band in Mali, Bembeya Jazz National in Guinea, as well as notable bands like Grand Kalle and l’African Jazz, O.K. Jazz, and Tabu Ley’s African Fiesta, all of which contributed significantly to the cultural landscape of the region.

THE 60 - 70´S

 

The 1960s and 1970s were also characterized by significant musical movements such as Tropicalia in Brazil, the emergence of salsa in New York, and the rise of reggae in Jamaica. These years saw the birth of great festivals as FESMAN, FESTAC 77, and Festival Panafricain Algiers.Miriam Makeba became the first African woman to win an American Grammy for the album 'An Evening with Belafonte', released by RCA Victor in 1966

 

 

 

 

 

THE BEATLES  & THE ROLLING STONES

 

During this time, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones embarked on transformative journeys to India and Morocco, respectively. These experiences deeply influenced their music and led to collaborations with renowned artists such as Ravi Shankar in India and The Master Musicians of Jajouka in Morocco. These encounters resulted in ground-breaking fusion projects that bridged Western and Eastern musical traditions, leaving a lasting impact on the global music scene.

 

 

 

 

AFRICA FÊTE - MAMADOU KONTÉ

 

Mamadou Konté founded the Africa Fête music festival in 1978 in France, marking the inception of the first major international music festival dedicated to showcasing established and emerging African musical artists in the country. Among the pioneering artists introduced to the French public through Africa Fête were Touré Kunda, Xalam, Djamal Allem, Pierre Akendengué, Toto Bissainthe, Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), Manu Dibango, and Aswad. Africa Fête played a crucial role in promoting African music and culture in France and beyond, contributing to greater recognition and appreciation of African musical talent on the international stage.

 

BOB MARLEY THE MESSAGER OF THE WORLD MUSIC

 

When reggae emerged in the late 1960s, it reverberated not only in Jamaica but across the globe like a cultural bombshell. Reggae, with Bob Marley as its iconic figurehead, wielded profound influence and inspiration, shaping societies worldwide and giving rise to new counter-culture movements, particularly in Europe, the USA, and Africa.

Bob Marley transcended the realm of music to become a spokesperson for millions of oppressed people worldwide.  Marley's legacy extends far beyond his music, symbolizing the enduring quest for social change and harmony.

 

 

LES TOURE KUNDA - FELA KUTI

 

In their 1982 album "Emma," Touré Kunda blended African music, funk, disco, and reggae into a fusion that appealed to a wider audience, including fans of rock, jazz, and pop in France. This innovative mix marked a breakthrough moment for the band, leading to a significant movement toward a new audience. The success of this blend was monumental, earning Touré Kunda their first gold record.

Similarly, Fela Kuti, the Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer, drew a crowd of 9,000 people at the Hippodrome de Pantin a year prior, showcasing the immense appeal and influence of African music on an international scale.

 

WOMAD & FESTIVAL DES MUSIQUES MÉTISSES

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WOMAD (World of Music, Arts, and Dance) stands as the largest international music fair, originating in London in 1980. It evolved into the first world music festival in 1982, following in the footsteps of Africa Fête and the Festival Musiques Mêtisses in France, opening its doors to artists from Africa, Asia, and beyond. Said's interviews with key figures such as Thomas Brooman and Gilbert Mousset shed light on the pivotal role they played in the creation of WOMAD and the Festival Musiques Mêtisses, highlighting the significance of these events in promoting cross-cultural exchange and appreciation of global music and arts.

 

BIRTH OF WORLD MUSIC LABELS

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Syllart Productions, World Circuit, Real World, Sonodisc, Sonima, Fania, Stern's Music, Shanachie, Club du Disque Arabe, and Debs are just a few examples of the numerous companies that arose during this period.

Said will explore in his lecture the unique contributions of each record company, discussing their approaches to discovering, producing, and promoting world music artists. He will analyse their impact on the globalization and commercialization of diverse musical genres, as well as their role in fostering cultural exchange and understanding.

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80´s - THE BIG BANG

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During the 1980s, world music experienced a significant explosion in popularity. This era saw numerous cultural and musical events taking place. Many artists from Africa and the Caribbean relocated to European capitals in search of better career opportunities. Pioneering musicians such as Pierre Akendengue, Touré Kunda, Salif Keita, and Papa Wemba made significant impacts during this time. Additionally, groups like Kassav, Sunny Ade, Manu Dibango, and Osibisa gained widespread recognition.

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RADIO NOVA - BBC

 

The 1980s witnessed the emergence of several festivals, new record producers, promoters, musicians, and journalists who were passionate about highlighting and spreading the music they discovered and fell in love with. On the French side, magazines like Actuel, newspapers like Libération, and radio stations like Radio Nova played crucial roles in promoting world music, which will give birth to the SONOMONDIALE

From the English side, John Peel followed  by Charlie Gillett, Andy Kershaw, Lucy Duran, Alexis Corner, Verity Sharp, the rose of many labels and womad have contributed in introducing African and Asian music to Western audiences.

 

THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA MEETING

 

In 1987, the concept of world music was chosen for marketing purposes during a meeting at the Empress of Russia pub in London. Eva and Said founded and visited the pub, managing to interview most of the participants in this meeting, including Ben Mandelson, Roger Armstrong, Thomas Brooman, Steve Haddrell, Mark Kidel, Ian A. Anderson, Mary Farquharson, Nick Gold, Iain Scott, Robert Urbanus, and Joe Boyd. Said tells the story behind the creation of the term.

 

 

 

 

WOMEX

 

WOMEX (World Music Expo) is the world's largest fair for folk and world music. It started in 1994 and takes place every year in any European country. Previous locations for WOMEX have been: Berlin (1994, 1999, 2000), Brussels (1995), Marseille (1997), Stockholm (1998), Rotterdam (2001), Essen (2002, 2004), Newcastle upon Tyne Seville (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008), Copenhagen (2009, 2010, 2011), Thessaloniki (2012) and Cardiff (2013), Santiago de Compostela (2014), Budapest (2015), Santiago de Compostela Spain (2016) Katowice, Poland (2017). Said tells more about the fair.

 

 

DIFFERENT MUSIC GENRES

 

There are several hundreds of different genres of world music, Afro, Samba, Salsa, Balkan, Rai, Rumba, Flamenco, Fado, Bollywood, Bhangra, belly dance are the most common. Said makes an overview of the different genres and the countries from where they come from.

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