swap_horiz Thomas Mapfumo - Corruption Alternatives

1

Fela Kuti - Zombie

Fela Kuti’s “Zombie” is a landmark 1977 world music album originating from Nigeria. The record powerfully criticizes cor...

Political 1970S Funk Afrobeat

9.4 Excellent

2

Paul Simon - Graceland

Paul Simon’s Graceland (1986) is a landmark pop album featuring collaborations with South African musicians. The recordi...

South Africa Pop 1980S Fusion

9.4 Excellent

3

Astor Piazzolla - Tango: Zero Hour

Astor Piazzolla’s *Tango: Zero Hour* (1986) represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of tango. This album showcases...

Tango 1980S Argentina Nuevo Tango

9.4 Excellent

4

The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy & the Lash

The Pogues’ Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (1985) represents a significant moment in world-music. This UK-based band blended ele...

UK Folk Rock Ireland 1980S

9.3 Excellent

5

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - En Concert à Paris

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s *En Concert à Paris* is a live recording from 1980 featuring the legendary Pakistani qawwali sin...

1980S Devotional Pakistan Sufi

9.3 Excellent

6

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Shahen-Shah

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s *Shahen-Shah* is a seminal world-music album showcasing the renowned Pakistani qawwali vocalist'...

1980S Devotional Pakistan Sufi

9.2 Excellent

7

Fela Kuti - Expensive Shit

Fela Kuti’s “Expensive Shit” (1975) is a landmark Afrobeat album reflecting Nigeria's political and social realities. Re...

Political 1970S Funk Afrobeat

9.2 Excellent

8

Chico Buarque - Construção

Chico Buarque’s *Construção* (1971) is a landmark Brazilian album blending sophisticated Música Popular Brasileira with...

Political 1970S Brazil Mpb

9.2 Excellent

9

Peter Gabriel - Passion

Peter Gabriel’s Passion, released in 1989, is a world-music album commissioned for the film *The Last Temptation of Chri...

Film Score Percussion 1980S Middle East

9.2 Excellent

10

David Byrne & Brian Eno - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts

David Byrne & Brian Eno’s *My Life in the Bush of Ghosts* (1980) is a groundbreaking album blending experimental pop wit...

Experimental 1980S West African World Fusion

9.1 Excellent

11

Orchestra Baobab - Pirates Choice

Orchestra Baobab’s *Pirates Choice* is a significant world music album from 1982. The Senegalese ensemble creates a vibr...

Dance 1980S Senegal West African

9.0 Excellent

12

Fela Kuti - Beasts of No Nation

Fela Kuti’s *Beasts of No Nation* (1989) is a powerful Afrobeat record examining systemic corruption and injustice. The...

Political 1980S Protest Afrobeat

9.0 Excellent

13

Enya - Watermark

Enya’s Watermark represents a significant moment in world music. Released in 1988, this album established Enya's signatu...

Ambient Ireland 1980S New Age

9.0 Excellent

14

Salif Keita - Soro

Salif Keita’s *Soro* (1987) presents a significant fusion of Malian musical traditions and contemporary sounds. The albu...

Pop 1980S Mali West African

8.9 Great

15

Toumani Diabaté - Kaira

Toumani Diabaté’s *Kaira* showcases the exceptional skill of this Malian kora player. Recorded in the 1980s, the album p...

1980S Acoustic Mali Mande

8.9 Great

16

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Shaka Zulu

Produced by Paul Simon, this 1987 album by South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo won the Grammy Award for B...

South Africa Zulu 1980S Choral

8.8 Great

17

King Sunny Ade - Juju Music

Nigerian musician King Sunny Ade released this 1982 album, which successfully introduced the traditional West African ju...

Guitar 1980S Nigeria Juju

8.8 Great

18

Oumou Sangaré - Moussolou

Released in 1989, this debut album by Malian Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangaré critiques forced marriage and traditional ge...

Female Vocal 1980S Mali West African

8.8 Great

19

Fela Kuti - Lady

This 1972 album by Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti features the extended title track, which explores feminist themes...

Political 1970S Feminist Afrobeat

8.8 Great

20

Stella Chiweshe - Ambuya?

Ambuya? is a 1987 album by Zimbabwean musician Stella Chiweshe, notable for her masterful playing of the mbira and intro...

Traditional 1980S Zimbabwe Shona

7.9 Good