Senegal
Youssou N’Dour
A true Womad headliner and international star, Youssou N’Dour’s griot (travelling singers) heritage permeates through everything he does – be it slightly hip-hop inspired, fused with Cuban rhythms, or the Mbalax sound of West Africa. Read our profile of N’Dour.
Algeria
Khaled
It’s big news that he’s on the bill, the king of Algeria’s Raï music is coming to Abu Dhabi. Khaled, formerly known as Cheb Khaled when he was ‘young’, became known for his hugely popular tune ‘Didi’ and the international (and oh so ’80s) hit ‘Aicha’. We chat with him on.
Niger
Etran Finatawa
A meeting of Tuareg and Wodaabe nomads at the Festival Au Desert in Mali led to this rapturous Saharan sound that captures the new wave of ‘desert blues’, the possible roots of America’s blues movement.
Tunisia
Dhafer Youssef
Despite being a master of the oud (a stringed instrument found across the Arab world), Dhafer Youssef can drag the rhythmic sounds of his instrument into jazz and East-West crossovers.
Syria
Abdullah Chhadeh & Syriana
It’s no small feat to seamlessly blend the qanun (Turkish harp), with electric guitar and try to pull off tracks that would sound as relevant in a Damascus courtyard as a Texan roadhouse. But Abdullah Chhadeh has achieved it with impressive results.
India
Trilok Gurtu
Primarily a percussionist of classical Indian instruments, Trilok Gurtu has taken his skills in tabla into the realms of jazz-rock fusion – and it works. In the past, he’s collaborated with the likes of Robert Miles and Nitin Sawhney, and his music fuses experimentation with tradition in a unique way.
China
Sa Ding Ding
Mongolian born, she sings in Mandarin, Tibetan, Sanskrit and her own invented language of emotions and can blend a ‘horse-head fiddle’ with electronic dance: Sa Ding Ding breathes diversity. Ethereal and eclectic, she’s like Beijing’s answer to Björk.
Korea
Dulsori
Meaning ‘heartbeat of the land’, Dulsori are a buzzing and kinetic meeting of Korean percussionists that make a big sound. Banging cavernous drums and diving around the stage, they always deliver a flamboyant stage show designed for dancing.
Pakistan
Rizwan Muazzam Qawwali
It’s an accolade in itself to be nephews of the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, but these brothers form a very modern Qawwali party. An improvised form of Sufi devotional singing, expect trances, swaying and an injection of dub.
Eastern Europe
Paprika Balkanicus
Chest-slapping, ankle-grabbing and feet-kicking tunes derived as much from a gypsy campfire as a raucous Slovakian wedding. If you want to hear the sound of Eastern Europe, heavy on the fiddles and drums, this is it.
UK
The Dhol Foundation
Drum and electronica maestro of Punjabi descent Johnny Kalsi heads up his merry band of bangsmiths, who deliver a powerful mix of Punjabi bhangra and broken beats. Just try and stop your foot from tapping. Our exclusive.
