Cultural Resources

Erkin Koray: Türkü
Anatolian rock (Turkish: "Anadolu Rock"), or progressive Turkish folk music, a fusion of Turkish folk and rock music, emerged during the mid-1960s, soon after rock groups such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Status Quo and Omega became popular in Turkey.

Turkey (from 2016 International Calendar)

Turkish Folk Song "Elmalarin Yongasi"

Peru (from 2017 International Calendar)

Rumiñahui (Rumi): Rumiñahui - Traditional Andean Music
Traditional Andean music; song "Kusi-Kusi" as performed by RUMINAHUI from Peru. Music available by email at: www.ruminahui.com

Fiji (from 2017 International Calendar)

Isa Lei, sung by ACS Girls Choir, is a traditional Fijian song of farewell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XhJnISIMWs

Argentina (from 2017 International Calendar)

Mercedes Sosa: Gracias a La Vida (5:29)

Uganda (from 2017 International Calendar)

Florence Namirimu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVOofV6tn-k

The Gambia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Foday Musa Suso: http://www.fmsuso.com/music.html

Togo (from 2017 International Calendar)

Bella Bellow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1b07M_5Ac

Togo (from 2017 International Calendar)

Bella Bellow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbuqQlkzZzQ
Albums: Rockia Bella Bellow was a Togolese singer, who created an international career and recorded several albums. She died at the age of 27 in a car accident in Togo. She performed at the Paris Olympia and recorded with Manu Dibango.

Micronesia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Satawal Dancers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0BaLxs05rI&list=PLnOSH5j1sQh9j4F3DNmyBqEMv-ELdI4_P

Morocco (from 2017 International Calendar)

Malhun music or chaabi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAmYAPcbRys&list=PLDD863870D530562E

Morocco (from 2017 International Calendar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsIxUbhaCT4

Ghana (from 2017 International Calendar)

Ghana classic highlife old school music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5zycFeyqBE

Mongolia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Tuvan/Mongolian throat singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8hrhBZJ98

Mongolia (from 2017 International Calendar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rmo3fKeveo

Armenia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Armen Hovhannisyan - Karmir Nur (Armenian traditional/folk): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fmpl7LWPWg

Armenia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Sirusho - PreGomesh (Armenian popular music): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxxnY-QTUGU

Armenia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Rouben Hakhverdian - Hin Enker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghfvnGtK94k&list=RDghfvnGtK94k#t=33

Armenia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Traditional Armenian music and songs with national instruments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DREOr-UbrJc

Indonesia (from 2017 International Calendar)

Tembang sunda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcMSFaQ3fh4
Tembang sunda, also called seni mamaos cianjuran, is a style of classical vocal music that originated in the Sunda Kingdom of highland west Java. Unlike Sudanese gamelan music, tembang sunda was developed in the court of the regent Kabupaten Cianjur during the Dutch colonial period (mid-nineteenth century).The traditional vocal portion is sung free verse poetry, the instrumental accompaniment being performed on kacapi (zither), suling (bamboo flute) and sometimes, rebab (violin). A more modern, and metrical, form of lyrics exists that is called panambih.Kacapi suling is played to ornament the vocals, and also at interludes between songs at a typical Tembang Sunda performance. The higher pitched kacapi rincik, the lower pitched kacapi indung and the suling flute are the instruments used for kacapi suling. Kacapi suling has instrumental pieces performed in two different scales; the first four in laras pelog convey a light mood, the last four in laras sorog are more slow and grave. The change to laras sorog usually takes place at midnight and lasts till sunrise.

Madagascar (from 2018 International Calendar)

Rossy
Rossy, born Paul Bert Rahasimanana, is a singer and songwriter from Madagascar generally considered the most popular Malagasy artist of the 1990s. Rossy got involved with music by participating in soava, a street-corner style featuring traditional instruments, hand-clapping, and political lyrics. He formed his own soava group featuring African rather than European percussion instruments. Eventually, he learned to play the accordion, and with Mahaleo, introduced the kabosy (traditional Malagasy guitar) to the environment of an electric band. His group has toured Germany and released records there - ALLMUSIC

Sudan (from 2018 International Calendar)

Hamza El Din
One of the first African musicians to gain widespread international recognition, Hamza El Din is a Nubian master of the oud, the fretless lute. Western listeners are as likely as not to have been exposed to his work via the Grateful Dead, who played with him on-stage occasionally. (El Din also helped arrange the Dead's tour of Egypt.) He played an integral role in modernizing Nubian music, using his work to both evoke and tell stories of Nubian life.El Din was originally trained to be an engineer, but changed direction and enrolled in the Middle Eastern School of Music, where he began to compose his own songs. On a fellowship to study Western classical music in Rome, he met American Gino Foreman, who exposed Hamza's work to Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. This resulted in a contract with Vanguard. His mid-'60s debut, Al Oud-Instrumental and Vocal Music From Nubia, was one of the first "world music" recordings to achieve wide exposure in the West.In the second half of the 1960s, El Din spent much of his time in America. Taking a series of teaching positions in various American locations, he also found time to record a Nonesuch album in 1968, Escalay, that is considered one of the best documents of Nubian music. Eclipse is his most notable post-Escalay record, raising his profile in the U.S. when it was reissued on CD by Rykodisc. ALLMUSIC.

Myanmar (from 2018 International Calendar)

Iron Cross
Iron Cross (Burmese: အိုင်းရင်းခရော့စ်) is a Burmese band formed by lead guitarist Saw Bwe Hmu. The current line-up consists of Chit San Maung, Khin Maung Thant, Banyar Naing, and Kha Yan, with Lay Phyu, Myo Gyi, Ah Nge and Wine Wine as long-time associates. All four singers are lead vocal of IC's live performance and IC always performs with them.

Nepal (from 2018 International Calendar)

Sur Sudha
Sur Sudha is known as Nepal's "Musical Ambassadors," and is dedicated to creating music that disseminates a universal message of peace and harmony, and supports the effort to remove poverty from the face of the Earth. Their music additionally works to demonstrate how two of the world?s great religions - Hinduism and Buddhism - find perfect fusion in Nepal. Sur Sudha seeks to promote these ideals through traditional Nepali instrumental music rendered with the flute, sitar, and tablas; these are the most popular Nepali instruments, and are referred to as "the three sons of Nepal." Having performed for Heads of State around the World, Sur Sudha has the power to captivate and enthrall?providing listeners a sense of the enlightening power of music. Play for Change.

Ukraine (from 2018 International Calendar)

Okean Elzy
One of Ukraine's most popular, politically charged, and commercially successful rock bands, Okean Elzy (translates as "Elza's Ocean") formed in 1994 in the city of Lviv by longstanding frontman Svyatoslav Vakarchuk after the dissolution of his prior group Klan Tyshi. Okean Elzy spent their formative years establishing themselves on the festival circuit, and by the time they released their debut album, Tam, de Nas Nema in 1998, they were already a huge draw in both Ukraine and Russia. Subsequent albums like Ya Na Nebi Buv, Model, and Supersymetriya, furthered the group's public status, and in 2003 Vakarchuk was named an official ambassador of Ukrainian culture. 2005's Gloria spawned four number-one singles, and was followed by the equally popular Mira in 2007, Dolce Vita in 2010, and Zemlya in 2013.

Thailand (from 2018 International Calendar)

Sqweez Animal
The ambience of 'Easy listening pop' with the smooth touches of funk, soul and house beats, Sqweez Animal is part of the new and fresh brand of new-age Thai indie music. Band Members include Win Sirivongse, 'Win' (vocal) and Prachatip Musigapong, 'Singha' (guitar). They met when they studied in England. Win's "squeezing" voice is unique in its emotional expression, and the fantastic style of Singha's guitar performance is fitted to Win's voice. Indie Label (Spicy Disc: 2007-present)

Niger (from 2018 International Calendar)

Tal National
Hailing from Niamey, the capital city of Niger in West Africa, the large ensemble band Tal National was formed in 2000 by charismatic ringleader and West African guitar master Hamadal Issoufou Moumine, also known as Almeida. Backed by anywhere from five to twelve musicians and singers, Almeida grew Tal National to be hugely popular on a local level through constant regional touring and ceaselessly energetic performances, as many as five nights a week and as long as five hours per show. Their first album Apokte was released in 2006 and they followed in 2008 with the better-recorded A-Na Waya, an album that established them as the premier band of their region - hugely successful in Niger and with a greater audience elsewhere with the help of three different YouTube videos. In 2011, the band recorded a third album, Kaani, recorded with the help of Chicago engineer Jamie Carter, who also worked on A-Na Waya. The group signed to Fat Cat Records in April of 2013 and Kaani's international release helped the band tour outside of their country. With the widespread critical success of Kaani, Tal National reenlisted Carter to produce their follow-up Zoy Zoy which FatCat released in the spring of 2015.

Dominican Republic (from 2018 International Calendar)

Rita Indiana y los Misterios
Rita Indiana y los Misterios, playing a traditional blend of merengue music and rock, is an alternative merengue band based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, led by the vocalist Rita Indiana.

Guatemala (from 2018 International Calendar)

Alux Nahual
A Latin rock band from Guatemala, Alux Nahual was formed in 1979 by brothers Plubio, Ranferi, and Alvaro Aguilar, who played with Oscar Conde, Lenin Fernández, and Paulo Alvarado. This band was born in the context of the confrontation between the guerrillas and the army.Alux Nahual, a Maya-Quiche phrase which means "the goblin spirit," has been considered a Central American pioneer for being one of the first to claim a Latin rock identity. Through the 1980s, Alux Nahual was an inspiration for underground musicians who were waiting for a chance to get into the mainstream. Years active: 1979-1999, 2006-present.

India (from 2018 International Calendar)

Dama Dam Mast Kalandar

India (from 2018 International Calendar)

Tau Ea Matsekha
Famo is a type of music from Lesotho in Africa consisting of singing accompanied by the accordion, a drum and occasionally a bass. It originated in the drinking dens of migrant workers from Lesotho trying to relax after working in the mines in the 1920s but is now a popular form of music for Sesotho speakers. As a popular form of music in Lesotho, famo consists of male or female singing and ululations. Instrumental support comes from an accordion, a drum and a bass. Songs often refer to urban life, and female singers can use their singing to challenge their male counterparts. In the late 1960s the first major recording artists to make a living from famo were Tau ea Matšekha (Lion of Matšekha, Matšekheng/Habo Matšekha is an area in Northern Lesotho) made up of Forere Motloheloa (accordionist) and Apollo Ntabanyane (vocalist/composer). Tau Ea Matsekha’s Ke Ikhethetse E Motle (which was the basis of Paul Simon's "Boy in the Bubble").

Lesotho (from 2018 International Calendar)

Tau Ea Matsekha
Famo is a type of music from Lesotho in Africa consisting of singing accompanied by the accordion, a drum and occasionally a bass. It originated in the drinking dens of migrant workers from Lesotho trying to relax after working in the mines in the 1920s but is now a popular form of music for Sesotho speakers.As a popular form of music in Lesotho, famo consists of male or female singing and ululations. Instrumental support comes from an accordion, a drum and a bass. Songs often refer to urban life, and female singers can use their singing to challenge their male counterparts.In the late 1960s the first major recording artists to make a living from famo were Tau ea Mat?ekha (Lion of Mat?ekha, Mat?ekheng/Habo Mat?ekha is an area in Northern Lesotho) made up of Forere Motloheloa (accordionist) and Apollo Ntabanyane (vocalist/composer).Tau Ea Matsekha?s Ke Ikhethetse E Motle (which was the basis of Paul Simon's "Boy in the Bubble").

Iran (from 2018 International Calendar)

Parissa and Ensemble Dastan (artist): : Shoorideh
Iranian singer Parissa was forced into a lengthy sabbatical when the ayatollahs took over her country in 1979. Under their rule, female singers weren't allowed to perform. It wasn't until 1995 that she returned to the concert stages of the world. For this project, she takes the work of the 13th-century mystic and poet (and founder of the Whirling Dervishes) Rumi as the basis for her music. Parissa proves to be a remarkable, sometimes eerie singer, giving to classical Persian vocal improvisations on melodies and themes. She captures the listener's attention and holds it. You might not understand the language, but its deeper meanings are quite apparent. Each of the two CDs in the set is a continuous, flowing piece, using the poems not only of Rumi, but of three other mystics - Hafiz, Sa'di, and Attar - to create a potent, sometimes magical force of sound and words that easily transcends the everyday in its aim for the stars. - ALLMUSIC, Chris Nickson.

Mali (from 2019 International Calendar)

Kandia Kouyaté
About Kandia Kouyaté

Indonesia (from 2019 International Calendar)

NOAH
About NOAH

Ghana (from 2019 International Calendar)

Sarkodie
About Sarkodie

Senegal (from 2019 International Calendar)

Youssou N'dour
About Youssou N'dour

Philippines (from 2019 International Calendar)

Jake Zyrus (Charice)
About Jake Zyrus (Charice)Album

Nicaragua (from 2019 International Calendar)

Duo Guardabarranco
About Duo Guardabarranco

Colombia (from 2019 International Calendar)

Shakira
About Shakira

Nepal (from 2019 International Calendar)

Hemanta Rana
About Hemanta Rana

Haiti (from 2019 International Calendar)

Pi Bon Zanmi by Anie Alerte
About Anie Alerte

Mongolia (from 2019 International Calendar)

Nominjin
About Nominjin

Argentina (from 2019 International Calendar)

Bandana
About Bandana

Turkey (from 2019 International Calendar)

Bülent Ortaçgil
About Bülent Ortaçgil

India (from 2019 International Calendar)

Shreya Ghoshal
About Shreya Ghoshal

Benin (from 2020 International Calendar)

Don Matok: Gnonnou

Rwanda (from 2020 International Calendar)

Ruremire Focus, Rwanda Traditional Music: Igendere Umwiza

Rwanda (from 2020 International Calendar)

Rwandan traditional dance: Inganzongari

Rwanda (from 2020 International Calendar)

Rwandan traditional song

Colombia (from 2020 International Calendar)

Toto La Momposina: Oye Manita

Namibia (from 2020 International Calendar)

Makgona Ngwao Cultural Group (a Setswana group): Makgona Ngwao

Peru (from 2020 International Calendar)

Radiokijada: Que Lindo Suena

Ethiopia (from 2020 International Calendar)

Shegye: Jano Band

Kyrgyzstan (from 2020 International Calendar)

Kambarkan Folk Ensemble: Jolughabuz az Kündö

Tonga (from 2020 International Calendar)

Kalapu Tika Boys: Efiafi Peau Ongoi Vale

Tonga (from 2020 International Calendar)

Jam of classic Tongan song Hala Vuna

South Africa (from 2020 International Calendar)

Brenda Fassie: Vulindlela

South Africa (from 2020 International Calendar)

Performing: Vulindlela for Nelson Mandela

Myanmar (from 2020 International Calendar)

Side Effect (Myanmar "punk pop" band): The Change

Myanmar (from 2020 International Calendar)

Side Effect official music video

Uganda (from 2020 International Calendar)

Sheebah Karungi: Wankona

Uganda (from 2020 International Calendar)

Sheebah Karungi: Mummy Yo

Armenia (from 2020 International Calendar)

Armen Hyusnunts: Keskatak (with the Armenian Jazz Band)

Madagascar (from 2020 International Calendar)

D'Gary: Mpiaraka'andro

Madagascar (from 2020 International Calendar)

D'Gary: : Live at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles

Nepal (from 2021 International Calendar)

Ani Choying Drolma

Namibia (from 2021 International Calendar)

Tunakie
Born to Namibian parents in Angola, Tunakie is a traditional musician who began singing when she was a teenager. Her parents moved back to Namibia when she was eight. She was raised by her grandmother in Ontananga village.

Guatemala (from 2021 International Calendar)

Bohemia Suburbana
Bohemia Suburbana is a Guatemalan alternative rock band formed in 1992.

Costa Rica (from 2021 International Calendar)

Malpaís
The music of Malpaís is part of the Costa Rica-contemporary compositions work, called by the band "Costarican new song."

India (from 2021 International Calendar)

Arijit Singh
An Indian playback singer, who sings predominantly in Hindi and Bengali but has also performed in various other Indian languages.

Ghana (from 2021 International Calendar)

J. Derobie

Myanmar (from 2021 International Calendar)

Academy Myanmar Pyi Kyauk Sein Ensemble

Colombia (from 2021 International Calendar)

Aniceto Molina

Peru (from 2021 International Calendar)

Los Wembler's de Iquitos

Rwanda (from 2021 International Calendar)

Jean-Paul Samputu

South Africa (from 2021 International Calendar)

Thandiswa Mazwai
YouTube review: "Belede" is a song of the struggle of an African child, and is very poetic. It says, "We are angry but poor, so poor that we can?t even afford advanced weapons to fight and reclaim what is rightfully our? BUT that will not stop us from fighting, we will use whatever we have (as long as it's free) at our disposal to fight."

Chad (from 2021 International Calendar)

Traditional Music of Chad: https://youtu.be/akJZpAh9YYo

Chad (from 2021 International Calendar)

Traditional Music of Chad: https://youtu.be/8lyiixToyUU

Russia (from 2021 International Calendar)

Ural State Russian Folk Chorus

Mongolia (from 2022 International Calendar)

The HU: Yuve Yuve Yu
The HU is a Mongolian folk rock band band formed in 2016. With traditional Mongolian instrumentation, including the Morin khuur, Tovshuur, and Mongolian throat singing, the band calls their style of music "hunnu rock," hu inspired by the Hunnu, an ancient Turkic/Mongol empire, known as Xiongnu in western culture. Some of the band's lyrics include old Mongolian war cries and poetry.

Mongolia (from 2022 International Calendar)

The HU: Wolf Totem

Niger (from 2022 International Calendar)

Etran Finatawa: Surbajo
Etran Finatawa is a Niger-based band, formed in 2004 during the Festival au Désert near Timbuktu, Mali. Niger is a region that for thousands of years has served as a crossroads between the Arabs of North Africa and sub-Saharan traditional peoples, and Etran Finatawa blends the traditional music of the rich nomadic cultures of the Wodaabe and Tuareg peoples with such western instruments as the electric guitar.

Afghanistan (from 2022 International Calendar)

Yaron Pe'er: Afghani Rabab & Cello
Yaron Pe'er is a musician and artist, poet and calligrapher, specializing in ancient instruments, composing of biblical texts, aside to original poetry.

Thailand (from 2022 International Calendar)

Thai Piphat Orchestra: Siam Society
A piphat is a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand, which features wind and percussion instruments. ... It is considered the primary form of ensemble for the interpretation of the most sacred and "high-class" compositions of the Thai classical repertoire, including the Buddhist invocation entitled sathukan as well as the suites called phleng rueang. It is also used to accompany traditional Thai theatrical and dance forms, including khon (masked dance-drama), lakhon (classical dance), and shadow puppet theater.

Uganda (from 2022 International Calendar)

Daddy Andre: Sikikukweeka
Ojambo Andre, known by his stage name Daddy Andre or "Andreon de beat", is a Ugandan recording artist, songwriter, producer. He sings in more than three languages. His music genre specialty is Afrobeat, Hip hop, Dancehall, Afro-pop, and RnB.

Lesotho (from 2022 International Calendar)

Tsepo Tshola: Ntate
Born in Lesotho, Tsepo Tshola grew up in a musical family with both his parents involved in choirs. Joining the Lesotho Blue Diamonds as a vocalist in 1970, then touring with the band Sankomota and relocating to London in the 1980's, Tshola's baritone has dominated the music scene and thrilled audiences across South Africa, Lesotho, and Europe for more than 40 years.Tshepo Tshola has also called on men and women to work together to fight the scourge of gender-based violence. His comment comes as the country battles to deal with the mushrooming cases of women and child abuse.

Kenya (from 2022 International Calendar)

Sauti Sol: Suzanna
Sauti Sol is a Kenyan afro-pop band formed in 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya, by vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, and Savara Mudigi. Initially an a cappella group, guitarist Polycarp Otieno joined before they named themselves Sauti.

Ecuador (from 2022 International Calendar)

Swing Original Monks: Caminito
Swing Original Monks performs on the streets, in bars and cafes, and as a major performer at renowned national and international festivals. The lyrics and beats resonate with a wide variety of audiences, carrying a sound that has a little bit of each musical influence for everyone to enjoy.

Haiti (from 2022 International Calendar)

Rutshelle Guillaume: Rete La
Rutshelle Guillaume is a young Haitian singer who started her career by taking part in projects involving BIC, Barikad Crew or Fantom. She has pursued her musical studies thanks to trainings with Emeline Michel, Stevenson Théodore and James Germain, and joined the Vwa Lye project in 2013. In 2014, Rutshelle started a solo career and her first single "Kite'm Krye" was released. Since then, she has become very active, both at the local and international levels. She was nominated for a Haitian Music Award for Top Female Singer.

India (from 2022 International Calendar)

Lata Mangeshkar: Best Evergreen Romantic Song
Lata Mangeshkar born Hema Mangeshkar, (28 September 1929) is an Indian playback singer and music director. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. She has recorded songs in over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over 36 regional Indian languages and foreign languages, though primarily in Marathi, Hindi, and Bengali.The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed on her in 1989 by the Government of India. In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour?only the second vocalist, after M. S. Subbulakshmi, to receive this honour.

Pakistan (from 2022 International Calendar)

Abida Parveen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBIHNVfg9AA
Parveen is referred as one of the world's greatest mystic singers. She is a Pakistani Sufi Muslim singer, composer, and musician, and is also a painter and entrepreneur. Her singing and music have earned her many accolades, and she has been dubbed the "Queen of Sufi music."

Pakistan (from 2022 International Calendar)

Abida Parveen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS70nwTaI6Y

Armenia (from 2022 International Calendar)

Armenian Folk Music
The music of Armenia has its origins in the Armenian Highlands, where people traditionally sang popular folk songs. Armenians have had a long tradition of folk music from the antiquity. Under Soviet leadership, Armenian folk music was taught in state-sponsored conservatoires. Instruments played include qamancha (similar to violin), kanun (dulcimer), dhol (double-headed hand drum), oud (lute), duduk, zurna, blul (ney), shvi and to a lesser degree saz. Other instruments are often used such as violin and clarinet. The duduk is Armenia's national instrument.