PRI’s The World presents the Global Hit, a daily spotlight on international musical artists or trends. Created by The World’s Marco Werman, the Global Hit features interviews with musicians, critics and deejays around the globe. He is also one of the curators of the South By Southwest Musical Festival (SXSW) – “All Music Is World Music.” Subscribe and follow:
The komungo is a traditional Korean instrument that dates back to the 4th century. Now the ancient instrument is being played in modern, western-style arrangements.
Side Effect is a Kurt Cobain-inspired Burmese band. The band raised money to buy equipment, but could not get it because of US sanctions against Burma.
Jazz and big band music runs through Macy Chen’s family. Her latest album is called “After 75 Years”. It’s a reference to her Jazz musician grandfather whom she never met.
The Italian band Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino trades in never-ending, trance-inducing movement. It might also cure a spider’s bite.
Between 1987 and 2005, Gambia had an emergency landing strip available to NASA. In their recent album, the nine-piece band Mdungu pays homage to Gambia’s brief ties with space.
Zambian DJ Mannasseh Phiri spins three of his favorite tracks from a compilation CD called “The Rough Guide to the Music of Madagascar.”
“Song from the Uproar” is based on the extraordinary life of 19th century Swiss explorer and writer Isabelle Eberhardt. Eberhardt converted to Islam in North Africa, where she traveled dressed as an Arab man.
Swedish folk supergroup Väsen meet Marco Werman in The World’s Boston studio and play some traditional Swedish tunes from their new CD, “Väsen Street”.
Djily Baghdad, featured here in video, raps the anthem of the Y’en a marre (we’re fed up) movement. Y’en a marre is a large community of rappers who are demanding President Abdoulaye Wade to leave power.
We are looking for a small community near Toronto where Canadian singer Hayden and group The Philosopher Kings come from.
“Funk carioca,” or simply “funk” is a mixture of hip-hop, samba and electronic music that has had a rocky relationship with Brazilian authorities.
Wardi was buried Sunday in a ceremony attended by tens of thousands of Sudanese including President Omar al-Bashir.
Anchor Marco Werman heads to Senegal to report on the country’s presidential elections, which are set for February 26.
For their new CD, Rodrigo y Gabriela traveled to Havana to re-record some of their own, earlier tunes with a 13-piece Cuban orchestra.
Chinese folk singer Peng Liyuan has appeared regularly in front of hundreds of millions of people at China’s Annual Spring Festival television pageants.
