world music
A broad category encompassing traditional and popular music from non-Western cultures.
In Depth
World music is a commercial and academic term that emerged in the 1980s to describe music from outside the Western pop and classical mainstream. It encompasses an enormous range: Indian classical music, African drumming, Celtic folk, Latin American genres, Middle Eastern traditions, Asian musical cultures, and countless hybrid forms.
The term is controversial because it lumps vastly different traditions under a single label — as though all non-Western music were a single genre. Critics argue it reflects a Western-centric worldview. Supporters say it helped bring global music to wider audiences. Artists like Youssou N'Dour, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Buena Vista Social Club reached international fame through the world music category.
Paul Simon's Graceland album (1986) introduced millions of Western listeners to South African music — and sparked a fierce debate about cultural appropriation that continues today.