The concept of world music arose in Britain in 1987, when recording companies needed a name for music from South America, Africa and Asia. The solution was the launch of 'world music', which covers a wealth of different musical genres and forms of expression.

The term 'World Music' now encompasses both newly-composed music and traditional ’ethnic’ music from non-western cultures, and includes a wide range of different musical genres, from salsa, samba, reggae, calypso, highlife, soukous, mbalax and raï to flamenco, klezmer, cocek, qawwali and khayal – to mention just a few! In this category you'll also find the many new hybrids and fusion forms, in which music from different countries and continents is mixed to create new and refreshing cocktails.

Since the 1980s, there has been increasing interest, both in Denmark and abroad, in a diversity of musical expression that challenges traditional western stylistic boundaries.

But what about world music in Denmark? You can gain an impression of the range of the world music scene in Denmark in the World Music Guide at the website of the World Music Denmark.

August 2007