Fortuna & The Benedictine Monks

Photo: Daniel Danielewicz

Song: Buena Semana 

(Tr: Good week) 

Artist: Fortuna

Country: Brazil

Genre: World

Language: Spanish

Video: Buena Semana on Youtube

Album: Cælestia (2001)

In this uplifting song, Brazilian-Jewish singer Fortuna's vocals are accompanied by a choir consisting of Benedictine Monks from the Saint Benedict Monastery of São Paulo, Brazil. For those not familiar with her works I recommend getting hold of her latest album, a collection of some of her best songs from 1993 onwards; "15 anos". She is still very much an undiscovered gem, although her native Brazil has embraced her with open arms.

Two Giants: Roumi & N'Dour

Song: Biladi Ana/Les amis du monde (Click to listen)
(Tr: My country/Friends of the world) 

Artist: Magida El Roumi & Youssou N'Dour

Country: Lebanon & Senegal

Genre: Collaboration

Language: Arabic & French

Video: Live performance 2009
Album: Ghazal (2012)

Purchase the song on iTunes

In this beautiful collaboration between two highly respected artists, soprano Majida El Roumi and the Griot (story teller) now Minister of Tourism & Culture in Senegal, Youssou N'Dour, our common humanity is celebrated. We are friends of this world. The message in the song is amplified by the intercontinental and  interreligious aspect of the collaboration, Roumi a Lebanese Christian and Youssou a Senegalese Muslim. 

Aik Alif & Coke Studio Pakistan

Song: Aik Alif (Click to listen)

Artist: Saeen Zahoor & Noori

Country: Pakistan

Genre: Fusion Pop & Traditional

Language: Punjabi

Instrument: Ektara 

Purchase the song on iTunes

Coke Studio Pakistan is an amazing musical project that started in Pakistan in 2008. The concept was borrowed from Brazil but adapted and re-designed in Pakistan providing the viewer with an intimate studio like session between musicians of very different backgrounds collaborating on one song. The show became so popular internationally, particularly in neighboring India, that and indian version launched in 2011 followed by a Middle-Eastern one in 2012; Coke Studio Bel3arabi.

Lita På Mig

Song: Lita på mig (Tr: Trust me) (Click to listen)

Artist: Sousou & Maher Cissoko

Country: Sweden & Senegal

Genre: Fusion

Language: Swedish and Woloff

Instrument: Coura

Purchase the song on E-Music

Song: Firewalker's Dance (Click to listen)

Artist: Antonis Apergis & Haig Yazdjian

Country: Greece & Armenia

Genre: Oriental

Language: Instrumental

Instrument: Oud

Purchase the song on Amazon

Theme: Holiday Spirit

Song: Babawethu
Artist: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Country: South Africa
Genre: Gospel
Language: Zulu

View pictures on the theme Holiday Spirit (from www.globalthemes.org)

Theme: Tradition & Culture

Song: Sheloha Shala (Yalla Yalla)
Artist: Miami Band
Country: Kuwait
Language: Arabic

View pictures on the theme Tradition & Culture (from www.globalthemes.org)

Official website in Arabic