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Music has always been a universal language, as it has a way of connecting people across continents. I recently wrote about an interesting trend of
What country has the best music in the world? Well, it’s a tricky question to answer. Suppose, if you are from Kenya, Turkey, or Malaysia, you could claim that my country produces the best music. Well, you’re right to claim that!
But there’s more to it than meets the eye.
We all know that the US is a huge music market with global singers, eye-popping awards, and music charts. The UK, especially from the 1960s to 2000s, holds a special place in world music because of Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and many others.
There’s no doubt that these countries produce great music. However, one should also accept that these countries have a cultural dominance, pop culture, and the money to promote their music.
Interestingly, many amazing countries are also famous for their music that many don’t know about. It’s just that we don’t discuss countries with the best music. So, what country has best music in the world? Let’s find out!
The criteria are pretty simple to discuss musical countries. I will not rely on musical charts, numbers of CDs sold, or how many people attended the concert of your favorite pop star.
Instead, I will talk about countries that produce culturally diverse music with a distinct sound. And, that’s what we do at CulturalReads.
So, let’s see which country has the best music in the world.
Brazilian music is a fusion of African, Indigenous, and Portuguese influences. Samba is one of Brazil’s most iconic genres which gained popularity in the 20th century. The genre blends African rhythms with European harmonies. It powers the country’s legendary Brazil Carnival festival, where entire cities beam with drums and dance.
Meanwhile, João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim introduced the bossa nova, a jazz-infused sound that took the world by storm in the 1960s with classics like The Girl from Ipanema.
Beyond these well-known styles, Brazil’s music is also diverse. The northeast is famous for forró, a danceable folk genre featuring accordion and zabumba drum. Whereas, Rio’s favelas pulse with funk carioca, an electronic sound of hip-hop and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
Sertanejo is popular in rural areas. And, MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) blends rock, samba, and jazz, and artists like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil are the pioneers of this genre. And, then, there’s a fascinating story of the Tropicália movement.
Antônio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso and Elis Regina are some of the legendary Brazilian singers. Ivete Sangalo, Anitta, Luan Santana, and Seu Jorge, among many others, are some of the modern Brazilian singers.
Brazil has a lot to offer and you can find more about this incredible country by reading the best Brazilian books and best Brazilian movies.
Mali has deep griot traditions and its impact on global genres like blues and jazz. Griots, or jeli, are West African oral historians and musicians who have preserved Mali’s culture for centuries.
They play instruments like the kora, a 21-string harp-lute, and the ngoni, a small, traditional lute. These instruments create flowing melodies that make the base of Mali’s traditional sound. So, the long history of griots and traditional instruments means that music is a family legacy in Mali.
Ali Farka Touré is one of the most influential Mali musicians who mastered the desert blues and the world took notice. Although many people consider desert blues to be an American genre (as it is a fusion of blues and rock music), this genre evolved in northern Mali among the Tuareg people.
Eventually, musicians refined the genre into Tuareg rock, a powerful and electrified version of desert blues. Bands like Tinariwen and Songhoy Blues have popularized the genre. I talk more about these bands and other Mali singers in the desert blues of Tuareg music.
Beyond the desert blues, Mali also has rich regional genres. In the South, mostly female vocalists play Wassoulou music, which has fast-paced rhythms, and social issues and empowerment themes. Oumou Sangaré, also known as “The Songbird of Wassoulou”, is one of its most famous voices. Fatoumata Diawara is another prominent female Wassoulou singer.
Additionally, Bamana music is quite popular because of the Bambara ethnic group. It features powerful drumming, balafons (wooden xylophones), and call-and-response singing.
Nigeria and Ghana are West Africa’s two most influential countries. These countries have introduced genres like Afrobeat, highlife, and various traditional styles. So, there’s an influence of indigenous rhythms with influences from jazz, funk, reggae, and hip-hop.
Nigeria is the birthplace of Afrobeat, a genre created by Fela Kuti in the 1960s. This genre fuses jazz, funk, and traditional Yoruba rhythms with political lyrics. Today, Afrobeat has evolved into Afrobeats (with an “s”), a catchy danceable sound that dominates the global music scene.
This genre has given stars like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and Tiwa Savage. You can read more about Afrobeat artists and how it is different from Afrobeats.
Nigeria is also home to Juju and Fuji music. Juju music blends Yoruba percussion with electric guitars, synthesizers, and call-and-response vocals. This music genre was the world’s introduction to Afro-pop and there was no looking back.
Fuji music takes its roots from Islamic Yoruba traditions. It is heavily driven by percussion, featuring instruments like the talking drum, Sakara, and agogô. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Wasiu Ayinde Marshal are some of the pioneering names of the Fuji genre.
Also, don’t forget the best Nigerian movie recommendations by Wilfred Okiche and some of my favorite Nigerian authors.
Ghana is famous for highlife, a guitar-driven genre that became popular in the early 20th century. It blends traditional Akan rhythms with Western instruments. E.T. Mensah popularized the genre in the 1950s and 1960s.
During the 1990s, Ghanaian musicians came up with hiplife, a fusion of highlife and hip-hop, which brought rap into the Ghanaian music scene. Reggie Rockstone was instrumental in the popularity of this genre. Many Ghanaian rappers in local languages like Twi, Ga, and Ewe.
Azonto is another Ghanaian music movement that took over African pop culture in the 2010s. It is basically a highly energetic dance genre with expressive and freestyle dance moves. Fuse ODG, Guru, and EL are some of the biggest names in this genre.
So, what country has the best music in the world? Well, there’s more music to come!
South Korea is one of the biggest names in musical countries because of K-pop and its highly structured entertainment industry. While gugak (traditional Korean music) remains culturally significant, K-pop blends pop, hip-hop, R&B, and EDM.
The Korean Wave (Hallyu) which began in the late 1990s, exploded internationally in the 2010s with groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, and EXO. BTS is of particular interest here, as it made history as the first K-pop group to top the Billboard Hot 100. And, BLACKPINK became the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella.
Beyond K-pop, South Korea also has a hip-hop and R&B scene. Artists like Jay Park, Zico, and Dean blend Korean and Western music to inspire a global following of Korean hip-hop. Then, there’s a rap competition show Show Me the Money about hip-hop artists, which has a global fan following.
Colombia is one of Latin America’s most musically, culturally, and biodiverse countries. Now, as for the music, it has Indigenous, African, and Spanish influences. It is home to unique genres like cumbia, vallenato, and salsa.
Cumbia is Colombia’s most famous folk genre, which began on the Caribbean coast. It combines African drum patterns, Indigenous flutes, and Spanish lyrical styles. Totó la Momposina is credited with pioneering the genre.
Vallenato is all about accordion melodies, which evolved in the rural northern region. Carlos Vives popularized Vallenato globally by fusing it with pop and won 2 Grammy Awards. Jorge Celedón and Diomedes Díaz are two other prominent Colombian singers.
Colombia is also famous for its salsa genre, and people even call Cali as “Salsa Capital of the World.” The genre became popular in the mid-20th century, with Joe Arroyo and Grupo Niche pioneering the salsa style.
Meanwhile, Colombia is also famous for reggaeton and Latin pop, producing some of the world’s biggest stars. Shakira blended pop with traditional Colombian sounds, paving the way for artists like J Balvin, Maluma, and Karol G, who have redefined global Latin music.
You can explore more about this beautiful country in Colombian movies, or even visit the Walled City Cartagena. Also, let’s continue reading to find which country has the best music in the world.
Cuba has an old musical history and traditions. And, it’s no wonder that Cuban music is a blend of Spanish melodies, African rhythms, and Indigenous influences. The island is the birthplace of many Latin music genres, including son cubano, rumba, danzón, mambo, cha-cha-cha, timba, and Afro-Cuban jazz.
And, nothing beats the son cubano, which got popular in the late 19th century and became the inspiration for many Latin music styles. Basically, it’s a fusion of African and Spanish musical traditions with syncopated guitar melodies, percussion, and call-and-response vocals.
Rumba is another highly percussive genre with Afro-Cuban traditions. It has many other styles like yambú, guaguancó, and columbia.
Although not so popular anymore, Danzón is another Cuban musical genre from the late 19th century. It started as Cuba’s national dance, evolving from European contradanza with African rhythmic influences. It was also the inspiration behind mambo and cha-cha-cha.
So, mambo and cha-cha-cha took the world by storm in the mid-20th century. Mambo is like fast energetic brass and Cha-cha-cha is a dance-friendly alternative to mambo.
Cuba also revolutionized jazz as Afro-Cuban jazz by blending traditional Cuban beats with jazz improvisation. Timba is another popular genre, which is a high-energy mix of salsa, funk, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Speaking of jazz, you should also check my best jazz albums post.
Ireland has quite a distinctive folk and Celtic heritage. And, traditional Irish music instruments like the fiddle, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, bodhrán, and harp complement this heritage. Apart from instruments, Sean-nós singing is an ancient, highly ornamented style of Irish-language singing.
Together, these traditional instruments and singing styles have given the world a unique Irish music experience. And, we also call this musical legacy Celtic folk.
And, bands like The Chieftains, Clannad, and Altan brought Celtic folk to global audiences. Also, rebel bands like The Dubliners and The Wolfe Tones Ballads tell stories of Ireland’s history, nationalism, and struggles.
Beyond folk, Ireland has a great rock, punk, and pop music scene with Irish fusions. U2, The Cranberries, The Pogues, and Thin Lizzy are of international fame, blending rock with Irish themes.
The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, and The Wolfe Tones are legendary figures in Irish traditional music. Whereas, U2, The Cranberries, Enya, and The Pogues make modern Ireland, one of the top musical countries.
Argentina is the third Latin American country in our what country has the best music in the world list. After all, it is a home to tango, folk, rock, and cumbia genres. Just like other Latin American countries, it also has European, Indigenous, and African influences.
Tango is Argentina’s most famous musical genre with roots in Buenos Aires and Montevideo in the late 19th century. It combines European waltz, African candombe, and local milonga influences. The bandoneón, a type of concertina, is the main instrument of tango. The French-Argentine singer Carlos Gardel is a prominent figure in the history of tango.
Beyond tango, Argentina has a great history of folk music. The chacarera genre has a lively rhythm and call-and-response structure. Whereas, the zamba is a slower, and more romantic style.
Argentinian singers also did something exciting during the 1960s and 70s. Argentinian singers took inspiration from British and American rock music, infused with local themes, and sang in the Spanish language. Charly García, Luis Alberto Spinetta, and Fito Páez are some of the Argentinian rock founders. So, why not learn Spanish to enjoy Spanish-language rock?
Also, bands like Soda Stereo became a global sensation, blending Argentinian rock with electronic and new wave elements.
I discussed above that cumbia as a genre has roots in Colombia. And Argentinians made a subgenre, cumbia villera, which is an urban and socially conscious form of cumbia. It became popular in Argentina’s working-class communities during the 1990s amid an economic and social decline in Argentina.
If you want to find out what led to Argentina’s economic and social decline, you should watch Argentina, 1985, one of the best Argentinian movies. Before you decide to watch a movie, let’s continue discussing what country has the best music in the world.
South Africa is one of the best countries with music. And, its music is tied to its rich vocal harmonies of mbube and isicathamiya and the political music of kwaito.
Mbube is a famous traditional vocal style, and Solomon Linda’s “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” was the main reason behind its popularity. And, isicathamiya is another popular genre that features intricate harmonies and call-and-response singing.
In the 20th century, we see South African jazz as a fusion of traditional African rhythms and Western jazz influences. Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, and Abdullah Ibrahim are some of the biggest names who blended swing, bebop, and African melodies. During apartheid, jazz became a form of resistance, with songs having hidden political messages and providing a voice for the oppressed.
In modern South Africa, kwaito and amapiano dominate urban music scenes. Kwaito is a slowed-down house music genre with hip-hop and township influences. More recently, amapiano has taken over clubs and charts globally, mixing deep house, jazz, and lounge music.
If you want to explore more about South Africa, please read my post on the best South African books.
So, Spain is the last country on our list of what country has the best music in the world. And, why not start with flamenco? Flamenco is one of the most iconic Spanish genres, which is an expressive art form that combines singing (cante), guitar playing (toque), and dance (baile).
Apart from flamenco, Spain has regional folk music traditions. In Catalonia, the Sardana is a circle dance performed with a live wind band. Whereas in Galicia and Asturias, you can hear Celtic influences in the sounds of gaita (bagpipes). The jota is another lively dance with castanets and is popular in Aragon, Valencia, and Castile.
Spain has also given us legendary composers like Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, and Enrique Granados. Their works defined the Spanish nationalist music movement.
In modern music, Spain has a strong presence in Latin pop (which I discussed above in great detail), reggaeton, and urban music. Many Spanish artists like Rosalía, Alejandro Sanz, and Enrique Iglesias are international pop sensations.
Rumba Catalana is another interesting genre that blends flamenco with Cuban rhythms. It became Barcelona’s musical identity, especially in the 1960s and 70s, and influenced later genres like Spanish pop, rock, and even reggaeton.
Speaking of Barcelona, here’s a list of the best food and drink bars in Barcelona.
So, what country has the best music in the world? Well, apart from your personal preferences, I have discussed countries with rich history and musical traditions.
Here, we can also discuss India, Egypt, Mexico, and many other countries with the best music. And, you should definitely explore the music of these musical countries as well.
As for me, I have to start a list and end the list at some point. So, if you have any recommendations that I can squeeze into what country has best music in the world list, please share!
Music has always been a universal language, as it has a way of connecting people across continents. I recently wrote about an interesting trend of
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Almost two years ago, I interviewed one of the famous Mexican singers, Leonardo Prieto, to understand the influence of Mexican folklore in his rock music.
