Worldbeat

Worldbeat emerged in the 1980s as a category for Western pop and rock artists integrating non-Western musical traditions. It is defined by a fusion of familiar pop song structures with global sounds, textures, and rhythms, particularly from Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Instrumentation typically merges electric guitars, synthesizers, and drum machines with traditional instruments like the kora or sitar. Spearheaded by artists like *Peter Gabriel* and popularized by *Paul Simon*'s album "Graceland", the genre aimed for cross-cultural collaboration and brought numerous international musicians to a wider, mainstream audience, shaping the commercial landscape for global music.