The music seemed to bridge both Moorish and West African musical cultures, giving it a unique sound in the region. And, in some ways, her 1990 album heralded the arrival of the so-called desert blues bands like Tinariwen (she was often dubbed by the Western media as "la diva du desert"). Now her new album, Yenbett (Glitterbeat, Germany), released last month, is riding high on top of the European Broadcast Union's World Music Charts for December. World Beat's Peruvian contact introduced me to a new chichi band currently making waves in Lima -- Hit La Rosa. Check out the band's music on YouTube or look for their NPR concert.

Source: Bangkok Post January 10, 2026 11:42 UTC