Metacritic Aggregate: 2023 Old Music: World

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

Reissues, compilations, vault music, etc. For new records, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens: Music Inferno: The Indestructible Beat Tour 1988-89 (Umsakazo) {32}: DW:43, EWi:30, PO_r:1, Rx:18, XSP:5, YW_r:25; xde:+, xgm:1, xjl:7, xmb:3, xsp:5 -- RC:A, TH:A-
  2. Piconema: East African Hits on the Colombian Coast (Rocafort) {19}: EWi:+, PO_r:4, Rx:41, SpL:15; jy:5, xbf:+, xde:+ -- RC:A-, TH:A-
  3. L'Orchestre National Mauritanien: Ahl Nana (1971, Radio Martiko) {16}: DW:13, HV:26, Rx:59, SpL:18; vew:+, xjdc:+, xpb:+ -- RC:A-, TH:***
  4. Africa Negra: Antologia Vol 1 (Bongo Joe -22) {7}: Rx:60; jy:3 -- RC:A-, TH:[A-]
  5. Os Tincoas: Canto Coral Afrobrasilerio () {7}: EWi:+, PO_r:11; bzb:16, vrg:9, xbf:5
  6. Ali Farka Toure: Voyageur (1991-2004, World Circuit) {6}: DB:+, PM_r:+; tm_w:+ -- TH:***
  7. Ernesto Djedje: Roi Du Ziglibithy (Analog Africa -22) {5}: -- RC:***, TH:**
  8. The Free Music [Najib Alhoush]: Free Music (Part 1) (Habibi Funk) {5}: PM_r:+; aqd:+, az_z:+, bc_r:+, tr_r:+
  9. Ibrahim Hesnawi: The Father of Libyan Reggae (Habibi Funk) {5}: PO_r:44; tm_w:1 -- TH:*
  10. Leon Keita: Leon Keita (Analog Africa) {4}: PO_r:13; tm_w:4
  11. Fela Kuti: Shakara [50th Anniversary Edition] (Partisan) {4}: YW_r:3
  12. Ary Lobo: Ary Lobo 1958-1966 [Limited Dance Edition No 19] (Analog Africa) {4}: YW_r:57 -- TH:***
  13. The Maytals: Essential Artist Collection (Trojan) {4}: YW_r:2
  14. Borga Revolution! Volume 2: Ghanaian Dance Music in the Digital Age, 1983-1996 (Kalita) {4}: -- TH:A-
  15. Ecuatoriana: El Universo Paralelo De Polibio Mayorga 1969-1981 (Analog Africa) {4}: PO_r:12; am_l:+, xbf:+
  16. Jewel Ackah: Electric Hi-Life (1986, BBE) {3}: -- TH:***
  17. Joe Gibbs & the Professionals: The 1970s Dub Albums Collection -4CD (Doctor Bird) {3}: YW_r:39; am_z:+, xco:+
  18. Kantata: It's High Time Now (1986, BBE) {3}: -- TH:***
  19. Malombo Jazz Makers: Malompo Jazz (1966, Strut) {3}: JC_r:+; vbr:+ -- TH:*
  20. Papa Yankson: Party Time (Odo Ye Wu) (1989, Kalita) {3}: -- TH:***
  21. Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years (BBE) {3}: PO_r:9
  22. Kofi Ayivor: Adzagli (Jungle Funk) (1981, Kalita) {2}: -- TH:**
  23. Roger Bekono: Roger Bekono (1989, Amazing Tapes From Africa) {2}: -- TH:**
  24. Malombo Jazz Makers: Down Lucky's Way () {2}: aqd:+, tr_r:+
  25. Som Imaginario: Banda Da Capital (1976) {2}: am_z:+, aqd:+
  26. Nkono Teles: Love Vibration (Soundway) {2}: -- TH:**
  27. If You Want to Make a Lover: Palm Wine, Akan Blues & Early Guitar Highlife Pt 1 (Death Is Not the End) {2}: aqd:+ -- TH:*
  28. If You Want to Make a Lover: Palm Wine, Akan Blues & Early Guitar Highlife Pt 2 (Death Is Not the End) {2}: -- TH:**
  29. Rubinho E Mauro Assumpcao: Perfeitamente, Justamente Quando Cheguei () {1}: aqd:+
  30. Maalem Mahmoud Gania: Colours of the Night (Hive Mind) {1}: tm_w:8
  31. Joe Gibbs & the Professionals: 100 Years of Dub (Doctor Bird -2CD) {1}: xco:+
  32. Keith Hudson: Pick a Dub (VP) {1}: YW_r:51
  33. Malombo Jazz Makers: Malombo Jazz Makers Volume 2 (1967, Strut) {1}: -- TH:*
  34. Airto Moreira/Flora Purim: Airto & Flora: A Celebration: 60 Years - Sounds, Dreams & Other Stories () {1}: am_z:+
  35. Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Upsetters: Battle of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator) [Expanded Edition] (Doctor Bird) {1}: YW_r:55
  36. Kuku Sebsibe: Kuku Sebsibe (Little Axe) {1}: aqd:+
  37. A Moi La Liberte: Early Electronic Rai, Algerie 1983-90 (Born Bad) {1}: ymm:+
  38. The Soul of Congo: Treasures of the Ngoma Label (1948-1963) (Planet Ilunga -3CD) {1}: PO_r:23