Smithsonian Folkways

Founded by Moses Asch in 1987, Smithsonian Folkways (formally Folkways Records) is a well-known record label that documents folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987 and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways. The organization believes in music and cultural diversity. As such, it has a library and archives where it stores music. It disseminates audio recordings and educational materials so as to strengthen people's engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others.

The organization has Malawi’s Malipenga dance music and ‘Chisamba’ album in its archives. The album is part of the UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music. More than 125 albums are being released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings to make the series publicly available again, including more than a dozen never-released albums of musical traditions from around the globe.

All the albums are available in both digital and physical formats. The collection is a survey of a variety of music from south-eastern African countries.