Aziza Brahim’s Mawja named Best Album by Transglobal World Music Chart

The TWMC comprises a network of world music specialists, including journalists, critics, writers and DJs. Covering the period from September 2023 to August 2024, the TWMC also recognized Glitterbeat Records, the label behind Mawja, as the Best Label of the Season.

Aziza Brahim, a product of Sahrawi refugee camps due to Morocco’s 1975 invasion, infuses her music with her Western Saharan heritage and the strength forged through her adversities.

Mawja also topped the April 2024 World Music Charts Europe.

Speaking to Afropean months ago about why themes of activism and social consciousness are prominent in her music, she said: “I know a song cannot change the world or society. But I am aware of art having been used to express social and political critique. I need to sing about my personal circumstances and this in itself is political. My family and I are refugees like the other 100 million + refugees and displaced people in the world. We have the right to make art and tell our stories too.”

Meanwhile, Malian act Idrissa Soumaoro’s album Diré won the Best of Sub-Saharan Africa category and was featured at No 5 in the Top 100 albums list. 

Other prominent African entries in the top 100 include Bombino’s Sahel from Niger at No 13, Bab L’ Bluz’s Swaken from Morocco at No 16, Sahra Halgan’s Hiddo Dhawr from Somaliland at No 17, Mokoomba’s Tusona from Zimbabwe at No 19, Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko’s Djudjon from Mali at No 29, Tinariwen’s Amatssou from Mali at No 31, and Les Amazones d’Afrique’s Musow Dance from Mali at No 40.

Below is the full list of TWMC's Best Albums and Labels of the Season:

Best 100 Albums

1. Aziza Brahim · Mawja · Glitterbeat
 2. Batsükh Dorj · Ögbelerim: Music for My Ancestors · Buda Musique
 3. Lina · Fado Camões · Galileo Music Communication
 4. Luzmila Carpio · Inti Watana / El Retorno del Sol · ZZK
 5. Idrissa Soumaoro · Diré · Mieruba
 6. Bixiga 70 · Vapor · Glitterbeat
 7. Mari Kalkun · Stoonia Lood / Stories of Stonia · Real World
 8. Ali Doğan Gönültaş · Keyeyî · Mapamundi Música
 9. Aynur · Rabe · Dreyer Gaido
 10. Shakti · This Moment · Abstract Logix

11. Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhriain · Double You · Bendigedig
 12. Koum Tara · Baraaim El-Louz · Odradek
 13. Bombino · Sahel · Partisan
 14. Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood · Jarak Qaribak · World Circuit
 15. Maria Mazzotta · Onde · Zero Nove Nove
 16. Bab L’ Bluz · Swaken · Real World
 17. Sahra Halgan · Hiddo Dhawr · Danaya Music
 18. V.A. · Lost In Tajikistan · Riverboat / World Music Network
 19. Mokoomba · Tusona: Tracings in The Sand · Outhere
 20. Sam Lee · Songdreaming · Cooking Vinyl

 21. Mari Boine & Bugge Wesseltoft · Amame · By Norse Music
 22. Aga Khan Master Musicians · Nowruz · Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
 23. The Zawose Queens · Maisha · Real World
 24. Kayhan Kalhor and Toumani Diabaté · The Sky Is The Same Colour Everywhere · Real World
 25. Leon Keïta · Leon Keïta · Analog Africa
 26. Les Mamans du Congo & Rrobin · Ya Mizolé · Jarring Effects
 27. Ary Lobo · Ary Lobo 1958–1966 · Analog Africa
 28. Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou · L’Bnat · Ajabu!
 29. Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko · Djudjon, l’Oiseau de Garana · One World
 30. V.A. · Congo Funk! Sound Madness from the Shores of the Mighty Congo River (Kinshasa / Brazzaville 1969–1982) · Analog Africa

31. Tinariwen · Amatssou · Wedge
 32. Ana Carla Maza · Caribe · Persona Editorial
 33. Tarek Abdallah & Adel Shams El Din · Ousoul · Buda Musique
 34. Ana Lua Caiano · Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado · Glitterbeat
 35. Yungchen Lhamo · One Drop Of Kindness · Real World
 36. Petroloukas Halkias & Vasilis Kostas · The Soul of Epirus Vol. II · Artway / Technotropon
 37. Ayfer Düzdaş · Kilomên Arxawûnê · Ayfer Düzdaş
 38. Huun-Huur-Tu, Carmen Rizzo & Dhani Harrison · Dreamers in the Field · Dark Horse / BMG
 39. Kiran Ahluwalia · Comfort Food · Six Degrees

40. Les Amazones d’Afrique · Musow Dance · Real World
 41. Mama Sissoko · Live · Mieruba
 42. Nancy Vieira · Gente · Galileo Music Communication
 43. Mohammad Motamedi & Rembrandt Trio · Intizar · Just Listen
 44. Olcay Bayir · Tu Gulî · ARC Music
 45. Almir Mešković & Daniel Lazar · Family beyond blood · ALDA
 46. Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars · Chronika · Borscht Beat
 47. Natascha Rogers · Onaida · Nø Førmat!
 48. Hysterrae · Hysterrae · Linfa
 49. Mo’ Horizons · Mango · Agogo
 50. Jembaa Groove · Ye Ankasa | We Ourselves · Agogo

 51. Otava Yo · Loud and Clear · ARC Music
 52. Emilia Lajunen · Vainaan Perua: Satavuotinen Sakka · Nordic Notes / CPL-Musicgroup
 53. Matthieu Saglio · Voices · ACT
 54. Miranda · Uma Mulher na Cidade · Jaro Medien
 55. Genticorum · Au Coeur de l’Aube · Genticorum
 56. Quintet Bumbac · Héritages · Collectif Çok Malko
 57. Yīn Yīn · Mount Matsu · Glitterbeat
 58. Dobet Gnahoré · Zouzou · Cumbancha
 59. La Sève · Chlorophylle · King Tao
 60. Gao Hong & Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde · Alondra · ARC Music

 61. Yamandu Costa & Domingo El Colorao · De Vida y Vuelta · Bagual Produções
 62. Lenhart Tapes · Dens · Glitterbeat
 63. Bokanté · History · Real World
 64. Omiri · Ribatejo e Estremadura vol.II: Abrantes e Alcobaça · Repasseado
 65. Santrofi feat. Omniversal Earkestra · Deep into Highlife: Live in Berlin · Outhere
 66. Wilson das Neves · Senzala e Favela · FundiSom
 67. Times New Román · Jól Élünk · Times New Román
 68. L’Attirail · Honorables Correspondants · CSB Productions
 69. Casapalma · Montañesas · Raso Estudio
 70. Marjan Vahdat · The Eagle of My Heart · Kirkelig Kulturverksted

 71. Avalanche Kaito · Talitakum · Glitterbeat
 72. Okan · Okantomi · LulaWorld
 73. Maliheh Moradi & Ehsan Matoori · Our Sorrow · ARC Music
 74. Carola Ortiz · Cantareras · Segell Microscopi
 75. Chango Spasiuk · Eiké! (Entrar en el alma) · Chango Spasiuk
 76. Amsterdam Klezmer Band · Bomba Pop · Vetnasj
 77. Okavango African Orchestra · Migration · Okavango African Orchestra
 78. Sidiki Camara · Return to the Traditions · Global Sonics
 79. Bantu · What Is Your Breaking Point? · Soledad Productions
 80. Ali Farka Touré · Voyageur · World Circuit

 81. Cara de Espelho · Cara de Espelho · Locomotiva Azul
 82. Saîdê Goyî · Jinê · Saîdê Goyî
 83. Halva · Musafir · Zephyrus
 84. Eskorzo · Historias de Amor y Otras Mierdas · Calaverita / Maracuyeah!
 85. Suzumeno Tears · Sparrow’s Arrows Fly so High · Doyasa!
 86. Alam Khan, Arjun K. Verma, Del Sol Quartet · The Resonance Between · AMMP
 87. Oghlan Bakhshi · Journey across the Steppes · Felmay
 88. Kavita Shah · Cape Verdean Blues · Folkalist
 89. Besh o droM · Hova lesz a séta? · Fonó
 90. Tarwa N-Tiniri · Akal · Atty

 91. Céu · Novela · Urban Jungle / ONErpm
 92. Shono · Kolkhozoy Traktor · CPL-Music / CPL-Musicgroup
 93. Ëda Diaz · Suave Bruta · Airfono
 94. Ann O’aro · Bleu · Buda Musique
 95. Abdo Buda Marconi · Oltremura · Felmay
 96. Newen Afrobeat · Grietas · Lichens Family
 97. Sangit · Ooroo · Riverboat / World Music Network
 98. Sutari · #kołysankidlaświata · Audio Cave
 99. Lass · Passeport · Chapter Two
 100. Bilja Krstić & Bistrik Orchestra · Biljur · Jugoton Croatia

Best 20 Labels

1. Glitterbeat Records
 2. Real World Records
 3. Buda Musique
 4. CPL-Musicgroup
 5. ARC Music
 6. Analog Africa
 7. Galileo Music Communication
 8. Mieruba
 9. World Music Network
 10. ZZK Records

 11. World Circuit
 12. Zero Nove Nove
 13. One World Records
 14. Outhere Records
 15. Mapamundi Música
 16. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
 17. Abstract Logix
 18. Ajabu!
 19. Segell Microscopi
 20. Dreyer Gaido