ARIA Award for Best World Music Album


The ARIA Music Award for Best World Music Album, is an award presented within the Fine Arts Awards at the annual ARIA Music Awards. It was inaugurated in 1995 as Best Folk/World/Traditional Release. The ARIA Awards recognise "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", and have been given by the Australian Recording Industry Association since 1987.
Album recordings by a group or solo artist are eligible. The award is handed out for an indigenous, ethnic, folk or cross-cultural recording, and cannot be entered into any other genre category. The final nominees and winner are chosen by a judging school, which comprises between 40 and 100 members of representatives experienced in this genre.
Oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros has won the category seven times from eighteen nominations, Yolngu singer-songwriter-guitarist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu won four times, while gypsy fusion band Monsieur Camembert have won the award three times.

Nominees and winners

In the following table, the winner is highlighted in a separate colour, and in boldface; the nominees are those that are not highlighted or in boldface.
YearArtistAlbum Title
1995
(9th)
--
1995
(9th)
Yungchen LhamoTibetan Prayer
1995
(9th)
Bu Baca DiopStand
1995
(9th)
The CeltsThe Rocky Road
1995
(9th)
NomadNomad
1995
(9th)
SiroccoThe Wetland Suite
1995
(9th)
VariousTribal Heart
1996
(10th)
--
1996
(10th)
Mara!Ruino Vino
1996
(10th)
Cafe of the Gate of SalvationA Window in Heaven
1996
(10th)
Dead Can DanceSpiritchaser
1996
(10th)
SiroccoStars and Fires
1996
(10th)
VariousWomadelaide '95
1997
(11th)
--
1997
(11th)
George TelekTelek
1997
(11th)
Ashok RoyThe Night Ragas
1997
(11th)
The BarkersThe Black Joke
1997
(11th)
EquaEqua
1997
(11th)
Mara! & Martenitsa ChoirSezoni
1998
(12th)
--
1998
(12th)
Kavisha MazzellaFisherman's Daughter
1998
(12th)
Lisa Gerrard and Pieter BourkeDuality
1998
(12th)
Matt WalkerI Listen to the Night
1998
(12th)
TigramunaJazz Latino - Americano
1998
(12th)
TulipanManic Celeste
1998
(12th)
Xylouris EnsembleAntipodes
1999
(13th)
--
1999
(13th)
HabibisIntoxication
1999
(13th)
Lajamanu Teenage BandVision
1999
(13th)
SiroccoFalling Leaf
1999
(13th)
Voices from the Vacant LotDance on Your Bones
1999
(13th)
Xylouris EnsembleDrakos
2000
(14th)
--
2000
(14th)
Chris DuncanFyvies Embrace - The Golden Age of the Scottish Fiddle
2000
(14th)
Riley Lee and Marshall McGuireSpring Sea
2000
(14th)
Timothy Kain and Virginia TaylorMusic of the Americas
2000
(14th)
Inka MarkaAuki Auki
2000
(14th)
Tim Gibuma and the StormThe Gaba - Gabamawi
2001
(15th)
--
2001
(15th)
Mara!Live in Europe
2001
(15th)
AkinUndercurrent
2001
(15th)
Epizo Bangoura and African ExpressInchallah
2001
(15th)
George TelekSerious Tam
2001
(15th)
XenosTutti Frutti
2002
(16th)
--
2002
(16th)
Monsieur CamembertLive on Stage
2002
(16th)
CodaThere Is a Way to Fly
2002
(16th)
Kim SandersYou Can't Get There From Here
2002
(16th)
NabarlekBininj Manborlh / Blackfella Road
2002
(16th)
VariousCorroboration
2003
(17th)
--
2003
(17th)
Monsieur CamembertAbsynthe
2003
(17th)
All India RadioAll India Radio
2003
(17th)
David BridieWest Papua: Sound of the Morning Star
2003
(17th)
Kavisha MazzellaSilverhook Tango
2003
(17th)
ZulyaElusive
2004
(18th)
--
2004
(18th)
Seaman DanPerfect Pearl
2004
(18th)
Jane Rutter and Slava GrigoryanBrazil
2004
(18th)
Joseph TawadrosStoryteller
2004
(18th)
Mohamed BangouraDjembe Kan
2004
(18th)
Saltwater BandDjarridjarri - Blue Flag
2005
(19th)
--
2005
(19th)
Monsieur CamembertMonsieur Camembert
2005
(19th)
Bobby McLeodDumaradje
2005
(19th)
Cosmo CosmolinoNektar
2005
(19th)
Le Tuan Hung and othersOn the Wings of a Butterfly
2005
(19th)
Southern Gospel ChoirGreat Day
2005
(19th)
Various ArtistsThis Is the Place for a Song
2006
(20th)
--
2006
(20th)
The Cat EmpireCities: The Cat Empire Project
2006
(20th)
Joseph and James TawadrosVisions
2006
(20th)
Mara!Sorella
2006
(20th)
The Pigram BrothersUnder the Mango Tree
2006
(20th)
Seaman DanIsland Way
2007
(21st)
--
2007
(21st)
Zulya and The Children of The Underground3 Nights
2007
(21st)
Coco's LunchBlueprint
2007
(21st)
CodaCalling Mission Mu
2007
(21st)
Joseph TawadrosEpiphany
2007
(21st)
Not Drowning, WavingMaps for Sonic Adventures
2008
(22nd)
--
2008
(22nd)
Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguGurrumul
2008
(22nd)
Archie RoachJourney
2008
(22nd)
David JonesColours of the Drum
2008
(22nd)
Joseph TawadrosAngel
2008
(22nd)
WatussiTequila, Sangre y Fuego
2009
(23rd)
--
2009
(23rd)
Seaman DanSailing Home
2009
(23rd)
Fiona Joy HawkinsBlue Dream
2009
(23rd)
KamerungaThe Push
2009
(23rd)
Warren FaheyAustralia: Folk Songs & Bush Verse
2009
(23rd)
Wicked Beat Sound SystemDreaming
2010
(24th)
--
2010
(24th)
Mamadou Diabate, Bobby Singh and Jeff LangDjan Djan
2010
(24th)
Archie RoachMusic Deli Presents Archie Roach
2010
(24th)
Joseph TawadrosThe Prophet: Music Inspired by the Poetry of Kahlil Gibran
2010
(24th)
The Public Opinion Afro OrchestraDo Anything Go Anywhere
2010
(24th)
Xavier RuddKoonyum Sun
2011
(25th)
--
2011
(25th)
Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguRrakala
2011
(25th)
David Bridie, Hein Arumisore, Jacob Rumbiak, Ronny Kareni and Donny RoemStrange Birds in Paradise: A West Papuan Soundtrack
2011
(25th)
Saltwater BandMalk
2011
(25th)
The Shaolin AfronautsFlight of the Ancients
2011
(25th)
Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, James and Joseph TawadrosBand of Brothers
2012
(26th)
--
2012
(26th)
Joseph TawadrosConcerto of the Greater Sea
2012
(26th)
Dead Can DanceAnastasis
2012
(26th)
Nicky Bomba's BustamentoIntrepid Adventures to the Lost Riddim Island
2012
(26th)
Sarah CalderwoodAs Night Falls
2012
(26th)
Warren H Williams & the Warumungu SongmenWinanjjara: The Song Peoples Sessions
2013
(27th)
--
2013
(27th)
Joseph TawadrosChameleons of the White Shadow
2013
(27th)
AirilekeWeapon of Choice
2013
(27th)
Rasa DuendeImprovisations
2013
(27th)
Shellie Morris and The Borroloola SongwomenTogether We Are Strong – Ngambala Wigi Li – Wun the Song Peoples Sessions
2013
(27th)
VariousMélodie Française
2014
(28th)
--
2014
(28th)
Joseph TawadrosPermission to Evaporate
2014
(28th)
Astronomy ClassMekong Delta Sunrise
2014
(28th)
Jane RutterFlute Spirit: Dreams and Improvisations
2014
(28th)
The Barons of TangInto the Mouths of Hungry Giants
2014
(28th)
William BartonBirdsong at Dusk
2015
(29th)
--
2015
(29th)
Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguThe Gospel Album
2015
(29th)
Baby et LuluAlbum Deux
2015
(29th)
Christine AnuIsland Christmas
2015
(29th)
Genevieve Lacey / James CrabbHeard This and Thought of You
2015
(29th)
Joseph TawadrosTruth Seekers, Lovers and Warriors
2016
(30th)
--
2016
(30th)
Melbourne Ska OrchestraSierra Kilo Alpha
2016
(30th)
GawurraRatja Yaliyali
2016
(30th)
Joseph TawadrosWorld Music
2016
(30th)
Paul Grabowsky / Monash Art Ensemble / Daniel Ngukurr Boy Wilfred / David Yipininy WilfredNyilipidgi
2016
(30th)
Seaman DanAn Old Man of the Sea
2017
(31st)
--
2017
(31st)
Katie Noonan and Karin SchauppSongs of the Latin Skies
2017
(31st)
Joseph TawadrosLive at Abbey Road
2017
(31st)
Melbourne Ska OrchestraSaturn Return
2017
(31st)
Slava Grigoryan & Australian String QuartetMigration
2017
(31st)
Xylouris WhiteBlack Peak
2018
(32nd)
--
2018
(32nd)
Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguDjarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)
2018
(32nd)
Joseph TawadrosThe Bluebird, the Mystic and the Fool
2018
(32nd)
Melbourne Ska OrchestraSka Classics
2018
(32nd)
Mista SavonaHavana Meets Kingston
2018
(32nd)
Xylouris WhiteMother
2019
(33rd)
--
2019
(33rd)
Melbourne Ska OrchestraOne Year of Ska
2019
(33rd)
ChaikaArrow
2019
(33rd)
Joseph TawadrosBetrayal of a Sacred Sunflower
2019
(33rd)
Tara TibaOmid
2019
(33rd)
Zela Margossian QuintetTransition
2020
(34th)
--
2020
(34th)
Joseph TawadrosLive at the Sydney Opera House
2020
(34th)
Grace BarbéFANM:WOMAN
2020
(34th)
Melbourne Ska OrchestraLive at the Triffid
2020
(34th)
The Crooked Fiddle BandAnother Subtle Atom Bomb
2020
(34th)
Xylouris WhiteThe Sisypheans
2021
(35th)
--
2021
(35th)
Joseph TawadrosHope in an Empty City
2021
(35th)
Bob Weatherall & Halfway with William BartonRestless Dream
2021
(35th)
Bukhchuluun GanburgedThe Journey
2021
(35th)
Eishan EnsembleProject Masnavi
2021
(35th)
Kuya JamesISA
2022
(36th)
--
2022
(36th)
Joseph Tawadros with William BartonHistory Has a Heartbeat
2022
(36th)
Australian Art Orchestra, Daniel Wilfred, Sunny Kim, Peter Knight & Aviva EndeanHand to Earth
2022
(36th)
Mista SavonaHavana Meets Kingston Part 2
2022
(36th)
ParvynSa
2022
(36th)
William Barton and Véronique SerretHeartland
2023
(37th)
--
2023
(37th)
Joseph TawadrosThose Who Came Before Us
2023
(37th)
Byron MarkOdyssey
2023
(37th)
East of WestMoving Home
2023
(37th)
Mick DickId of RA
2023
(37th)
Songs of DisappearanceAustralian Frog Calls
2024
(38th)
--
2024
(38th)
DobbyWarrangu: River Story
2024
(38th)
Christine AnuWaku: Minaral a Minalay
2024
(38th)
Joseph TawadrosThe Virtue of Signals
2024
(38th)
Radical SonBilambiyal
2024
(38th)
Soweto Gospel Choir & Groove TerminatorHistory of House
2025
(39th)
--
2025
(39th)
GurrumulBanbirrngu - The Orchestral Sessions
2025
(39th)
Electric Fields and Melbourne Symphony OrchestraLive in Concert
2025
(39th)
Joseph TawadrosThe Forgotten Path to Humanity
2025
(39th)
Tenzin ChoegyalSnow Flower
2025
(39th)
The Cat EmpireBird in Paradise