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Musical instruments

The group Obiní Batá has taught dozens on women how to play Afro-Cuban drums since it started in the early 1990s.

How a group of Cuban female musicians claimed a drum — and a tradition

Music

The legendary group Obiní Batá is celebrating 30 years of music and women’s empowerment in Cuba. But the road to acceptance and success was not easy. 

Yuxin Wu plays the Chinese gehu string instrument.

Chinese musician works to revive the gehu instrument

The World's Global Classroom
Weedie Braimah's "The Hands of Time" features the power and range of the djembe.

Musician Weedie Braimah lets the djembe speak for itself

Music
A banner with representations of the Lebanese flag hangs on a damaged building in a neighborhood near the site of the explosion

Musicians across the world sing tributes to Beirut

Music
theremin

Happy 100th birthday, theremin!

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A man holds a guitar in his arms. Behind him are four more guitars on stands.

The electric guitar wasn’t built for rock musicians

Les Paul and Leo Fender, inventors of the solid-body electric guitar, didn’t like what rock musicians did with their instrument, says one author.

Donate today to kickstart The World’s fundraising drive!

Donate today to help us raise $25,000 by June 30 and help sustain our international reporting. All donations will be matched 2:1!

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