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Every Grammys Best World Music Album winner

4 ceremonies, 2000–2003. 4 different winners.

It was awarded for the last time in 2003.

For 2004 through 2011 the award ran as two separate categories, Best Traditional World Music Album and Best Contemporary World Music Album, before being merged back into a single award in 2012.

From 2004 the Grammys awarded Best Traditional World Music Album instead.

One band per year, because no winner has gone back-to-back in the years on record. Colored by label; scroll sideways for the full run.
Caetano Veloso'00
João Gilberto'01
Ravi Shankar'02
Rubén Blades'03
Wins by label
  1. Angel125%
  2. Sony125%
  3. Universal125%
  4. Warner125%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2003.

Most nominated, never won

  • Afro Celt Sound System2 noms
  • Cesária Évora2 noms
  • Salif Keita2 noms

Most losses

  • Afro Celt Sound System2L · 0W
  • Cesária Évora2L · 0W
  • Salif Keita2L · 0W

The full list

YearWinnerLabel
2003Rubén Blades (Mundo)
beat 4 others
  • Angélique Kidjo (Black Ivory Soul)
  • Femi Kuti (Fight to Win)
  • Anoushka Shankar (Live at Carnegie Hall)
  • Salif Keita (Moffou)
Sony International/Sony Tropical
2002Ravi Shankar (Full Circle: Carnegie Hall 2000)
beat 4 others
  • Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento (Gil and Milton)
  • Cesária Évora (São Vicente di Longe)
  • John McLaughlin and various artists (Saturday Night in Bombay: Remember Shakti)
  • Afro Celt Sound System (Volume 3: Further in Time)
Angel
2001João Gilberto (João Voz e Violão)
beat 4 others
  • Miriam Makeba (Homeland)
  • Youssou N'Dour (Joko (The Link))
  • Paul Winter (Journey with the Sun)
  • The Chieftains (Water from the Well)
Universal
2000Caetano Veloso (Livro)
beat 4 others
  • Cesária Évora (Café Atlantico)
  • Ali Farka Touré (Niafunke)
  • Salif Keita (Papa)
  • Afro Celt Sound System (Volume 2: Release)
Nonesuch

More Grammys categories

Pop AlbumRap AlbumRock AlbumCountry AlbumFolk AlbumRegional RootsFemale Country VocalMale Country VocalCountry Duo/Group VocalCountry CollaborationCountry InstrumentalTrad. Folk AlbumContemp. Folk AlbumHawaiian AlbumNative American AlbumZydeco/Cajun AlbumAll 152 categories

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You’ve seen the whole history. This award is retired, but the Grammys are not. Put your picks on the record and run a live pool when the show comes back around.

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