During lunchtime, I paid a visit to a second-hand vinyl shop around the corner, ignored the worn-out & way too expensive vinyl records and left the shop with 3 out-of-print CDs with both CDs and booklets in excellent condition! For a mere €20,00 this is my deal of the week:

Alhaji Bai Konte:
Kora Melodies from the Republic of the Gambia, West Africa, Released 01/01/1973

Bai Konte is a virtuoso performer on the kora, the 21-stringed African harp. He gets a sweet sound from the harp, and the flowing chords, shifting rhythmic patterns, and spirited runs create a quiet, meditative atmosphere. Since its release in 1973, this album's gentle, transcendant charms have captivated thousands of listeners -- you don't have to be an African music fan to love it.

Various Artists:
Vintage Music from India -- Early Twentieth-Century Classical & Light-Classical Music, Released 01/01/1993

Produced by Dick Spottswood and Peter Manuel, this disc constitutes the first compilation of reissues from early 20th century India, presenting a cross-section of recorded genres and artists of the time. What is remarkable about Indian music is the continuity of its evolution, dating back more than two millennia. Change has been continual and often remarkable, particularly since the emergence of new genres since the 19th century and the introduction of relatively new instruments like the sitar, sarod and tabla. The period represented on these recordings was a time of fascinating transition.

Various Artists: Afghanistan: Female Musicians of Herat

Once a major cultural centre of the Timurid Empire (15th century), the fascinating medieval city of Herat, in western Afghanistan, has for many centuries enjoyed a reputation for excellence in the arts. The albums "Traditional Music of Herat" and "Female Musicians of Herat" offer a variety of vocal and instrumental music from the Herat region with traditional instruments such as dutâr, chahârtâr, sornâr and dohol, dâira, nai chapâni and robâb. These recordings were made just before the start of the civil war, which disrupted the life of this ancient centre of Islamic culture. Recorded in 1973 - 1977 Text by John Baily