--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And why is our music called world music?…" description: "\"And why is our music called world music? I think people are being polite. What they want to say is that it's third world music. Like they use to call u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/miriam-makeba-14520_changed_and-why-is-our-music-called-world-music_1993524.jpg" --- # And why is our music called world music? I think people… ![“And why is our music called world music? I think people are being polite. What they want to say is that it's third world music. Like they use to call us under developed countries, now it has changed to developing countries, it's much more polite.” quote by Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/miriam-makeba-14520_changed_and-why-is-our-music-called-world-music_1993524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/miriam-makeba-14520_changed_and-why-is-our-music-called-world-music_1993524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/miriam-makeba-14520_changed_and-why-is-our-music-called-world-music_1993524.jpg) > “And why is our music called world music? I think people are being polite. What they want to say is that it's third world music. Like they use to call us under developed countries, now it has changed to developing countries, it's much more polite.” [Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-makeba/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “world music” softens the label “third world music,” reflecting a polite rebranding of cultural hierarchy **In simple terms:** “World music” is a polite way to refer to music from developing regions Key Takeaway Be aware of euphemisms that mask bias Themes culture language politics equality Mood critical thoughtful Type sociopolitical analytical When to use this quote - music festivals - media coverage - education - policy making Key Concepts postcolonial theory semantic framing Questions to Reflect On - What does the term “world music” imply about cultural value? - How does language shape perception of music? A Different Perspective Politeness can conceal underlying power dynamics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Developing countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-countries/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) [Third world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-music/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Europe has\] this tradition of self revelation in popular music. We have it here - it's called Country Western Music... I think that's where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/europe-has-this-tradition-of-self-revelation-in-popular-music-we-have/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [People called rock & roll 'African music.' They called it 'voodoo music.' They said that it would drive the kids insane. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-makeba/belafonte-sent-his-people-to-pick-me-up-and-i-went-back-and-shook-his/) [Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-makeba/) > [Age is getting to know all the ways the world turns, so that if you cannot turn the world the way you want, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-makeba/age-is-getting-to-know-all-the-ways-the-world-turns-so-that-if-you/) [Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-makeba/) > [I do not sing politics. 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