Nobody reading Songlines will need to be reminded that world music isn't just about partying or chilling out. All around the world, musicians have fought oppression with their music and they've used it to speak out and win popular support. But there are many kinds of musical rebels. Most obviously there are those who have sung against a political system like Fela Kuti or Victor Jara, who paid theultimate price in chile in 1973. There are those who have spoken up for the rights of their own people, like Miriam Makeba in apartheid South Africa nad Mari Boine, as a voice for the Sámi people. Others, like Rubén Blades or José Luís Cortés, have dressed political thoughts in seductive salsa and timbe rhythms, while Cheikha Rimitti or Abida Parveen have simply flouted convention in Algeria and Pakistan. And there are those, like Astor Piazzolla, who were a musical rather than political revolutionaries.

Here we've selected 21 rebels and chosen a representative CD for each. It's not a comprehensive list, of course, and some artists like Ahmed Zahir, the Afghan Elvis, were left out because of the lack of a top quality CD. Others like the Turkish protest band Grup Yorum, because their music doesn't really reach out to an international audience. I think every one of the rebels named heere deserves to be recognised for their musical, social or political rebellion, but also as an artist in their own right. Please let us know who you think we should have included.

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15. Tinariwen

A bunch of myths have been steadily building around this collective of blue-turbaned Touaregs, firece nomadic tribesmen who alledgedly broke bread with Gadaffi and charged into the fray. Stratocaster over one shoulder, Kalashnikov over the other. But while there is some truth in the whispers, Tinariwen's real story is one of exile and alienation, of hope and freedom. It's a story that began during the Touareg rebellion of 1963, was focused by their formation in 1982, and is garnering international attention in tandem with their fame. Tinariwen call for political and social awareness and pride in the Touareg identity, and are influencing the Sahara's Generation X in the process. Their appeal cuts across genres: world, rock, blues and--with their DIY aestheetic-- punk.  JC