K'Naan escaped the streets of war-torn Mogadishu

London, March 31, 2007 – The winners of the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music have been announced at a ceremony in London.

Malian singer and guitarist Ali Farka Toure took album of the year with Savane while Somali hip-hop artist K'naan won best newcomer.

French vocalist Camille came out top in the Europe category while Lebanese singer Ghade Shbeir winning the Middle East and North Africa section.

The poll-winners concert will be at the Barbican on 27 May.

Other winners were Debashish Bhattacharya (Asia/Pacific), Gogol Bordello ( Americas), Gotan Project (Club Global) and Maurice El Medioni & Roberto Rodriguez (Culture Crossing).

The winners were revealed on BBC Radio 3's World Routes which was broadcast from the Pigalle Club.

The event which saw performances from Mahmoud Ahmed - winner in the Africa category - and Arto Tuncboyaçiyan who won of the 2006 Audience Award with the Armenian Navy

Source: BBC