Malian singer Ali Farka Toure has taken home the top honor at the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music, after his release Savane scooped the Album of the Year award at the London ceremony. Somalian rapper K'naan won the Best Newcomer award, while French singer Camille emerged winner in the Europe category, and Lebanese star Ghade Shbeir won the Middle East and North Africa section.

2006 was a great year in the entertainment world; however, let us not forget those who entertained us for generations but have moved on. We look back on those entertainers and cultural icons who left us in 2006 to pay our respects... Jazz, R&B and pop singer Lou Rawls, lost a two year fight with brain and lung cancer (1/6). He was 72. Prolific film star of the 50s, 60s and 70s and star of such hits as Alfie and The Poseidon Adventure, Shelley Winters at age 85 (1/14). 60s soul star Wilson Pickett, who brought us such hits as Mustang Sally and In The Midnight Hour age 64; of a heart attack (1/19); and actor Anthony Franciosa, 77 (1/19). Country singer Janette Carter, of cuuntry music's founding family, the Carters, 82 (1/22); and actor Chris Penn, 40, brother of actor Sean Penn who starred in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1/24). And Coretta Scott King (76), civil rights activist and wife of Martin Luther King, Jr (1/30).

Legendary African musician Ali Farka Toure has died following a long illness. He was 66. Toure, who last month won his second Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album alongside Toumani Diabate for In the Heart of the Moon, passed away in Mali capital Bamako. He will be buried in his hometown of Niafunke tomorrow.