The album Kirya marks Ofra’s transition from the ethnic pop of the 80s to a deeper, more acoustic world music sound. Initially, Ofra and Bezalel Aloni planned to produce the album on their own. However, just before recording began, Ofra read an interview in Billboard magazine with the renowned producer Don Was. Recalling that Was had expressed interest in collaborating when they met in Tokyo years earlier, she decided to reach out to him. Was responded with enthusiasm, and their connection birthed a work that blends traditional instruments with powerful messages, such as in the song Trains of No Return, written as a response to antisemitism.
The album gained extraordinary international recognition, reaching number one on the Billboard World Music Albums chart. Yet, the peak moment came when Ofra made history: Kirya was the first album by an Israeli artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the World Music category. This monumental achievement solidified Ofra’s status as a global cultural ambassador and a trailblazer for Israeli music overseas.