Summer in the City

Weekend Music Break 49 makes stops in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda and with the diaspora in Australia, among others.

A still from the video for Spoek Mathambo's "Awufuni."

The website has been a bit quiet lately (we go on a northern summer go-slow around this time of the year), but don’t worry, it’s about to get lively again with this week’s music break. First up, Finnish-Nigerian lyricist Noah Kin (he is a rising star back home) breaks down his faith in the cinematic “You never asked.”

London-based Electronic group Basement Jaxx filmed their latest Pantsula-heavy video “What A Difference Your Love Makes” in the Johannesburg township Alexandria.

A gorgeous production by Rwandan group Kina Music All Stars featuring Makanyaga called “Rubanda Remix“.

Spoek Mathambo just put out his latest joint, part of a series of videos produced by Studio Africa. The video for “Awufuni“, featuring a few cats at the vanguard of dance and style, is a tribute to the 1960’s South African Mbaqanga girl group Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje.

Hackney musician Justin Uzomba aka Mikill Pane shares his new jam, “Summer in the City,” off his upcoming album Blame Miss Barclay.

Mosotho artist Chocolate Soul takes us to different parts of Maseru, Lesotho in his self-directed video “Ke Hahlaula” (I am a Wanderer).

Go to the moon with Nigerian singer Seyi Shay in “Irawo”.

Off his new mixtape F.Y.G Act: 1, Australian-Nigerian Remi Kolawole’s video for the track “Saggin’” has an old look for a new sound.

MC Mwafreeka’s “Nairobi” is a lyrical and visual tribute to Kenya’s capital. The video was shot entirely on a smartphone.

And finally, Itz Tiffany shows that Ghanaian producers are still taking Azonto in new directions with “Dance (Neke Neke).”

 

Further Reading

Eastern Highlands

This Weekend Music Break features a number of strong women performers: Nosiwe, Rina Mushonga, Alicious Theluji, and the 95 year old Tututa Evora, who just passed away.

Back Then

Commercials to promote a retro music show on a local Cape Town, South Africa-radio station provides a necessary corrective to the amnesia and myth making in the country’s public (and popular) life.

Carlos Santana is African

In 1971, Carlos Santana went to play in Ghana at a massive independence day concert. More famous African American music stars were also on the bill. Santana stole the show.