Music Break

We like Dakar-based rapper Awadi around here. Now he’s teamed up with Tunisian artist Samy Dorbez to bring us “Dégage” (Leave), a warning to all those that refuse to relinquish power (many on this list) and a hat tip to those that are fighting for that to change. About these ads

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Will the ‘Real Africa’ Please Stand Up?

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Karen Rothmyer writing in this month’s Columbia Journalism Review on why NGOs prefer bad news when it comes to Africa:

What’s Kenya Got To Do With It?

That was our second question. Our first was, “What is this?” The answer to the latter is Music for RAIN (Replenish Africa Initiative), a Coca Cola-backed project described as the “music community’s response to the problem of access to water in Africa.” By the music community, they mean Solange Knowles, Chris Taylor and Twin Shadow. […]

Tit for Tat

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What happens when journalists attack? To find out, look no further than the pages of this month’s “Columbia Journalism Review.” The story begins with “One Man’s Rwanda,” Tristan McConnell’s feature on American journalist Philip Gourevitch, most famous for his best-selling book on the Rwandan genocide, “We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed […]

Music Break

Among artists that need no introduction are The Noisettes, and their lead singer Shingai Shoniwa. Here they cover Miriam Makeba’s “Kilimanjaro,” then segue into their own “Never Forget You.” Bonus: you can download the entire session here. Via

Music Break

Earlier this year, Belgian-Rwandan singer Stromae spent several weeks at number one across various countries in Europe with “Alors On Danse.” I can see why. Below the jump, Stromae gets the Kanye West treatment. Happy Friday.

Music Break

Zambia’s JK may now be a part of African supergroup One8 but on his own, he’s not bad. “Kapiripiri” is as catchy as they come.

Keep Africa Alive, cont.

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Today is World AIDS Day, which means you can expect the gatekeepers of Team: Save Africa to be in exceptionally fine form. In years past, Bono and (RED) have reigned supreme but this year brings a new contender in the form of Alicia Keys and her charity, Keep A Child Alive (KCA). Founded in 2003 […]

Music Break

We love Ghanaian-American rapper Blitz the Ambassador around here and, frankly, you should too. He was in Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago, and, while the weather was dreadful, this was not a show I was planning to miss. For those not so lucky, here’s a mini-doc about that night. My favorite part? The (big) […]

I Believe You Can Fly, Africa

Guess who’s back, pinch-hitting for the Africans? R. Kelly! If you liked his contribution to the 2010 World Cup, “Sign of a Victory,” (and who didn’t!?), then you’ll likely enjoy “Hands Across the World,” the track he wrote and produced for new African “supergroup,” One8. And what a group it is: featuring JK (Zambia), 2Face […]

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