Belated.
First for the Comores, here’s Rikaef. They live in France (big Comores diaspora) and they’re like four mini Lil’ Waynes:
Belated.
First for the Comores, here’s Rikaef. They live in France (big Comores diaspora) and they’re like four mini Lil’ Waynes:
The Very Best–a collaboration of Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit–has a new mixtape. It came out a few weeks ago. It is still good for Africa Day.
Download it here.
Longtime readers of AIAC know that we love The Very Best, whose music, at least according to the MySpace, apparently falls under the categories “Melodramatic Popular Song / Showtunes / Tropical.” Right. Whatever you want to call it, we’ll keep it bringing it to you. Last time, it was the Malawi Lake of Stars remix to their wildly popular, “Julia.” Now comes the official video for that song, featuring the group’s brand-new member, South African DJ and MC, Mo-Laudi.
Perfect music break for your Monday.
A bit late on this but Pitchfork.tv recently unveiled their latest series, Selector, in which they offer a rapper two different beats, one of which the rapper picks as a backing track for a freestyle. In the premiere episode (taped at the original location of Eddie Murphy’s 80s classic, Coming to America), Virginia rap darlings, Clipse, are offered beats from The Very Best and Doom. While there are several comments of note, the most memorable comes when Eavvon (yes, that’s how his name is spelled), the Pitchfork host—without any hint of irony I might add—introduces The Very Best: “They’re actually from Africa. Like Africa, Africa.” Just in case there was any confusion.
Of course, it doesn’t matter that the only member of the band that is actually from Africa—like Africa, Africa—is singer Esau Mwamwaya from Malawi. In any case, like Sean, I’m a huge fan of this group. Their 2009 debut, Warm Heart of Africa, is perhaps my favorite release of the past year.
One of the catchier tunes from 2009 featuring Ezra Koenig (of Vampire Weekend) and Esau Mwamwaya. Now the video’s out.
HT: Jen Mazer
Since it is Friday, I might as well put up a few music videos.
[10] First up is the Kano remix of The Very Best’s “Julia” (remember earlier this year’s excellent “The Warm Heart of Africa” album?):

The young Malawian crooner (he’s the center of the “Warm Heart of Africa” project) on a remix of the album’s title track.
The media blog that is not about famine, Bono, or Barack Obama. Contributors are: Sean Jacobs (he started AIAC), Brett Davidson, Gregory Mann, Will Glass, Neelika Jayawardane, Kathryn Mathers, Marissa Moorman, Lily Saint, Melissa Levin, Dan Moshenberg; Caitlin L. Chandler; Dylan Valley; Abdourahman Waberi; Boima Tucker, Anni Lyngskaer, Sophia Azeb, Tom Devriendt, Loren Lynch, Basia Lewandowska Cummings, Elliot Ross, Orlando Reade and Megan Eardley; Hinda Talhaoui; ‘kola (Bukola Jejeloye); and Mikko Kapanen. Pre-August 2009 posts are archived here.