Africa Is a Country

'Real African Music'

Africa Is a Country Podcast
African Five-a-Side Podcast

'Real African Music'

By
Boima Tucker

Thanks to HavePlentyMusic I saw that big time house producers experimenting with Kuduro for a few years, are perhaps finally ready for Coupe Decale (Click through to listen to the remix). Kind of full circle really, as I really think Bob Sinclair’s and similar productions were a big influence on the sound of Coupe Decale, and the Euro pop surge of Magic System, Jessy Matador, et al to begin with. Boddhi Satva a house producer from Central African Republic is the perfect ambassador to bring it to the scene at large. Watch him shake his Bobaraba in a recent video interview.

Traxsource who is selling a DJ Arafat (Côte d’Ivoire) single as remixed by Boddhi describes it as “real African music.” I’ve noticed that while sites like Traxsource and the house scene in general have managed to support music that helps to redefine notions of what “African music” means, there is a tendency at the same time to hold the music back dealing in descriptions that rely on rehashed stereotypes and notions of authenticity.

Boddhi Satva does more, real Central-African-Belgian-House-Remixing below:

Further Reading

Drip is temporary

The apparel brand Drip was meant to prove that South Africa’s townships could inspire global style. Instead, it revealed how easily black success stories are consumed and undone by the contradictions of neoliberal aspiration.

Energy for whom?

Behind the fanfare of the Africa Climate Summit, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline shows how neocolonial extraction still drives Africa’s energy future.

The sound of revolt

On his third album, Afro-Portuguese artist Scúru Fitchádu fuses ancestral wisdom with urban revolt, turning memory and militancy into a soundtrack for resistance.

O som da revolta

No seu terceiro álbum, o artista afro-português Scúru Fitchádu funde a sabedoria ancestral com a revolta urbana, transformando memória e militância em uma trilha sonora para a resistência.

Biya forever

As Cameroon nears its presidential elections, a disintegrated opposition paves the way for the world’s oldest leader to claim a fresh mandate.

From Cornell to conscience

Hounded out of the United States for his pro-Palestine activism, Momodou Taal insists that the struggle is global, drawing strength from Malcolm X, faith, and solidarity across borders.

After the uprising

Following two years of mass protest, Kenya stands at a crossroads. A new generation of organizers is confronting an old question: how do you turn revolt into lasting change? Sungu Oyoo joins the AIAC podcast to discuss the vision of Kenya’s radical left.