It’s been far too long since we had a music break. So without too many words, we’re going to jump right in with what’s been on our radar for the last couple weeks. In a fascinating illustration of cultural appropriation, Ugandan artist Vampino presents himself as a powerful Dracula-figure, surrounded by obedient disciples.

Unstoppable in the Angolan dance music scene, DJ Djeff festively traverses the streets with TLDreamz in “Undi Da Ki Panha”.

Always pushing the visual envelope, director Clarence Peters doesn’t disappoint in “Bigger Better Best”, the new video for Port Harcourt rapper Pucado. Peters takes us for a ride with his camera as Pucado keeps us guessing with his syncopated lyrics.

Fresh off his triple win at the South African Music Awards, Khuli Chana finds a few friends as he cruises through Joburg in the upbeat video for “Mnatebawen”, meaning “it’s nice to be you.” Joined by children, churchwomen and an unexpected mapantsula dancer, Khuli, backed by KayGizm and Fifi Cooper, urges us to “do you”.

Emboldened by a dance crew that’s got his back, Naija rapper May D revisits the colonial era in “So Many Tinz” to rescue his love interest from a cruel captor with true Nollywood flair.

Attempting to fill the twisted niche in West African music left vacant with the untimely passing of Nigerian artist Goldie Harvey, Ghanaian singer Eazzy shows that she’s starting to lose it, in the best way, with her video for “Scream”.

A new Zaki Ibrahim, hot out of the editing suite.

In “Provo E Gosto”, Angolan kuduro crew Os Lambas proves there’s nothing scarier than a partner who smells infidelity. Impressively, the fear is somehow channeled into the most insanely energetic kuduro dance moves yet seen.

Always well-produced with a consistently solid flow, Kahli Abdu tells it like it is with Kid Konnect for the track “No Love”.

Lastly, we head to the beach in Tanzania with former MTV Base VJ Vanessa Mdee. She shows us just how smooth Swahili can sound in “Closer”.

Back next week!

Further Reading

Rebuilding Algeria’s oceans

Grassroots activists and marine scientists in Algeria are building artificial reefs to restore biodiversity and sustain fishing communities, but scaling up requires more than passion—it needs institutional support and political will.

Ibaaku’s space race

Through Afro-futurist soundscapes blending tradition and innovation, Ibaaku’s new album, ‘Joola Jazz,’ reshapes Dakar’s cultural rhythm and challenges the legacy of Négritude.

An allegiance to abusers

This weekend, Chris Brown will perform two sold-out concerts in South Africa. His relationship to the country reveals the twisted dynamic between a black American artist with a track record of violence and a country happy to receive him.

Shell’s exit scam

Shell’s so-called divestment from Nigeria’s Niger Delta is a calculated move to evade accountability, leaving behind both environmental and economic devastation.

Africa’s sibling rivalry

Nigeria and South Africa have a fraught relationship marked by xenophobia, economic competition, and cultural exchange. The Nigerian Scam are joined by Khanya Mtshali to discuss the dynamics shaping these tensions on the AIAC podcast.

The price of power

Ghana’s election has brought another handover between the country’s two main parties. Yet behind the scenes lies a flawed system where wealth can buy political office.

Beats of defiance

From the streets of Khartoum to exile abroad, Sudanese hip-hop artists have turned music into a powerful tool for protest, resilience, and the preservation of collective memory.