Africa Is a Country

Weekend Music Break No.93

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

Weekend Music Break No.93

By
Boima Tucker

Welcome back to our Music Break, after it took a bit of a break itself. Enjoy this selection of tunes from around the African diaspora, and beyond.

This week, we kick off with Afrikan Boy and his latest video for his song “Kunta Kinte”; then, Eazzy brings the neo-Alkaida Hiplife vibes via Ghana; Tanzania’s Vanessa Mdee goes neo-Soukous Afrobeats style with “Niroge”; and Temi DollFace rounds out our Afrobeats section with School Your Face. Off to the Francophone world where Collectif Bassam brings Coupe Decale uplifment vibes after the March attack by extremists on their beach in Cote d’Ivoire; Uganda via London’s Michael Kiwanuka travels to LA, channels Mississippi, and contemplates being a “Black Man in a White World”; then, Africa is a Country favorite Badi performs “Na Lingi Yo” on the Dan Late Show to great effect. Bahrain via London psychedelic rock act Flamingods give us insight into a cultural side of Dubai that is not only often overlooked, but difficult to see in their video for “Rhama”; and we round it out with some cool Latin vibes — joining in the Cuba fever sweeping the former Western Bloc nations with Alexander Abreu y Havana D’Primera’s “Me dicen Cuba”; and Paulo Mac on his sweet Kizomba tune “Perfeita Demais”. Enjoy!

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.