Music

Nigeria’s National Anthem
Did Goodluck Jonathan allegedly take US $1m from an anti-poverty fund to allegedly bring Beyonce and Jay-Z to Nigeria in 2006?

The loss of “new” South African innocence
Moses Molelekwa, the brilliant South African pianist, composer and producer died by suicide on 13 February 2001. Florence Mtoba, his wife (also his manager) was found with him; she had been strangled.


I want to play at the Voortrekker Monument
Here's what some South African artists make of the country's politics.

Pop Culture and Pirate Humanity
Barely any group has been as de-humanized as much in recent history as Somali pirates, treated almost like vermin to be rooted out.

Mozambique’s Queen of Hip-Hop
Dama do Bling is sometimes called a Lusophone Queen Latifah and Mozambican Lil Kim. The comparison doesn't always work.


A lot of room for improvisation
An interview with South African jazz bassist Shane Cooper.

The madness we’ve eaten
Ghanaian artist Wanlov the Kubolor’s has an Afcon 2013 playlist for his country's national football team.

Songs for the Atlas Lions of Morocco
What music do young Moroccans listen to at home and in the diaspora right now?

Songs for Chipolopolo
The Zambian journalist canvassed his friends for a playlist of top Zambian tunes praising their footballing heroes.

Songs for The Stallions
The Burkinabe rapper Art Melody's playlist for Burkina Faso's men's national team in the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

Songs for Bafana
The second in our playlists for the national teams in the 2013 African Cup of Nations. This one is for the hosts, South Africa.

Songs for the Blue Sharks of Capo Verde
The first in our Africa Nations Cup 2013 playlists; to drown out the commentator if they are annoying you during the game.

Limbs in a Potion
DJ Sawa from Ghana, Supremos from Angola, and Irish-Nigerian Rejjie Snow, are part of Weekend Music Break, no. 30.

The New Breed of Lesotho Hip Hop
An idea of what's going down in Lesotho with the emcees whom I think will be making a considerable amount of noise in 2013.