Hip as Nationalist Project
Kuduru as an effort by politically connected Angolan elites to to package a fun and edgy dance born in Angola as soft power.
Music
Friday Bonus Music Break, N°28
Kuduro pioneer Sebem (fresh out of prison; he was in for repeated traffic violations, from what
DJ Al Walser For President
Vice Magazine recently ran an interview with Al Walser, the DJ who nabbed a Grammy nomination for
#GhanaDecides Playlist
Results of today’s parliamentary and presidential elections in Ghana are expected at the earliest by Sunday.
Friday Bonus Music Break, N°27
Azonto and its growing global reaches… Somebody should write a book about it. ‘Tribal Azonto’ above:
Friday Bonus Music Break, N°26
We should start numbering these bonus music breaks. First up, above, from Kenya: the Large Gang,
Friday Bonus Music Break, N°25
This summer’s Fuse ODG #ANTENNADANCE competition (“one person controlling the other using azonto movements”) courtesy of
It’s Africans’ turn to help Norwegians
A campaign by a Norwegian student group wants fundraising causes not be based on exploiting stereotypes. Also that aid be based on real needs, not “good” intentions.
Kyle Shepherd X
The pianist, Kyle Shepherd, loathes labels, especially of him as the architect or savior of Cape Jazz, the music associated with Cape Town.
Friday Music Break, N°24
Hello! Boima here, and I’m back helping out with the Friday music break. A Haitian Rara
Stripping back the facade of modern hip-hop to reveal its African roots
Tendai Maraire of Shabazz Palaces breaks down his 'Pungwe' mixtape for us.
Hair politics over a church loop
In this Weekend Bonus Music Break, No.23, features musicians as diverse as Ghanaian-Swiss duo, OY, to familier sightings on Africa Is a Country: Spoek Mathambo and Sinkane.
Weekend Music Break, N°22
I’m taking cues from Africa is a Country’s contributors this week. First up, Boima dropped by
‘Syn City’ Harare
Zimbabwe is a paradox. A country riddled with contradictions. While the often unpalatable and sometimes hair-raising
Friday Bonus Music Break, N°21
Nigerian-Swedish pop star Dr Alban features in this new St. John’s Dance video above. Swedish-Finnish-Gambian (yeh)
Bring the Beat Home
The documentary, "Soul Power," captures a moment in African-American music during the 1970s: testing its boundaries in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Soukous for Kabila
Congolese musicians are divided over politics: endorse President Joseph Kabila and gain from official patronage, oppose him in exile or cope independently in Kinshasa.
Friday Bonus Music Break, N°20
This week Nigeria–yes the country whose history Rick Ross mangled in his latest music video (Ross
Nollywood–Nigeria’s Mirror
The Nigerian poet and critic, Odia Ofeimun, on how Nollywood depicts traditional culture and religion.
The musical journey of Bongeziwe Mabandla
Forty-two kilometres from Umthatha, the former capital of Transkei in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is