Necessary doses of pan-Africanism: Esperanza Spalding’s “Black Gold”
It’s not too late to take your vitamins. And this. Jazz bass player and bandleader Esperanza
Music
Friday Music Bonus Edition
So drawn into the video (a plethora of faces, personalities and historic moments) Atlanta trio Algiers
Music Break. Sababu
Belgian band Zita Swoon, world-famous in their own country –I’m biased– recorded an easy listening album
The Whitney Soundtrack
Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012. What does it mean to lose the soundtrack to one’s life?
Introducing Angolan singer Aline Frazão
Aline Frazão resists Lisbon media's pigeon-holing practices of post-colonial Portuguese paternalism.
Everybody wants in on the final
Some coupe decale to warm you up for the African Cup of Nations final later today
Music Break. King Mensah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENNr_Mw2hNs Some mellow Togolese sounds and a sunny video.
50 Cent goes to Somalia
So rapper 50 Cent (accompanied by American journalists) was in Somalia and Kenya this week to
One shot project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8DqXwojm68 This is Hache. Oh, and the DJ. And that’s your music break.
Africa’s first 21st century global pop star?
Nigerian D'Banj draws big crowds on the continent and regularly plays the diaspora circuit in cities like London. Next, pop stardom.
Y’En A Marre’s political hip-hop anthems
8 of 13 Senegalese opposition candidates trying to unseat Abdoulaye Wade in the upcoming presidential elections
Music Break. Mufasa
Somali-Canadian R&B Singer A’maal Nuux wants to be Mufasa. The description of the song on Youtube says,
Pharoahe Monch is ‘Still Standing’
http://youtu.be/tBfMuf_JjI0 One of the best rappers alive, featuring the lady who sang the original hook on
Friday Music Bonus Edition
This week saw the passing of Don Cornelius. You’ll remember Letta Mbulu was once a guest
M.anifest has a new music video
Big up @M.anifest for the new video (showcasing Accra’s transportation infrastructure), and congrats to the Black
Salone Got Riddim
Short film about the rhythm of daily life in Sierra Leone, and the dancing talents of the country's women.
Very African and Very Modern
Congolese artists Konono N°1 and Baloji collaborated by merging “traditional” sounds from Africa's biggest country with hip hop.
Rapping in ‘Father Banana’s Country’
The challenge of creating anti-commercial rap in Angola: a market with bling, swag and surly sisters.
Dubai could do with a lot more of this
Dubai can actually be a city of gems that might surprise you. Like soul musician Hamdan Al-Abri, who is of Zanzibari descent.
Shoutout Banlieue
Number 8 in our series, Paris Is a Continent, showcasing the music of the French capital, is about bragging rights and one song.