We arrived in Stone Town, Zanzibar the night before the opening on our tour focus, the 20th edition of the Sauti za Busara Swahili Sounds of Wisdom Festival. We covered the first edition in 2004 and we’re very excited to return. We had a preview of two acts our last night in Dar, at the […]
Tag: Music
ZANU-PF’s aversion to protest music only confirms the lyrical power of a line of artists from Marley and Mapfumo to Winky D. Prominent Zimbabwean artist Wallace Chirumiko – popularly known as “Winky D” or “The Big Man” – was shut down on 4 March as he performed his hit song ‘Ibotso‘, which refers to state-sanctioned […]
The Oromo are the largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia, accounting for over 40 million people or more than one-third of the population. However, they have been politically oppressed, economically exploited and culturally marginalised under successive Ethiopian regimes. Since the 1960s, the Oromo have sought self-determination through various forms of resistance, such as armed struggle under […]
The Nigerian music industry is an expansive and ever-evolving industry that provides a unique outlet for the country’s creative talents The Nigerian music industry is one of the most vibrant, exciting, and rapidly growing music scenes in the world. With a rich history spanning over a century, Nigeria’s music industry has evolved in many ways […]
The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria, KCCN, gave Nigerians exactly what they needed- spellbinding Korean vibes, at this crucial time of their lives. It was the grand finale of the annual K-Pop (Korean Popular music) dancing and singing festival and the show, held July 29, was as therapeutic as expected. The festival, organised by the Korean […]
In the run-up to Nigeria’s February 2023 elections, the country’s younger generation has mobilised to demand change and redefine the political landscape – and music has been pivotal. Despite being dismissed by several political commentators, Nigeria’s younger generations have shifted the former two-party liberal electoral democratic competition between the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and […]
Data for the Middle East ranks Afrobeats superstars Rema, CKay and Burna Boy as the most streamed musicians in the region. Over the past few years, the Afrobeats genre has seen tremendous international success, especially in countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and France, where many Nigerians and Africans reside. However, it’s interesting […]
Following the global appreciation of Afrobeats, Mohombi, who won Grammys in 2016 and 2018, recently visited Nigeria to record a new album and collaborate with indigenous artistes. Mohombi Moupondo is a Congolese-Swedish musician, singer, composer, dancer, and a two-time Grammy award winner. Mohombi’s won his first grammy for Best Latin Album in 2016 for his […]
She has the voice of an angel, and it will grace the coronation of a king and his queen in Westminster Abbey on 6 May. University of Cape Town (UCT) alumnus Pretty Yende’s story is a triumph of talent over adversity – and the transformation of the Eurocentric, elitist world of opera. Yende (37) will […]
Massama Dogo–A.K.A. Dogo du Togo–is a Togolese singer/songwriter/bandleader who has lived between the Washington D.C. area and his birthplace in Lomé, Togo since 2000. His latest project is a return to his roots, and an effort to put genuinely Togolese music on the map. Dogo du Togo’s debut album is a gem, eleven warm and […]
I first heard about Jimi Hendrix during my early teens. First attraction was his name which elicited interest. The word Hendrix sounded psychedelic to me. Not much later, I was hit by his much talked about music ‘Hey Joe’ which resonated with me again and again while trying to toy with playing the guitar. ‘Hey […]
Two of late musician Andy Brown’s lines in 2003 production Tongogara, hit harder than American boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather in his better days. Andy Brown’s adopted Karanga dialect further emphasises questions he asked at the height of violent farm invasions and formation of then main opposition MDC which still apply as Zimbabwe gears for general […]