“From mid-1980s-style Afro Pop culture to rave-ready tunes, Ghana’s new sound makers are making waves and changing how the world looks at the country’s music.” Ekow Barnes African music is on the upswing, or rather, its influence and prominence are finally getting the global and public recognition it’s been long due. From high-profile collaborations to…
It would seem impossible to juggle the duty of being a mother to a newborn and a doctor, let alone managing that with a music career. Yet somehow, it’s something that independent musician Lioness does on the daily. The 28-year-old is a medical practitioner in anaesthesia by day and a gritty and eccentric rapper by…
With the rapid rise of African sounds taking over global dancefloors, I would like to offer you a few suggestions of other African sounds. The lens is being pointed at Africa and seeing people in London host Amapiano parties as our music has increasingly been embraced across international shores, is the reason for this taste…
The Ghanaian music prodigy on his musical foundations, the joys of being a young artist and his new song ‘Kweku the Traveler’. Black Sherif broke one rule when he was just around 17 years old. He fell in love with music. Born Mohammed Ismail Sherif; Black Sherif — who is also often called Blacko by…
Kwesi Arthur has been in the music scene since 2017 and established himself as a hitmaker with his smash, “Grind Day” with the remix featuring the Ghanaian rap veterans Sarkodie and Medikal. But he caught the attention of UK mainstream consciousness when he featured on the Yaw Tog smash hit drill record, “Sore”, that featuring…
Fave — born GodsFavour Chidozie — is one of many outstanding artists who have harnessed the power of social media to propel themselves into audience acclaim and admiration. Fave rose to prominence after her verse on a free beat produced by Jinmi Abduls became an internet sensation. The viral freestyle — which addressed the parells…
The geographical location of a musician can mould the sound of the music and the feeling it gives. That is at the heart of Gemma Griffiths‘ music. The singer/songwriter was born in Cape Town, raised in Zimbabwe and studied in America. Her nomadic experiences have bled into her artistry, giving space for a rich and…
Nigerian singer and producer , CKay, has seen his two-year-old song “Love Nwantiti” become a viral phenomenon — first on TikTok, then around the world, in the last three months. The song, and particularly the remix featuring Joeboy & Kuami Eugene – which was first released in 2019 – has since gone viral throughout the world…
“October 20, 2020 something happened with the government, they think say we forget. For where, for Ozumba Mbadiwe” — read the lyrics from the second verse of Nigerian artist Reekado Banks’ new single ‘Ozumba Mbadiwe’ – named after a Nigerian politician and a road on Lagos Island that leads to Lekki Toll Gate. As we…
Over the past couple of years, Mannywellz has stacked up an impressive music catalogue. Breakout songs like “Wellz”, “SoulFro” and “Meta” — display his songwriting abilities and the different genres he is able to tap into. Mannywellz also snatched a Grammy Award for his contribution to John Daversa and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals…
When was the last time we, through the contemporary music diaspora, thought a young artist spoke for a particular generation or group of people? Collectively, I’m not sure however as writers, probably not too long ago as we often suggest that statement and conflate the release of artworks at a particular time to them presenting…
Tim Lyre is a musician with many talents. His music is a genre-bending afro-futurist study of the human experience which has been credited as influenced equally by juju master Ebenezer Obey and R&B genius John Legend. From being a dynamic vocalist to being a multi-instrumentalist and producer Lyre’s talent exudes in every beat, chorus and…
