We jammed at Throwdown by AfriPOP! this weekend. The monthly gig is becoming a staple for anyone looking for music beyond the playlists of commercial radio stations. Underground and going places MC Choc headlined the event in downtown Johannesburg. On the decks were the lovely DJ Soulo Starr and DJ Party Time. You might know Party Time as one of half of the Dirty Paraffin duo. Download DJ Party Time’s [...]
Music acts who dare to break the mold are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Spoek Mathambo’s Father Creeper album released by Seattle based Sub-Pop Records and Sony Africa was a neon sign that the world is ready to hear what urban South Africa has to offer. It’s so rare to hear the electro-kwaito-can’t-box-it-it-so-awesome beats that are propelling the likes of Mathambo and Dirty Paraffin to global recognition. Well, it [...]
Some of the African diaspora’s greatest young minds recently gathered at the 9th annual Columbia University African Economic Forum in New York City to discuss opportunities and strategies for a prosperous Africa. This year’s theme “Africa Reclaiming Africa: Changing The Rules of Engagement” focused on how Africans are taking back their own narratives, whether in business or fashions. Here’s a photographic look back at the event attended by Helene Faussart [...]
UK Jazz/Hipop artist Soweto Kinch brings The Flyover Show to Johannesburg. The daylong music and arts festival is Kinch’s pet project that has taken place for five years in its unusual setting beneath a flyover in Birmingham. This year the show goes global with an additional stage in the southern hemisphere. The Flyover Show will make its South African debut on the historic Freedom Square – also known as the [...]
AfriPOP! and Masauko Chipembere of blksonshine celebrated Miriam Makeba’s life and legacy through song at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City on March 10, 2012. The show’s intent was also to celebrate the women’s voices from around the world. Performers included Tuelo Minah (South Africa), Des Gordon (Antigua), Samantha Thornhill & Mimi Jones as Medusa Strings (Trinidad/US), Yolanda Zama (South Africa), Lollise Mbi (Botswana), Sinethemba Makanya (South Africa), [...]
Headlining the MTN Bushfire Festival in Swaziland this year is soulful Romanian-Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayo. Joining her is US-based performance poet Saul Williams, described as “a leading voice on the spoken-word scene”, and his backing band. Lovers of fusion can catch reggae-meets-bossa nova sensation Flavia Coelho from Brazil. Among the South African acts billed are MXO, Jeremy Loops, Tonik, Mi Casa, DJ duo Revolution, and jazz maestro Adam Glasser’s Mzansi project, [...]
It’s strength to strength for the Mo Hits golden boy D’Banj and Ugandan vintage soul purveyor extraordinaire. Both are set to appear at BBC Radio 1′s annual music weekender (June 23 – 24 2012), the line-up for which includes names like Florence and the Machine, Leona Lewis, Ed Sheeran, David Guetta, The Ting Tings (hey!) and more. All of this to build up to the London Olympics following in July. [...]
One of Africa’s favourite music festivals is taking a break. Over the years music lovers from across the world have made their way to the topaz waters of Lake Malawi to watch acts like The Noisettes, The Maccabees and Malawi’s own hip-hop heavyweight Tay Grin. Not so in 2012. In a statement, organisers let us down gently, saying: After eight years of the festival, we have decide to take stock [...]
D’banj will perform for the first time in New York City on February 19, 2012. Presented by LiveNation at Irving Plaza, the “D’banj LIVE in NYC” concert will also feature several of Nigeria’s top music artists as well as special guests. Besides the 2011 BET Music Award for Best International Artist the show will also introduce New York to other Mo Hits label mates Dr. Sid, D’Prince, K-Switch and Wande [...]
You’ve seen him on MTV Base with The Fresh Prince Of Hackney, Young Gods Of Comedy and Kojo’s Comedy Fun House. You listen to him every morning on the Choice Breakfast Show. Now with his first movie role in Noel Clarke’s, The Knot Kojo returns to Hackney Empire to tape his first ever DVD Live N Kicking. Join the UK’s best loved urban comic alongside a celebrity audience for the DVD recording of his hilarious comedy special Live N Kicking. Some of Kojo’s [...]
