Category: Music

Entertainment, Music

Nigerian superstar, Tiwa Savage, signs with Universal Music Group
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One of the biggest African female acts, Tiwa Savage, has signed a record deal with Universal Music Group.

Some of the facilitators present at the signing of the deal at UMG office in California wereJoel Katz, Efe Ogbeni, Vanessa Amadi (Stealth Management), Sipho Dlamini, Managing Director of Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (English-speaking), Adam Granite, Executive Vice President, Market Development at Universal Worldwide and Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Worldwide.

Continue reading “Nigerian superstar, Tiwa Savage, signs with Universal Music Group” →
Festivals, Music

Mr. Eazi and Burna Boy highlight the rise of afrobeats at Coachella
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By Makeda Easter

This has been a particularly global year for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The lineup also includes Nigerian stars Mr. Eazi and Burna Boy, two artists representing afrobeats, a genre that’s steadily gaining traction in the U.S. and beyond.

It’s not the first year that Coachella has hosted Nigerian artists. The 2012 performance of Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, featuring Fela Kuti’s youngest son and band, is just one example of the handful of the country’s artists who have played the Indio festival. And 2018 was expected to be a big moment for afrobeats at Coachella when Wizkid was booked, but he missed the gig due to visa issues.

Continue reading “Mr. Eazi and Burna Boy highlight the rise of afrobeats at Coachella” →
Music

Discover Sons Of Sonix, the British-Nigerian duo looking to spread Afropop to the world
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By Adewojumi Aderemi

Just last week, Kida Kudz released another infectious single, “Jiggy Bop”, which saw him unveil even more of his rap range than we had heard on his previous hits, “Issa Vibe” and “Again”.

While Kid Kudz’s melodic delivery certainly made the song extra catchy, it’s the fantastic production work, particularly its mystical beat, that pushed the track over the edge, and that’s all thanks to British-Nigerian production duo, Sons of Sonix.

Continue reading “Discover Sons Of Sonix, the British-Nigerian duo looking to spread Afropop to the world” →
Music

Nigerian-Born musician Alex Boyé releases two singles for Mental Health Awareness Month
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By Socrates Mbamalu
Alex Boyé has become known for his uplifting music. Now his support of mental health campaigns has seen him being honoured for adding his voice to suicide prevention efforts.

Three years ago, Nigerian-born Alex Boyé appeared on one of America’s best-known talent shows, America’s Got Talent. He was 44 years old at the time and had been singing for 25 years. With his signature white mark under his right eye, a boisterous spirit and great charisma, he took to the stage and blew away the judges with his energy and music. Boyé has gone on to become an important voice in music.

Continue reading “Nigerian-Born musician Alex Boyé releases two singles for Mental Health Awareness Month” →
Music

Thutmose experiments with genres while honoring his Nigerian roots
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By Christina Cala

Thutmose is the name of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, but it’s also the stage name of Nigerian-born rapper and songwriter Umar Ibrahim. After immigrating with his family to Brooklyn, N.Y. at the age of 8, Thutmose grew up caught between the America he was experiencing and the America he imagined.

Continue reading “Thutmose experiments with genres while honoring his Nigerian roots” →

Communities, Music

Afrigo band set for Uganda Festival in New York
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Wasula said their wide collection of songs allows the band to be versatile, noting that they have many songs they didn’t perform last year.

When Afrigo band ascended to the stage at the magnificent Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington DC last year, the audience went gaga.

On their feet were thousands of Ugandans living in the diaspora and well-wishers who had gathered for the Uganda Festival and Business Expo 2018.

Continue reading “Afrigo band set for Uganda Festival in New York” →

Music

Drake Brings Out Wizkid To Perform ‘Come Closer’ With Him At The O2 Arena
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By Clement Akubude
Nigerian Afropop artiste, and StarBoy Boss Wizkid was brought on stage at the O2 Arena in London Monday night 8th of April by American singer, Drake to perform their hit single, Come Close during his Assassination Vacation Tour where he’ll be spending seven days performing at the O2.

Continue reading “Drake Brings Out Wizkid To Perform ‘Come Closer’ With Him At The O2 Arena” →

Music

Massive crowd at Medikal’s show in USA
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By Lizbeth Brown

Ghanaian hip hop musician Samuel Adu Frimpong popularly known as Medikal pulled a massive crowd when he performed in the United States of America.

The ‘Omo Ada’ hitmaker delivered a stupendous and amazing performance to a fully-packed auditorium.

Continue reading “Massive crowd at Medikal’s show in USA” →

Music

Nigerian music label, Chocolate City, signs new deal with Warner Music Group
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By Inemesit Udodiong
Afrobeat, a fusion of African pop, dance, and hip hop, is having a great moment right now. All over the world, people are listening, dancing and buying tickets to sold-out shows by Nigerian artists.

It is also topping streaming and airplay charts across the US and Europe. Earlier this year, Davido‘s 2017 hit single, ‘Fall’, became the longest charting Nigerian song on American Billboard chart. It was the most Shazamed song by New York radio listeners in 2018.

Now, New York-based Warner Music Groupjoins the likes of Universal Music Group andSony Music, who have already boarded the Afrobeat train. The world’s third largest record label has a new partnership with Nigerian music label Chocolate City.

Continue reading “Nigerian music label, Chocolate City, signs new deal with Warner Music Group” →

Music

Kenyan rapper, King Kaka, gets a moment of recognition as ‘Dundaing’ Song Plays at NBA match
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By PAUL WANJAMA

Celebrated Kenyan rapper King Kaka on Wednesdaygot a moment in the spotlight after his song got played at American Airlines Center, Dallas, USA.

The musician was attending an NBA match between Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings when his song ‘Dundaing’ featuring Kristoff and Magix Enga started playing in the arena.

Continue reading “Kenyan rapper, King Kaka, gets a moment of recognition as ‘Dundaing’ Song Plays at NBA match” →

Music

Put Your Money Into These Rhythmic Beats from Africa
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Nigeria leads the proliferation of Africa’s new sounds in the West.
By Peace Hyde

In an Africa fresh from economic liberalization, music found a new voice, thanks to social media and platforms like YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music, which streamed thousands of African songs into the homes of millions in the diaspora.

BROOKLYN, NY – SEPTEMBER 09: Yemi Alade performs on stage at 2018 Essence Street Style Festival on September 9, 2018 in Brooklyn City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Essence)

Continue reading “Put Your Money Into These Rhythmic Beats from Africa” →

Music

The Queens Rapper Connecting American Hip-Hop to African Audiences
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Bas, raised in New York, wants to bring his music to his Sudanese parents’ homeland and to the broader continent. And so do his fans.
By Hannah Giorgis

It all started one night in Lagos, Nigeria. The first time that Bas, the Queens-bred rapper signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville label, performed in front of an African audience was surreal. He’d accompanied Cole on tour following the release of KOD, the North Carolina rapper’s 2018 album.

Bas, the son of two Sudanese immigrants, had gone to Nigeria just to kick it with his labelmate and longtime friend from Fayetteville.
But when Cole asked him to come perform a few songs, Bas planned to play two from his March 2016 album, Too High to Riot.

Continue reading “The Queens Rapper Connecting American Hip-Hop to African Audiences” →

Music

America, by way of Nairobi: Singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara welcomes you to his American dream
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By A.D. Amorosi.

It’s good to be J.S. Ondara right now.

The Kenyan-born singer-songwriter just wrapped a successful show at SXSW in Austin, Texas in a victory lap promoting his newly released debut album, Tales of America.

His next stop on a nationwide tour is right here in Philadelphia as the headliner at World Cafe Live on March 22.

Read more from source

Music

African music gaining in popularity in America
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By Owen Fairclough

African music has been influencing Western music for generations. Now, a new wave of musicians are becoming huge stars in their own countries, partly due to the growth of music streaming services. And they’re determined to show the rest of the world a diversity of sound that in the past has been lumped together as simply world music.

Owen Fairclough of CGTN AMERICA reported from the South by Southwest music festival.

Continue reading “African music gaining in popularity in America” →

Music

US navy band performs at Nigerian University
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The United States Navy brass band on Wednesday thrilled students of the Department of Arts in the University of Lagos. Nigeria.

The band, which is based in Italy, is involved in efforts to strengthen ties with partner nations throughout Europe and Africa.

Read more from source

Music

The club of 8 Ghanaian stars to have entered Billboard Chart
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By Nasiba Yakubu
Despite the gloomy commentary Ghanaian music receives, there are twinkle, twinkle little Ghanaian stars in the global music sky that must leave us with satisfaction that Ghana is doing something right to keep the global night bright.

Ghanaian artistes and their counterparts in the diaspora have made impressive strides with their unique talents over the years.

The constant growth witnessed in the industry has pushed Ghanaian music unto one of the world’s renowned music grading charts, The Billboard Charts.

Continue reading “The club of 8 Ghanaian stars to have entered Billboard Chart” →

Music

Meet Kwesi Arthur, Ghanaian musician taking African Hip-Hop to the world
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By Michael Klugey

While hip-hop has been long associated with its roots in America, there is a new class of African artists participating in the genre. Leading this new wave is 24-year-old musician Kwesi Arthur, from Tema, Ghana.

Kwesi Arthur is currently the youngest Ghanaian to have a BET nomination—in the viewer’s choice category for Best New International Act in 2018. He exploded onto Ghana’s rap scene in 2016 with the bass-heavy trap anthem “Grind Day” which, two years later, won Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards for its remix with Sarkodie and Medikal.

He has since them released Afro-swing tracks like “Anthem” and records like “African Girl” that explore afro-fusion sounds. Kwesi raps in both Twi and English and, in many ways, uses his music as a vessel to tell the tales of what other young Ghanaians face.

Continue reading “Meet Kwesi Arthur, Ghanaian musician taking African Hip-Hop to the world” →

Music

This Kenyan musician followed his love for Dylan to a new life and career
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J.S. Ondara discovered he loved the music of Bob Dylan when he lost a bet.

Ondara was in high school in Nairobi when he got in a fight with another student over the song “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

It’s a Guns N’ Roses song, Ondara argued. No, said his classmate, it’s originally from a folk singer named Bob Dylan.

“So, we got into this fight, and we made a bet,” Ondara explained. “I lost a bet. But I got to discover the music of Bob Dylan and fell into this rabbit hole, which eventually led me to Minneapolis, to his home state. ”

That’s right.

When Ondara won the US visa lottery five years ago he swapped Nairobi for Minneapolis — “straight to the cold” — because of his love for Bob Dylan.

Continue reading “This Kenyan musician followed his love for Dylan to a new life and career” →

Music

Meet Gilbert Mulamba: The Congolese musician who records with US luminaries
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By Lins Honeyman

Last October saw the release of the long-awaited second album from Congo-born, Dallas-based pianist, arranger and producer Gilbert Mulamba.

The release’s inlay card describes the project as “a mosaic of cultures, sounds and grooves for the ultimate worship experience” and, with recording having taken place in the US, Congo, France, South Africa, Mexico, Haiti, Israel, China and as many more countries, it’s a truly international affair.

Impressively, Gilbert secured cameos from big name artists such as Joel Kibble of Take 6 fame and Grammy-winning saxophonist Eric Marienthal whilst Dove-nominated pianist Ben Tankard and CeCe Winans’ bass player Thaddaeus Tribbett also lent their substantial talents – all of which adds to the rich tapestry of sound contained within the album’s 13 mostly instrumental tracks.

Continue reading “Meet Gilbert Mulamba: The Congolese musician who records with US luminaries” →

Music

The American Choral Music Association invites Kenya’s Nairobi Chamber Chorus to perform in Kansas City.
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The American Choral Music Association (ACDA) has invited the Nairobi Chamber Chorus, a Kenyan choir group, to perform in the associations’ 60th jubilee conference in Kansas City.

It is the largest choral music event in America bringing in the very best from across the globe for the annual extravaganza.

“Congratulations to you and your singers on your exemplary achievement,” read an excerpt of their invitation letter from Sara Lynn Baird, the Performing Choir Chair.

Nairobi Chamber Chorus director, Ken Wakia, guided them on their way to becoming the first ever Kenyan group to perform on Broadway at the famed Lincoln Center back in 2018.

Broadway at the famed Lincoln Center back in 2018.

Along with London’s West End theatre, Broadway theatre is widely considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world.

The Kenyan choir didn’t disappoint and went on to belt out such polished melodies and tamed voices, engulfing the hall packed with nearly 400 black tie executives drawn for the US, Germany and the rest of the World.

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Music

Meet J.S Ondara: The next big musical export from Kenya to the world
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You might hear his voice and wonder why you’ve never heard of J.S Ondara but that is set to change because we are going to introduce you to the silky-voiced crooner.

Ondara is a Kenyan who moved to the United States of America six years ago after winning a Green Card lottery that allowed him to settle down there, where he picked up guitar playing from scratch.

The interesting thing about his artistic journey is that it all started with a bet gone wrong!

He had bet with a friend that the song Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door was written by the band, Guns N’ Roses, his favourite band and not by the legendary musician Bob Dylan.

Continue reading “Meet J.S Ondara: The next big musical export from Kenya to the world” →

Music

After 20 year sojourn in America, kenyan band, Jabali Afrika, returns home
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Nimetembea sijamuona msichana kama Aoko…

imetembea sijamuona msichana kama Aoko…

This is one of the most famous lines in arguably Jabali Afrika’s greatest song of all time, Aoko.

Teenage Kenyan music fans — and most certainly those in their early 20s — may not resonate with songs by one of the continent’s most iconic Afro-rock jam bands, but the journey by the legendary ensemble reads like a fairytale.

Teenage Kenyan music fans — and most certainly those in their early 20s — may not resonate with songs by one of the continent’s most iconic Afro-rock jam bands, but the journey by the legendary ensemble reads like a fairytale.

After bolting out due to unresolvable differences, former members of Kenya National Theatre (KNT) Dance Troupe formed Jabali Afrika on February 12, 1993.

Justo Asikoye, Peter Mutua, Josek Asikoye, Evans Chagala, Victor Savana Elolo and Robert Owino threw in the towel to chart their own way, but one would wonder why this powerful troupe split even after making a serious musical impact in the country and beyond.

Justo Asikoye, Peter Mutua, Josek Asikoye, Evans Chagala, Victor Savana Elolo and Robert Owino threw in the towel to chart their own way, but one would wonder why this powerful troupe split even after making a serious musical impact in the country and beyond.

“We wanted independence, freedom and space to express our creativity in a more profound manner. Our decision to break away wasn’t that easy because we had already established ourselves at KNT, but we had to make a decision anyway,” says Justo Asikoye, 48, one of the most recognisable faces of Jabali Afrika.

Continue reading “After 20 year sojourn in America, kenyan band, Jabali Afrika, returns home” →

Music

Soweto Gospel Choir take home 2019 World Music Awards at Grammys
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Johannesburg – Multiple award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir have won the Best World Music Album Grammy for their collection of songs titled Freedom.

The awards took place on Sunday night in Los Angeles and were hosted by Alicia Keys.
This was the group`s fifth nomination in this category and they have now won the prestigious award a total of three times.

Receiving the award on behalf of Soweto Gospel Choir were album producer Diniloxolo Ndlakuse Shimmy Jiyane, Mary Mulovhedzi and Mulalo Mulovhedzi whose late father David Mulovhedzi co-founded the group with producer/director Beverly Bryer 17 years ago.

Continue reading “Soweto Gospel Choir take home 2019 World Music Awards at Grammys” →

Music

Nigerian-American, Ibra Ake grabs first Grammy for producing Gambino’s ‘This is America’
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Nigerian-American producer, writer and filmmaker, Ibra Ake snagged his first Grammy Award at the 61st ceremony. He won the award for Best Music Video for producing Childish Gambino’s critically acclaimed visuals for ‘This is America’.

Reacting to the win, Ake excitedly tweeted @ibralikezebra, “I can’t believe I just won a Grammy. Where’s the catch? Royalty forever.”

The visual artist, creative director and writer based in Los Angeles, California and shuttles between cities around the world from Lagos to New York.

While he has spent most of his life in America, he constantly credits his Nigerian upbringing for allowing him to understand the value of documentation and storytelling.

Ake, who grew up in Nigeria and New Jersey, is also a writer for hit TV show, ‘Atlanta’ which also features Childish Gambino.

Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’ won a total of four Grammy awards on Sunday night.

Music

Nigerian-American music star, Davido, sets new record on Billboard chart
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Atlanta-born Davido’s “Fall” continues to break international records.  The music video for the 2017 hit, is already the first Nigerian music video to reach 100 million views on Youtube, making it the most watched Nigerian music video on YouTube.

Now, the massive Nigerian pop song has reached another unprecedented record: it’s officially the longest-charting Nigerian song in Billboard history.   Last year it became the first Nigerian music video to reach 100 million views on YouTube, and now it has been named the longest-charting Nigerian song in US chart history.

By Damola Durosomo in okayafrica.com
Continue reading “Nigerian-American music star, Davido, sets new record on Billboard chart” →

Music

The Music of Ghana Comes to Tahoe
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Okaidja Afrosa grew up in the small coastal fishing village of Kokrobite on the outskirts of the capital city of Ghana. A popular place for families and tourists alike to visit on the weekend to escape the madness of crowded Accra, this beach town has always had a lively, homegrown music scene despite gaining modern comforts more recently.

Continue reading “The Music of Ghana Comes to Tahoe” →

Music

Spotify Launches Afro Hub to Showcase African Music
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Spotify recently launched its Afro Hub initiative as part of its Global Cultures Project. “It’s our mission to uncover every layer of this ancient, expressive and rhythmic musical culture which is an important component of today’s mainstream, modern music,” the popular music streaming service said. This report by  Mazuba Kapambwe of  IR Insider gives more details. Continue reading “Spotify Launches Afro Hub to Showcase African Music” →

Music

African Pop Stars Take Over Coney Island, NY, for One Africa Show
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Afrobeat  is the African musical genre that has grown in popularity all over the world.  Big concerts involving African artists attract huge crowds in cities like London, New York and Dubai. This report in papermag.com reviews One Africa Music Fest in New York’s Cooney Island and the stars that made the night.

With less than one hour to showtime — the rain didn’t let up, and neither did the crowd. In fact the 5,000+ fans who checked in to Coney Island’s outdoor theater venue never left until the marathon 10-hour concert was over. Rain or more rain: they had good reason to stay. This wasn’t an ordinary show, but a special gathering of Africa’s leading Afrobeat stars performing at the annual One Africa Music Fest Concert. The growth of this genre, which seamlessly blends traditional West African music with Western influences, is fueled by a short list of pan-African and Caribbean entertainers, many of whom were front and center at Saturday night’s concert. From dancers to DJs to the artists themselves, we captured them all backstage, where they shared their thoughts on why they love the genre, and why it’s here to stay.

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Music

Ghanaian John Q hosts Kumi Guitar, Bull Dog and More in New Recording Studio in Bronx, NY
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Realizing there is no Ghanaian professional recording studio in Bronx (New York, USA), US based Ghanaian reggae artist John Quansah popularly known as John Q has just finished building a state of the art studio in a commercial area in Bronx New York City. This report zylofonmediaonline.com gives more details. Continue reading “Ghanaian John Q hosts Kumi Guitar, Bull Dog and More in New Recording Studio in Bronx, NY” →

Telling the story of African immigrants living in the Americas
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