Afrobeat | World Music Central

El Globo - Attic Night. an image from the music video. It shows an outdoor barbecue grill with large flames.

Music videos Single reviews

A Long Rewarding Run

Tom Orr November 22, 2025 No Comments Afrobeat El Globo Spanish music world fusion world music

Jumping nimbly from reggae to Afrobeat within its lengthy running time, “Attic Night” shows Spain’s El Globo to be a band with chops and versatility.

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The album cover for Africanism by The Last Poets features at its center a large African mask surrounded by collaged imagery of Black leaders, protest scenes, and cultural icons. Purples, oranges, and yellows are used, while geometric patterns and African motifs frame the artwork.

Album reviews

The Last Poets’ Africanism Spins Back On Vinyl

Angel Romero November 12, 2025 No Comments Abiodun Oyewole Afrobeat Akinola Adio Oyebola Ayomide Opara Baba Donn Babatunde Courtney Pine Joe Armon-Jones Kaidi Tatham Kunle Justice Musa Mboob Nigerian music The Last Poets The Soothsayers Tony Allen Umar Bin Hassan world music

The Last Poets – Africanism (Africa Seven, 2024/2025 vinyl reissue) The Last Poets have reissued Africanism on vinyl. This formidable recording brings together spoken word…

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Wura Samba - Iba Eledua cover artwork. A photo of the bandleader wearing traditiona Nigerian clothes.

Music videos

Wura Samba’s “Iba Eledúa” Video: Afrobeat Lift Aiming For Truth, Light, And Love

World Music Central News Room October 15, 2025 No Comments Afrobeat world music Wura Samba

Wura Samba has released a new single, “Iba Eledúa,” alongside a music video. The track serves as the first preview of his forthcoming album. The…

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The album cover for Journey Through Life by Femi Kuti is a collage of personal and historical photographs. It features Femi at various life stages, alongside images of his father Fela Kuti, family members, and musicians. Set against a bold green and yellow backdrop with traditional motifs.

Album reviews

Femi Kuti’s Next Act: Journey Through Life Balances Protest With Personal Insight

Tyler Bennet June 6, 2025 No Comments Afrobeat Femi Kuti Nigeria Nigerian music world music

Femi Kuti – Journey Through Life (Partisan Records, 2025) On his 2025 album Journey Through Life, Nigerian Afrobeat stalwart Femi Kuti turns inward, pairing his…

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The album cover for Journey Through Life by Femi Kuti is a collage of personal and historical photographs. It features Femi at various life stages, alongside images of his father Fela Kuti, family members, and musicians. Set against a bold green and yellow backdrop with traditional motifs.

Charts

Femi Kuti Ascends to the Top of NACC’s World Music Chart for the Week of May 27

World Music Central News Room June 1, 2025 No Comments Afrobeat Femi Kuti world fusion world music

The album Journey Through Life (Partisan Records) by Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti claimed the number one position of the North American College and Community Charts…

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La Mar de Músicas 2025 poster

Events

Sea and Sun: La Mar de Músicas Turns 30 with a Global Splash

World Music Central News Room May 12, 2025 No Comments Afrobeat Ángeles Toledano Arooj Aftab Bewave Brazilian music Calequi y Las Panteras Çantamarta Carlos Ares Chudahye Chagis Conociendo Rusia Dal:um Dereck V. Bulcke Diego Ratón El Canijo de Jerez El Klan de los Dedeté Ezra Collective Fat Hamster & Kang New Flamenco G5 Guitarricadelafuente Hypnosis Therapy Jambinai Kiko Veneno Korean music La Tania Le Parody Leenalchi Luzmila Carpio Maestro Espada María Terremoto Muchachito Natalia Lafourcade Orchestra Baobab Ortiga Queralt Lahoz Río Viré Salif Keïta Salvador Sobral Sanguijuelas del Guadiana Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 Silvia Pérez Cruz Spanish music Sunwoojunga Tarta Relena Tomasito Toquinho Valeria Castro W24 world fusion world music Yerai Cortés Youn Sun Nah

Since its debut in 1995, La Mar de Músicas has brought world music to the coastal city of Cartagena, Spain, transforming its cultural landscape each…

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Album reviews

Taylor-Made for the Soul: Ebo’s Farewell Grooves

Madison Quinn April 13, 2025 No Comments Adrian Younge Afrobeat Ali Shaheed Muhammad Ebo Taylor Ghanaian music Highlife world music

Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge + Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Ebo Taylor JID022 (Jazz Is Dead, 2025) There’s a moment when music stops being just sound…

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Dogo du Togo - Photo by Wilfried Good Eyes. Band photo.

Interviews

Dogo Du Togo and the Alagaa Beat Band Bring you to Togo!

Dorothy Johnson-Laird February 26, 2025 No Comments African music Afrobeat The Alagaa Beat Band Togolese music world music

From its start, the title track Avoudé is high energy and upbeat. You want to dance, but also to take time to listen. The sound…

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Reb & the Good News pressure single cover. A woman in a pink bikini blowing bubbles.

Music videos Single reviews

Afrobeat Finery

Tom Orr February 16, 2025 No Comments Afrobeat Reb & the Good News world music

It’s a shade smoother than most Afrobeat, but “Pressure” by Reb & the Good News out of Portland, Oregon is nonetheless a deep-cutting slice of…

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Amayo - Lion Awakes cover artwork. The artist dressed in an elaborate kung fu outfit.

Album reviews

“Lion Awakes”: Amayo’s Spirited Solo Debut Bridges Afrobeat and Tradition

Angel Romero December 25, 2024 No Comments Afrobeat Amayo world fusion world music

Amayo – Lion Awakes (2025) On January 17, 2025, Amayo, the former frontman of Antibalas and a trailblazer in Afrobeat, will release Lion Awakes, his…

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