Osibisa exploded onto the music world in 1971 with a pulsating and vibrant sound. Translated from Ghanaian, Osibisa means “criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness”.…
View More Artist Profiles: OsibisaTag: Afropop
The Colors of Africa
Pierre Akendengue – La Couleur de l’Afrique (Lusafrica, 2018) Pierre Akendengue, one of the most iconic singer-songwriters of Gabon, released La Couleur de l’Afrique last…
View More The Colors of AfricaRocky Dawuni’s Reggae for Positive change
On Beats of Zion, African reggae star Rocky Dawuni continues to demonstrate he’s one of the most exciting artists coming out of Africa. His style…
View More Rocky Dawuni’s Reggae for Positive changeArtist Profiles: Buika
Buika (pronounced BWEE-kah) was born Concha Buika on the Spanish island of Mallorca, to parents who arrived to Spain as political exiles from Equatorial Guinea.…
View More Artist Profiles: BuikaArtist Profiles: Malian Singer-Songwriter Rokia Traore
Rokia Traore was born in 1974 and comes from Bamako. Though-steeped in tradition, Rokia Traore’s music is thoroughly integrated into a contemporary sound, thanks to…
View More Artist Profiles: Malian Singer-Songwriter Rokia TraoreArtist Profiles: Salif Keita
A master of West African rhythms and credited as one of the founders of the Afropop genre, Salif Keita is world renowned for his unforgettable…
View More Artist Profiles: Salif KeitaArtist Profiles: Amadou & Mariam
During the 1960s, in Bamako, Mali, a young girl of six used to appear at local festivals by popular demand. On the other side of…
View More Artist Profiles: Amadou & MariamDiali Cissokho Brings North Carolina and M’bour Together on Routes
Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba – Routes (Twelve Eight Records, 2018) Routes is the new album by North Carolina-based Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba. Diali…
View More Diali Cissokho Brings North Carolina and M’bour Together on RoutesLikembe Meets Afropop
Lulendo – Mwinda (Buda Records, 2017) Mwinda is the fourth studio album by Angolan singer-songwriter and likembe (thumb piano) player Lulendo Mvulu. Most of…
View More Likembe Meets AfropopThe Hybrid Sounds of Belgium’s Zanzibar
Zanzibar – Fiali in Chicago (Home Records, 2016) Belgian multi-ethnic band Zanzibar plays an unexpected mix of rhythmic Afropop music, harmonica-based American blues, boogie woogie,…
View More The Hybrid Sounds of Belgium’s Zanzibar