When people say African music is having a “global moment,” they are often talking about only a small part of the continent.

At the 2024 Video Music Awards (VMAs), South African singer Tyla made waves with her performance and acceptance speech after winning the “Best Afrobeat” award for her hit song, “Water.” This moment ...

African music, with its distinctive emphasis on polyrhythm and beats flowing from percussive instruments, was long treated as subordinate in the international music arena. Music from the continent ...

Tyla's mission is clear. She's setting out to change the geography of pop stardom. "It's something I feel like the industry is lacking," the singer declares. "An African pop star." Fresh off a year of ...

The 2024 Grammy awards will see the introduction of a new category: "best African music performance." When the category was announced last year, Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stated that it would be ...

The truth is that the global creative economy is being rewired in real time, and Africa is not yet in the control room.

Reviewed by Cecilia Durojaye in African music (Grahamstown, South Africa) 10 (3) 2017, pages 170-173 (ML5.A25 AFA). AFA copy Purchased from the Warren M. Robbins Library Endowment. African Drumming: ...

Older genres classed in the World Music category and headlined by Angélique Kidjo continue to inspire newer genres, Afrobeats and Amapiano. Here are 25 standout tunes of 2023. 1. Tyler ICU & Tumelo.za ...

Amapiano has transcended its regional roots to become a global phenomenon, reshaping perceptions of African music through its ...

A distinct sound is currently vibing on social feeds around the world: the deep house, log-drum driven basslines and soulful piano melodies of “Amapiano.” While Amapiano dance challenges are currently ...

The country has a rich, original relationship to jazz, with American techniques layered into regional traditions and rhythms. Explore 50 years of recordings picked by musicians, poets and writers. By ...