Arts + Culture
Asafo flags: the Fante war banners that turned proverbs into appliqué art
Fante Asafo companies, traditional military groups of Ghana's Central Region, carry bold appliqué flags that illustrate proverbs and…
Afro Yard
Afro Yard Entertainment is a vibrant and dynamic entertainment company that focuses on sharing captivating stories and promoting exceptional talent across all African countries. Our mission is to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Africa through various media platforms, including music, movies, arts, and content creation.
Music
Hailu Mergia: the Ethiopian keyboard star who became a Washington taxi driver
Hailu Mergia played keyboards with Ethiopia's Walias Band in the 1970s. After a 1981 US tour, he stayed…
Music
S.E. Rogie: the Sierra Leone tailor whose palm wine guitar reached the world
S.E. Rogie, born in 1926 in Sierra Leone, was a self-taught guitarist who ran a tailor's shop before…
Music
Zaïko Langa Langa: the 1969 Kinshasa student band that reshaped Congolese rumba
Zaïko Langa Langa was founded in Kinshasa in December 1969 by young musicians who gave Congolese rumba a…
Arts + Culture
Benga: the Kenyan guitar sound built on the Luo nyatiti, and its champion D.O. Misiani
Benga, Kenya's best-known popular music, grew from Luo musicians adapting the rhythms of the nyatiti lyre to electric…
Music
Simphiwe Dana: the Transkei singer hailed as the new Miriam Makeba
Simphiwe Dana, born in 1980 in the former Transkei, released her debut Zandisile in 2004. Its mix of…
Music
Haruna Ishola: the father of apala who kept Western instruments out of his music
Haruna Ishola, widely regarded as the father of apala, began recording around 1955 and became one of Nigeria's…
Music
I.K. Dairo: the juju star who brought the accordion to Yoruba music and got an MBE
I.K. Dairo, born around 1930, is often called the father of juju. He introduced the accordion and harmonica…
Music
Jewel Ackah: the Prince of Highlife from Axim who wrote “Arise, Arise”
Jewel Ackah, born in Axim in the Western Region, sang with C.K. Mann's Carousel Seven and the Sweet…
Music
“Sarz on the beat”: the Benin City producer behind a decade of Nigerian hits
Sarz, born Osabuohien Osaretin in Benin City in 1989, is one of Nigeria's most influential producers. Known for…