Arts + Culture
Egungun: the Yoruba masquerade where the ancestors return to dance
Egungun masquerades bring Yoruba ancestors back among the living. Dancers in layered cloth costumes that cover the entire…
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.
Arts + Culture
Gelede: the Yoruba masquerade that honours the power of mothers
Gelede is a masquerade of the Yoruba and Yoruba-Nago peoples of Benin, Nigeria and Togo that honours mothers,…
Music
Hamza El Din: the Nubian oud master who carried a drowned homeland’s music to the world
Hamza El Din, born in Nubia in 1929, became the best-known Nubian musician in the world. His oud…
Music
Remmy Ongala: the Dar es Salaam bandleader who sang for the poor
Remmy Ongala, born in Congo and based in Dar es Salaam, led Orchestre Super Matimila and became one…
Music
Dorothy Masuka: the Zimbabwean-born singer whose songs were banned by apartheid
Dorothy Masuka, born in Bulawayo in 1935, became a star in 1950s Johannesburg with songs in Zulu, Ndebele…
Music
Mamman Shata: the Hausa singer whose praise songs and kalangu drums filled northern Nigeria
Alhaji Mamman Shata of Katsina was the most celebrated Hausa singer of the twentieth century. Accompanied by kalangu…
Music
Bella Bellow: the Togolese voice who died at 28 at the height of her fame
Bella Bellow was the first Togolese singer to win international fame, admired across Africa and in France in…
Arts + Culture
MASA: the Abidjan market where African performers meet the world’s programmers
The Marché des Arts du Spectacle d'Abidjan, known as MASA, has brought African musicians, dancers and theatre companies…
Music
Papa Wendo Kolosoy: the father of Congolese rumba and the song Marie-Louise
Antoine Wendo Kolosoy, known as Papa Wendo, recorded Marie-Louise in 1948, one of the first great hits of…
Music
Pepe Kalle: the Elephant of Zaire and his band Empire Bakuba
Pepe Kalle, a towering Congolese singer known as the Elephant of Zaire, led Empire Bakuba to fame in…