Arts + Culture
An Ivorian reggae star recorded with Bob Marley’s band at Tuff Gong: Alpha Blondy and Jérusalem
In 1986, Ivorian reggae singer Alpha Blondy released Jérusalem, recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, with…
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Arts + Culture
Exiled from Soweto, she became the voice of Roots: Letta Mbulu
South African singer Letta Mbulu toured with the musical King Kong as a teenager and left for the…
Arts + Culture
Highlife, lovers rock and soukous in one voice: Kojo Antwi, Ghana’s Mr Music Man
Kojo Antwi, born Julius Kojo Antwi in Accra on 24 November 1959 and raised in Darkuman, released his…
Arts + Culture
A laboratory scientist who became the king of palm wine guitar: Koo Nimo
Koo Nimo, born Kwabena Boa-Amponsem on 3 October 1934 in Foase in the Ashanti Region, is the leading…
Music
The featured-verse economy
Why the guest verse is currency in African music: the remixes that made careers, the hook specialists, and…
Arts + Culture
Six Grammy nominations and a new Shrine: Femi Kuti’s decades out of his father’s shadow
Femi Kuti, Fela's eldest son, formed his band Positive Force in 1986 and opened the New Afrika Shrine…
Arts + Culture
Kose Kose, Iron Boy and the Apollo High Kings: Amakye Dede, the highlife king of the 1980s and 1990s
Amakye Dede, born on 5 January 1958 and known as Iron Boy, formed his band the Apollo High…
Arts + Culture
Talazo 84 turbo-charged fuji: King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, KWAM 1, and four decades at the top
King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, known as KWAM 1 or K1 De Ultimate, was born on 3 March 1957…
Arts + Culture
Her first album sold over a million copies: Salawa Abeni, the Queen of Waka music
Salawa Abeni, from Ijebu Waterside in Ogun State, released her debut album, Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, in…
Music
The first Ghanaian to win a MOBO: how Samini took Ghanaian dancehall to London in 2006
In September 2006, Ghanaian dancehall and reggae artist Samini won Best African Act at the MOBO Awards in…