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Vusi Mahlasela: “The Voice” who sang at Mandela’s inauguration
Vusi Mahlasela grew up in Mamelodi, built his first guitar from an oil can and fishing line, and…
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A.B. Crentsil: the Prestea highlife man who made Ghana laugh and blush
A.B. Crentsil, born in Prestea in 1943, led the Sweet Talks in the 1970s and later formed Ahenfo.…
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Bongo Maffin, Zabalaza and “King Tha”: Thandiswa Mazwai
Thandiswa Mazwai, born in 1976 and known as King Tha, was the lead vocalist and songwriter of the…
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Loliwe and a guitar: remembering Zahara, 1987 to 2023
Zahara, born Bulelwa Mkutukana in 1987, was a South African singer, songwriter and guitarist whose debut album Loliwe…
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A homemade guitar with bicycle cables: the rise of Mdou Moctar
Mdou Moctar, born Mahamadou Souleymane in Abalak, Niger, in 1984, built his first guitar using bicycle cables for…
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Ali Farka Touré’s son makes his own name: Vieux Farka Touré
Vieux Farka Touré, born in Niafunké, Mali, in 1981, is the son of the celebrated guitarist Ali Farka…
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The ngoni goes electric: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba
Bassekou Kouyate, born in 1966 in Garana near Ségou, Mali, into a griot family, began playing the ngoni…
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White handkerchiefs and “200% Zoblazo”: Meiway, the Ivorian who named a dance style
Meiway, born Frédéric Désiré Ehui in Grand-Bassam in 1962, pioneered zoblazo, an Ivorian dance style. His hits include…
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The singer who sang with both Franco and Tabu Ley: Sam Mangwana
Sam Mangwana, born in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) in 1945 to Angolan parents, sang with both of Congolese rumba's…
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A gentle voice in a dance-floor tradition: Lokua Kanza
Lokua Kanza, born in 1958, started as a guitarist with Abeti Masikini's Les Redoutables, worked with Ray Lema…