Music
Boom Shaka and Lebo Mathosa: the kwaito group that shocked and thrilled 1990s South Africa
Boom Shaka, formed in the early 1990s, was one of kwaito's pioneering groups. Its lead singer, Lebo Mathosa,…
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Music
From Highlife to Drill: How Agye Din Is Building a Record of Ghana’s Musicians
Agye Din now holds 288 musician profiles, and more than 100 of its entries describe their subject as…
Music
Mandoza and Nkalakatha: the kwaito hit that crossed South Africa’s colour lines
In 2000, Soweto kwaito star Mandoza released Nkalakatha, a thunderous anthem that topped charts and was played at…
Music
Mzwakhe Mbuli: the People’s Poet of the South African struggle
Mzwakhe Mbuli became known as the People's Poet for performing fiery poems at rallies and funerals during the…
Music
Kassav: the Caribbean zouk band that conquered African dance floors
Kassav, formed in the French Caribbean in 1979, created zouk, a fast, joyful dance music sung in Creole.…
News
Zeitz MOCAA: the Cape Town grain silo that became Africa’s largest contemporary art museum
In September 2017, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa opened in a converted grain silo at Cape…
Arts + Culture
Chi wara: the Bamana antelope headdresses that honour the first farmer
Chi wara headdresses, carved by the Bamana people of Mali, show stylised antelopes. Worn in pairs by dancers…
Arts + Culture
Nkisi nkondi: the Kongo power figures pierced with nails to seal oaths
Nkisi nkondi are carved wooden figures from the Kongo peoples of Central Africa, studded with nails and blades.…
Arts + Culture
Nike Davies-Okundaye: the adire artist who built one of West Africa’s largest galleries
Nike Davies-Okundaye, born in 1951 in Ogidi, Kogi State, rose from a village childhood to become one of…
Arts + Culture
Wangechi Mutu: the Kenyan artist whose bronze women took over the Met’s facade
Wangechi Mutu, born in Nairobi in 1972, is one of the most celebrated contemporary African artists. Known for…