Songs of the day: New Music from Sauti Sol, Sho Madjozi, Nxwrth & more

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

We’ve watched the African music scene grow more expansive and accommodating of different new sounds with the introduction of artists like Tems, Naira Marley, Rema, Ama Rae and others. As a result, it’s hard to predict what the next biggest song out of the continent would sound like. The fast and furious pace of new music releases also makes it hard to keep track of it all so we’ve decided to sort through all the new songs from across all the platforms and subgenres around the continent and curate a “Songs of the Day” column to highlight the songs you NEED to hear. You’re welcome.

Sauti Sol – “Disco Matanga” [Yambakhana] feat. Sho Madjozi and Black Motion

Last Friday, Netflix dropped its first original African series, “Queen Sono”. To strengthen its identity, we got musically diverse, pan-African soundtrack to accompany the 6-episode. The project mainly comprising previously released cuts like Simi’s “Joromi”, DJ Maphorisa’s “Midnight Starring”, and oldies like “Orere-Elejigbo” by the Lijadu Sisters.

Sauti Sol’s “Disco Matanga” is the lead single and only newly released song on the playlist, featuring South African artists Sho Madjozi and Black Motion. Featuring swinging bass and whirring synths, “Disco Matanga” is cut from the bombastic cloth of South African House, and it captures the forward-moving and sometimes chaotic energy of “Queen Sono” through the boisterous vocal performances from the artists involved.

E Kelly & Boybreed – “No Secrets”

Boybreed closed out last year with, ‘Made In Tropics’, their 7-track debut EP chockfull of feel-good, afropop-dancehall hybrid tunes. Opening their account for the year, the sibling duo has linked up with veteran producer, E Kelly, for a joint single, “No Secrets”. Over the years, E Kelly has shown his compatibility and range with his extensive list of production credits from Mr Eazi to Yung L, and he continues his streak on “No Secrets”, playing to the strengths of his collaborators. Over light piano keys, xylophone riffs and mellow afropop drums, Boybreed demand straightforward dealings from their love interests, channelling their lack of trust through melancholic lyrics delivered with earworm melodies.

Big Dragon (Efya) – “Spinning” feat. Kiddblack

A few weeks ago, Efya introduced her alter ego, Big Dragon, and she’s been sharing new music ever since. “Spinning”, her latest single, mines her soulful sensibilities for a nostalgia-induced song. “I just wanna go away to the times when we were young”, she sings on the first verse, rueing the complications that come with growing up but ultimately accepting that it is what it is. Big Dragon is joined by Kiddblack on “Spinning”, and the Ghanaian rapper drops a stunning verse reminiscing on the frivolities of the past and highlighting the difficulties of the present. Their musings are anchored by earthy neo-soul production, comprising soft piano twinkles, bass guitar flourishes and jazzy drums.

ICTOOICY – “Lights” feat. Kiyo

Being a DIY artist suits ICTOOICY’s prolific recording and release cycle. Over the weekend, the self-proclaimed ‘poet with a flow’ dropped her latest project, ‘Sorry I Don’t Like Phone Calls’, a 7-track EP that continues her process of self-examination. Of the impressive set of songs, the Kiyo-assisted “Lights” is an instant standout, as it balances IC’s expressiveness with a perception of herself as a flawed, growing individual. “Fighting with what’s inside of me, fighting with the people that once loved me, but now they only lost at sea”, she dryly recites in the beginning, closing out with the declaration that she’s doing the best she can. Kiyo also matches IC’s self-lacerating direction over the murky, lo-fi trap beat, spitting a striking verse where he refers to himself as a lazy youth mainly because he’s “been feeling hella lost”.

Nxwrth – “Sundress” feat. $pacely, Darkovibes & Kiddblack

Following the release of $pacely’s debut project from last October, ‘Fine$$e or be Fine$$ed’, Nxwrth is the next La Meme Gang member to release his first solo project. ‘NASA: Thanks for Flying’ is the title of Nxwrth’s debut, and the 12-track project will be released on April 3rd. “Sundress”, the latest single off ‘Nasa’, is the latest indicator of the delightful genre-bending style that will be guiding Nxwrth’s coming project. Over a dancehall-meets-EDM beat, Nxwrth and his La Meme Gang colleagues, $pacely, Kiddblack and Darkovibes, admire the features of their love interests and express their undying affections, accenting their romantic lyrics with syrupy melodies.

Toye – “Ansa Me”

Over the course of growing catalogue, Atlanta-based, Nigerian singer-songwriter Toye has shown a knack for making bubbly, romance-themed songs. Toye’s latest single, “Ansa Me”, is probably his best effort yet, as he explores the breathy side of his voice for a song that is both sensual and club-ready. “Iwo ni mo ni (you are the one for me), if no be you tell me who e go be”, he sings, artfully embellishing his fuji-inspired melodies over a catchy mid-tempo beat.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Expresso Show

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Becca & Busiswa team up for “No One” & 6 other videos to watch this week

Posted on by The Native

This week’s curation of the best videos across popular culture is testament to African culture’s relevance around the globe. We kick off with the music video for Fatoumata Diawara’s feature on ‘Song Machine’, the new project from Gorillaz before moving to the video for Ms Banks’ and Naira Marley’s collaboration, “Anyway”. New videos from Peruzzi, Doja Cat, Phyno and Runtown also feature before we wrap things up with Science Insider’s video debunking some of the myths about the Coronavirus sweeping through the world.

Gorillaz – “Désolé” Feat. Fatoumata Diawara

Gorillaz have built cult-like following for pushing the envelope of conventional music, with their sonic and animated visual aesthetic striking a chord in the hearts of young people for most of our lives. Their new project, ‘Song machine’ is projected to feature an ever-evolving roster of collaborators as they continue their hybrid of hip-hop, electronica, and indie-rock with their new single, “Désolé”, featuring the Malian folk sound of Fatoumata Diawara.

Her powerful and emotive vocals blend seamlessly with Albarn’s typically laid back vocal stylings. The music video directed by Jamie Hewlett, Tim McCourt and Max Taylor features Fatoumata Diawara on a boat cruise with the Gorillaz band members animated by Venla Linna, Simone Crillo, Setareh Seto, Diego Porral.

Peruzzi – “Only One”

Peruzzi loves love, and you can tell because his discography is filled with songs inspired by romantic experiences. He just released the music video for “Only You”, where he serenades a love interest. Directed by Dammy Twitch, the video captures the song’s emotional narrative through scenes where Peruzzi video calls a love interest to perform his romantic lyrics for her.

Drake – “When To Stay When” & “Chicago Freestyle”

Drake’s latest surprise release, “When To Stay When & Chicago Freestyle”, came with a Theo Skudra-directed video. He raps over a sample Bobby Glenn’s “Sounds Like a Love Song”, which JAY-Z also sampled on “Song Cry”, bragging about his accomplishments while shouting out his mother, Sandy Graham and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner, Michael Rubin to make for a whole story. The highlight of the video was seeing Drake walk out to the balcony of his new house.

Phyno – “Gods Willing” Feat. Runtown

TG Omori strikes again with the engaging video for “Gods Willing”, the new collaboration from Phyno and Runtown. The song is one of the lightweight cuts from Phyno’s latest album, ‘Deal With It’ and it finds both singers crediting their success to God. TG Omori expands on the spiritual theme from the song through the church set he introduced in the video.

Doja Cat – “Say So”

Doja Cat has always had the attention of her fans since her hit single, “Mooo!”, and she seems to still have the attention of the entire world when she released her new video for “Say So”. Hannah Lux Davis (who also directed videos for Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj) directed the 80s themed video where a blond Doja dazzles in a shimmery dress while flirting with her male co-star. We see her walk into a disco ball with a tiger on a leash at one point, but it’s not even the most daring thing she did in the nearly 4-minute long video.

Naira Marley “Anywhere” Feat. Ms Banks

Naira Marley already started growing a fan base in the UK before he decided to build his rabid Marlian fandom here in Nigeria. He reconnected with his UK audience on “Anywhere”, a standout track from his 2019 EP, ‘Lord of Lamba (LOL)’. The song features a rap verse from Ms Banks who also makes an appearance in the video Visioniare Pictures directed in different neon light textures.

Becca – “No One” Feat. Busiswa and DWP Academy

Ghanaian singer, Becca just released a new single, “No One”, an empowering anthem for women. The song was released just in time for the women appreciating month of March and features a verse from South African singer, Busiswa. Dunnie produced the uptempo beat which guides the choreography seen in the video Director Abass and Becca directed.

Science Insider – “Pathologists Debunks 13 Coronavirus Myths”

We are living in an era where information is exchange quickly and made readily available thanks to the internet. Sadly, the fake news phenomena means the information isn’t always reliable as we’ve seen people create panic with misinformation they’ve shared on the Coronavirus epidemic. Science Insider released a short clip to debunk the sensationalised myths people have about the virus now known as COVID-19. The virus reportedly originated in Wuhan, China, and has spread to at least 26 other countries. The senior director of the NYC Health + Hospitals System-wide Special Pathogens Program, Syra Madad, and a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, Stephen Morse, debunked 13 of the most common myths about the coronavirus by explaining how packages from China won’t make you sick and that getting COVID-19 is not a death sentence. They also debunked the idea that it affects only older people — anyone can get the coronavirus.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Gorillaz
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Femme Africa will be returning with a fourth showcase this weekend

Posted on by Tami Makinde

Yesterday marked the first day of Women’s History Month, and it’s already off to a great start from Netflix’s release of its first African original with a female lead to this year’s theme, #EachforEqual taking up space on every social media platform.

On home turf, women making moves is no exception, and our faves over at Femme Africa are hosting their fourth showcase this weekend on International Women’s Day. Their last showcase drew, music lovers from all over the city, with all-you-can-eat pink candyfloss and entertaining performances from Lady Donli and Ezi Emela.

This year, Femme Africa is putting more women on the map with a fresh crop of artists including Efe Oraka, Deena Ade, Jazz Atta and Clay Rocks, set to take the stage this weekend. This year as well, continuing the tradition from their last showcase, they will be hosting another social media competition, to give one lucky female artist the chance to perform at their upcoming showcase.

In addition, Femme Africa will also also hosting a panel discussion ‘Spilling the Tea’ which will focus on the business of creativity as well as revenue generation and building a solid team.

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For International women’s day, we’ve repurposed CWAC to bring you Spilling the Tea! 🐸🍵We’re all often swayed by the jovial and fun side of creativity, while the real business of it isn’t often given much thought.On the 7th of March, we will be hosting a panel session, discussing the business of creativity, where we will explore the structure, revenue generation, building a team and other more important facets to running a creative business. @siainstyle @bellaadeleke @jolaayeye ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Click the link in our bio to register. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #Femmeafricaa #coffewithacreative #spillingthetea #Internationalwomensday

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Could The West African ‘Eco’ Provide a Lifeline for Nigeria’s Economy?

Posted on by The Native

Francophone countries in the West African region are set to adopt the new ‘Eco’ currency from the 1st of July this year. It’s a move many hope will mark a fresh start for the economic integration of West African states. However, Nigeria, the largest economy in the region does not seem to be in the same haste as her francophone counterparts. What would a unified west African currency mean for the African giant?

The ‘Eco’ is the proposed name for a unified currency in the 15 member countries of the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS), pegging its value with the Euro, similar to the CFA Franc currently used in 8 ECOWAS countries. The concept was first introduced in 2000, at the launch of the West African monetary zone, and was initially scheduled to roll out in 2003, but has been delayed due partly to the global economic recession, and the inability of the ECOWAS member states to meet originally agreed upon economic standards. 

With a GDP representing roughly ⅔ of the total GDP of the region, Nigeria’s support of the ‘Eco’ is vital for the new currency’s feasibility, however, the Nigerian government seems to be in favour of delaying the new currency migration, highlighting the fact that till now, no country besides Togo (confirm) has been able to meet the predetermined criteria set by the West African Monetary Institute.

The institute set out 4 primary criteria (all of which must be met), and 6 secondary conditions (2 of which must be met), before the unified currency may be set in the sub-region. The primary conditions include:

  • A single-digit inflation rate at the end of each year
  • The value of the ‘ECO’ is expected to be pegged to the Euro, with A fiscal deficit of no more than 4% of the GDP
  • A central bank deficit-financing of no more than 10% of the previous year’s tax revenues
  • Gross external reserves that can give import cover for a minimum of three months.

The inability of countries to consistently meet these criteria has resulted in the stalled implementation of the currency for the past 2 decades.  The new currency’s value tie to the Euro also raises questions about the true independence of the currency, as this pegging leads the West African market to be vulnerable to economic changes in Europe, and also limits the ability of the West African monetary institute to regulate interest rates and other macroeconomic policy.

In light of this, France has pledged to support the currency, by providing reserves to sure up it’s value in the case of a speculative attack. This would be similar in principle to the former colonial superpower’s backing of the CFA Franc, the price of which being the remittance of 50% of a country’s reserve, a price francophone are all too happy to no longer be paying.

The introduction of the ‘Eco’ would limit an individual country’s ability to unilaterally alter policy as it suits its economy. Central banks would serve as regional headquarters and all decisions and alterations must be agreed upon by member states and must take into account the varying factors that affect economies across west Africa. This may be one reason behind Nigeria’s reluctance to embrace the currency, as the government presently regulates the value of the Naira.

 

At the same time, Eco could spell relief for Nigeria’s economy as the stability and ubiquity of the single denomination would spur economic trade and could facilitate growth. Experts predict that due to Nigeria’s size, it would stand to benefit the most from the currency move.

An IMF working paper, released in 2010 argues that whatever positive gain is projected by unifying the monetary system in West Africa, could also be achieved by instilling better economic principles by countries in the region, and strengthening existing economic institutions, explaining that despite sound economic infrastructure, the Euro for example, is not without it’s problems.

Observing the Eurozone is instructive, and public scrutiny in this issue is needed. Even in the Eurozone, where institutions and infrastructure is well developed, economic unions have exposed underlying social stigma in the wake of Brexit, raised questions around free immigration and caused economic shocks to economies.

While it would appear that the move might be easier for francophone countries which have enjoyed relative monetary hegemony for decades, a protectionist and paranoid economy like Nigeria might stand to benefit from prolonged examination and analysis of the prospect of a single currency.

Featured Image Credits: Web/ Getty Images
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30 new artists join Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa Program

Posted on by The Native

Mr Eazi has grown into a megastar since he quit Phone Trader, a tech start-up in Computer Village in Lagos to pursue a career as an artist. While much of the “Skintight” singer’s success has been credited to his strategic business moves, there’s no denying that he’s a force to reckon with in the music industry as he has enjoyed global success without being backed by any major label.

In 2018, he launched the emPawa Africa program, a charity and investment program to equip Africa’s most promising music talents with tools, network and money so they can become independent music entrepreneurs. YouTube Music also partnered with emPawa Africa to provide support for the artists as they provided funds to the selected #emPawa100 artists and helped push them to fame.

Joeboy is the current poster face of emPawa following his successful run after enjoying the initiative. His debut single, “Baby”, got over 18 million streams in the first 9 months while the other artists like Lady Donli, Ghanaian singer, J.Derobiefrom from the inaugural #emPawa100 campaign have also grown more renown since.

Mr Eazi has announced the selected artists for the second phase of the emPawa Africa program and talent Incubator. Last year, interested artists were instructed to submit entry videos for consideration and the selected 30 (#emPawa30) will receive a $10,000 non-repayable grant for filming their first official music video and pay for marketing services and other services to launch their music recording career. Mentors include Major Lazers’ Diplo, Dj Maphorisa, Jae5, Fred Gibson, Shekhinah, Harmonize, E Kelly, Guiltybeatz, Killertunes, DJ Neptune and Mr Eazi will be assigned to each artist for the 7-month duration of the incubator program.

The support system and emPawa Africa’s distribution platform will give more Africa artists a chance to reach a global audience and compete in global territories where the streaming landscape is more favourable. emPawa only charges a 1% distribution cost rather than the $6 flat rate. But beyond low-cost international distribution, emPawa is also invested in finding ways to reduce the bandwidth costs that impede legal streaming. Streaming numbers in America has already shown that people prefer to consume music legally if it’s readily available. If the same is true for Africa, with over a billion people living here, we might see a rapid shift in the global music landscape similar to that of Latin music.

The collaboration between emPawa and Vydia, a company which handles “digital infrastructure for audio and video distribution, content protection, rights management, advanced payments, and data tracking” also means artists will be provided back-end data about listener habits to help with single promotions and curating performance sets and deciding the best places to tour.

See all the artists on the emPawa30 campaign below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/empawaafrica
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Netflix’s first African original series, “Queen Sono”, is now streaming

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Netflix’s keen interest in the African market has seen the video streaming giant acquire a slew of previously released African films and TV shows over the last year. Netflix has also released original acquisitions, including Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut, “Lionheart”, and Mati Diop’s award-winning film, “Atlantics”. Its latest African release is Kagiso Lediga’s “Queen Sono”, the first original African series commissioned and exclusively released by Netflix.

The trailer for “Queen Sono” was released last month, and it hinted at an action-packed show. The first season of the series, which stars South African actress Pearl Thusi as its lead, is now available for streaming, only on Netflix. The season comprises six episodes, ranging between 31minutes and 47minutes per episode. Although “Queen Sono” is a South African endeavour, it boast a pan-African tilt with scenes shot in several countries including Kenya, Nigeria and Zanzibar.

You can stream “Queen Sono” with this link. Also, watch the trailer below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Netflix

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Songs of the day: New music from Burna Boy, Niniola, Nadai Nakai & more

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

We’ve watched the African music scene grow more expansive and accommodating of different new sounds with the introduction of artists like Tems, Naira Marley, Rema, Ama Rae and others. As a result, it’s hard to predict what the next biggest song out of the continent would sound like. The fast and furious pace of new music releases also makes it hard to keep track of it all so we’ve decided to sort through all the new songs from across all the platforms and subgenres around the continent and curate a “Songs of the Day” column to highlight the song you need to hear. You’re welcome.

Burna Boy – “Odogwu”

Like we predicted at the beginning of last year, Burna Boy went on a second successive MVP run, one that was even more dominant than his stunning 2018 campaign. Not looking to relinquish the crown anytime soon, the afro-fusionist is back with new music, and as is customary, it slaps. “Odogwu”, the follow-up to the glossy “Money Play”, finds Burna at his assertive best. Running his smooth baritone across Kel P’s laidback and colourful Igbo Folk groove, Burna emphasizes his status as a pioneer and one of Africa’s biggest musical exports, with pointed, sweetly sung lines like “say na who dey draw the map o?/you are looking at the champion”. With “Odogwu”, Burna lays down the gauntlet for another potentially stellar year.

Becca – “No One” feat. Busiswa

“No One”, the new single from Ghanaian singer Becca, is a pan-African dream. She features South African House diva Busiswa, and the bombastic beat is produced by Nigerian producer/singer Dunnie. The three women collaborate for an intoxicating, club-ready banger that pays homage to the beauty of African women. While she does a lot of her best work in mid-tempo settings, Becca rises to the occasion with her booming vocals, giving an imposing personality to her sassy lyrics. Busiswa also puts her best foot forward, adding a playful energy with her short but effective cameo.

Joojo Addison – “Ba Jo” feat. Amaarae

Since getting selected as one of the hundred artists in the first round of emPawa music video funding, Joojo Addison has been proving himself as one of the future stars of afropop. “Ba Jo”, the Ghanaian artist’s latest single, is another slice of Joojo’s colourful, highlife indebted style of music. Taking a break from the personal tilt of his previous releases, “Ba Jo” is an infectious call to party, buoyed vintage piano keys, horn blasts, knotty guitar riffs and bouncy percussion. Contrasting Joojo’s raspy vocals, Ghanaian singer Amaarae adds her goddess-level magic to “Ba Jo”, contributing a stunning, sexually charged verse that interpolates “Barbie Girl”, the classic Eurodance banger by the Danish-Norwegian band Aqua.

Niniola – “Fantasy” feat. Femi Kuti

On paper, a Niniola and Femi Kuti collaboration, produced by Kel P, is a mouth-watering prospect. Thankfully, the resulting song, “Fantasy”, lives up to its billing. Weaving a tale about a long distance lover who’s coming into town for a short while, “Fantasy” continues Niniola’s knack for sensual narratives. While it’s not as steamy as some of her best work, her lyrics depict a desperate anticipation for a sorely wanted person, which is in itself sex-positive and relatable. Femi Kuti brightens “Fanatasy” with his horn scats, piercing through Kel P’s soft piano chords, winking guitar riffs and bombastic drums.

Tonero – “Hennessy” feat. Tomi

Since releasing his impressive debut project, 2016’s ‘Ajna’, Tonero has been growing a niche but dedicated fanbase with occasional singles and features. Continuing his slow and steady build, the singer has opened his account for the year with “Hennessy”, a romance-themed cut set to a slinky dembow groove. “Hey hey hey, for me, nobody fit come close”, Tonero sings on the hook, letting his affection flow through his impassioned delivery. Abuja-based rapper Tomi features on “Hennessy”, and he drops a striking verse packed with mushy imagery.

Nadia Nakai – “40 Bars” feat. Emtee & DJ Capital

With her well-received 2019 debut LP, ‘Nadia Naked’, Nadia Nakai cemented herself as one of the foremost female rappers on the continent. On her stomping new single, “40 Bars”, the South African rapper sneers at the competition and reiterates her focus on cashing out and living her best life. “Look at the records we broke, all the shows and the tours, we gotta be up”, she assertively quips over whirring piano synths and reverbed 808 bass. Nadia is joined by the self-proclaimed African trapper, Emtee, and he follows her lead with his own unapologetic, confident verse.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/n=burnaboygram, officialniniola

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Rap song of the week: 1641 deliver infectious swag rap on “Designer”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

1641 is a South African rap group that only wears designer threads. Comprising Life of Niks and Mosa the Misfit, the duo kick-started 1641 in 2017 as a side project for their clothing brand, EARTH. After releasing their very first single, “Fabric”, and seeing its positive reception, Niks and Mosa began to take 1641 as more serious project, but to their credit they’ve yet to tamper with the fun-exuding, low stakes energy that pulled them into making music and attracted their first set of fans.

For their wildly catchy sophomore single, “Designer”, the pair fully embrace looseness as the underlying charm of 1641. “All of my shit designer”, they incessantly chant on the song’s hook, drilling their high fashion taste into listeners’ ears as means of intimidation and enthralment. Prioritising attitude and simplicity, their verses are succinct and self-involved in the best way possible, spawning deadpan quotables like, “please don’t touch my fabric/rocking custom EARTH, I’m lavish”.

With just two songs in their discography so far, it’s currently difficult to project where Niks and Mosa take their music to, thematically and sonically, but “Designer” is an early career-defining cut. It distils their passion as fashion auteurs into a thumping Swag Rap anthem, the type that causes speakers to quiver and compels upper bodies to shimmy.

Watch the video for Designer here.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/1641 Music

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2Baba drops new album, ‘Warriors’; shares video for Burna Boy-assisted “We Must Groove”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

2Baba’s has just released his seventh solo studio album, ‘Warriors’. The afropop veteran announced the LP last weekend, unveiling its star-studded tracklist. ‘Warriors’ is now available for listening in its entirety, and it includes tracks with Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage and Olamide. He’s also shared the music video for “We Must Groove”, the celebratory cut with Burna Boy. The Patrick Ellis-directed shows 2Baba and Burna singing their lyrics with a carefree attitude, as well as extras who highlight the song’s feel-good direction.

You can stream ‘Warriors’ and watch the video for “We Must Groove” below.

Featured image Credits: YouTube/Official2Baba

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1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair launches new residency programme with Lakin Ogunbanwo

Posted on by The Native

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair launched a new residency programme during the 3rd edition of their art fair at the La Mamounia hotel in Morocco. Lakin Ogunbanwo was announced as the first Nigerian artist to be awarded the residency programme in collaboration with the Thami Mnyele Foundation in Amsterdam.

He was given the residency as a response to a rise in residencies seeking out African artists in recent years. The founding director of 1-54, Touria El Glaoui, explained that “They wanted more African artists to take part in their programmes but they didn’t know how to go about it as they didn’t have access to artists from the continent.” She added that as African artists are becoming more visible, it has also become more apparent that certain residency programmes had no artists from the continent.

The emphasis of the Thami Mnyele Foundation’s residencies is on slow research and cultural exchange between Dutch artists and those from Africa and the diaspora. It started 30 years ago in memory of the  foundation which was founded 30 years ago in December 1990 in memory of Thami Mnyele, the South African artist and freedom fighter.

Lakin’s 3-month residency will be in Amsterdam as he joins the ranks of artists like Zanele Muholi and Haroon Gunn-Salie who have also benefited from the fully-funded residency that covers artists’ transportation, accommodation, living costs and museum passes. In May, Lakin Ogunbanwo will exhibit at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in New York with Whatiftheworld gallery from Cape Town (which has so far sold six editions of his “E wa wo mi” series).

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/lakinogunbanwo
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AV Club: “Hakkunde” is a timely and sometimes engaging look at being an unemployed Nigerian youth

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

(“Hakkunde” is a 2017 Nigerian film. It recently started streaming on Netflix)

A common feeling amongst many young Nigerians is the fear of unemployment after completing a degree. The ideal thing is to find an engaging, well-paying job after the compulsory youth service year, but it doesn’t always go that way. Per the most recent report on unemployment by the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of unemployed youths in the country soared from 5.0million in the third quarter of 2015 to 13.2million in the third quarter of 2018, reflecting the difficult landscape the average Nigerian youth has to navigate in order to be gainfully employed or make an honest living.

Akande, the protagonist and pseudo-title character of Asurf Oluseyi’s debut feature film, “Hakkunde”, starts off as a perfect representation of what long term unemployment looks like. A graduate of animal husbandry, Akande has been looking for a job for five years, and his fruitless search strains his relationships with those close to him, and that in turn adds fuel to his desperation.

At the beginning of the film, Akande—impressively played by Kunle Idowu, popularly known as Frank Donga—holds up a placard at a bus stop, hoping to catch the eye of anyone with the capacity to help his situation. Instead, all he draws in is someone who’s looking to scam him of money he doesn’t have and a debt he couldn’t immediately pay. At the end of another trying day, he goes home to meet a sister—Toyin Abraham’s Yewande—who barely shows any empathy and deems his attention-seeking tactic as an embarrassment to her. His longtime girlfriend, who has been gainfully employed for a while, breaks up with him over lunch because he can’t afford to pay his bills.

These situations play into tropes associated with being unemployed in Nigeria: your external society doesn’t have much to offer; those close to you treat you like a failure and can’t offer solace from the cold world; and on top of that, there’s self-imposed pressure to be be useful to yourself and your loved ones. “Hakkunde” excellently depicts these negative effects with a real yet empathetic lens, even expanding the scope to accommodate the importance of community, using northern Nigeria as the point of contact.

In search of better luck, Akande travels to Kaduna with Ibrahim (Ibrahim Nuhu), a commercial bike rider who tells him of a government scheme offering loans to livestock farmers in his state. Few days later, they learn that the scheme has been cancelled, but Akande ends up staying longer than anticipated, building a life as a teacher and agricultural entrepreneur in a rural place. The defining factor in this upturn is the change of place; a place where people don’t want for much—the scene where drinking milk and maltina is classified as ultimate enjoyment is cute. Also, in this new environment, Akande forges warm relationships with Ibrahim’s family and Aisha (Rahama Sadau), a widow wrongfully accused of killing her two husbands with witchcraft.

Using his enthusiasm and cultural naivety to full effect, “Hakkunde” also does a great job of integrating Akande into a community with its own customs, but it occasionally stumbles when trying to understand and critique those norms. For example, Akande teasing Aisha about her dead husbands on their second time meeting is beyond ignorant, and his harsh condemnation of her codeine abuse lacks any empathy.

The same heavy-handed approach on seeps into the film’s overly sentimental ending. Looking to close on an uplifting note, “Hakkunde”‘s penultimate scene shows an accomplished and successful Akande addressing a room full of people. However, instead of his talk coming across as inspirational, Akande comes across as a hacky motivational speaker who’d rather speak in unoriginal aphorisms rather than through relatable life lessons.

Even though the ending isn’t particularly stellar, “Hakkunde” thrives on the right proportion of drama and comedy. There’s some really good bits of conversation and on-screen chemistry—Kunle Idowu and Toyin Abraham are delight in the love-hate sibling relationship—and the cinematography deserves all the accolades. The film was released in 2017, but it is still timely, enjoyable and sometimes engaging piece of work.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/AsurfTV

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Best New Music: Yinka Bernie and Joyce Olong’s reassuring “It’s Okay to Cry” is a song we can all relate to

Posted on by The Native

After stealing our hearts and minds in 2018, Yinka Bernie ghosted us last year. Fans and critics were close to printing out Missing Person fliers when the singer finally returned from his hiatus and announced a new single, “Water”, which is still yet to be released. However, he’s hit the ground running this year as he debuts his new single, “It’s Okay to Cry”, featuring Joyce Olong.

Yinka Bernie explained the personal inspiration behind “It’s Okay to Cry” while premiering the song on The PGM Radio Show with Douglas Jekan. He expressed that he had gone through some trying times that made him question his music career. Fuelled by the experience, he encouraged listeners with the reassuring message of hope heard in his lyrics; “It’s okay to cry/ It’s okay to feel lost inside”. The calming Francis Starlite-esq. piano chords provide the perfect bed for Bernie’s signature baritone, with Joyce Olong proving the ideal sound board, as they trade bars on the struggles of getting through the dark days. The rather naked mix of the song seems deliberate from Bernie, as he’s letting us into his most personal feelings, backed up by Olong for support.

Whilst Bernie hasn’t fully divulged details on what led to his radio silence last year – and nor does he have to – it is clear, he wasn’t okay. It’s hard enough to punch in and out of work when you’re not 100%, but if your work involves opening up yourself to thousands of people with every word you sing or speak, it’s easy to understand why he decided he needed some time to himself. And that’s okay. With seemingly unlimited access to our favourite artists at our fingertips, it’s important to remember they’re human, too.

“It’s Okay To Cry” isn’t a forced attempt at a socially-conscious record, but rather a real take on an experience all too familiar to young people today: the feeling of being trapped. As Bernie and Olong instruct us to “Breathe in/Breathe out…Open the window/Let the Air out,” the track plays out to the sound of chirping birds. You can almost envision the rays of sunlight cracking into a room which has been dark for far too long.

A new day.

Stream “It’s Okay To Cry” by Yinka Bernie and Joyce Olong below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/yinkabernie
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Songs of the Day: New music from Reminisce, Efe Oraka, King Promise and others

Posted on by The Native

We’ve watched the African music scene grow more expansive and accommodating of different new sounds with the introduction of artists like Tems, Naira Marley, Rema, Ama Rae and others. As a result, it’s hard to predict what the next biggest song out of the continent would sound like. The fast and furious pace of new music releases also makes it hard to keep track of it all so we’ve decided to sort through all the new songs from across all the platforms and subgenres around the continent and curate a “Songs of the Day” column to highlight the song you need to hear. You’re welcome.

Reminisce – “Prosperity” Feat. Falz

Reminisce and Falz have teamed up once more, following their collaboration on “Clap”, a song off Falz’s sophomore album, ‘Stories that Touch’. Their new single, “Prosperity” finds them sharing their thoughts on the meaning of wealth, over Krizbeatz’s flute riff and bouncy afropop drums. Reminisce raps about coming up in the streets and now flying out to go watch football matches, while Falz brags about sold-out shows all over the world and his dreams of bagging an Oscar and a Grammy. Interestingly, both rappers ditched their law degrees to pursue careers in rap, and “Prosperity” finds them toasting to the life they’ve each led up to this point.

Rema – “Rainbow”

Rema’s range is his biggest asset. Last week, he dropped two new, stylistically divergent singles, and both songs are heavy slaps. While the afropop-leaning single, “Beamer (Bad Boys)”, is already getting massive spins on radio and in clubs, “Rainbow” also deserves ample attention. Deevee—the producer behind “Why”—produces the colourful, booming beat for “Rainbow”, and it compliments Rema’s catchy set serenading his love interest. “Rainbow in your eyes when you just smile/ No no I never wanna see you cry”, he sings, with his delivery bouncing between elastic and yodelling melodies.

Efe Oraka – “Zion” feat. M.I Abaga

Efe Oraka garnered her a strong following after several videos of her covering hit songs went viral. Back in 2017, the singer released “Wonderland” with the promise of a debut EP, tentatively titled ‘Magic’, soon after. While that EP has yet to materialise, Efe is still actively making music, as evidenced by her stunning new single, “Zion”. Continuing with her knack for telling relatable, romantic stories over lush instrumentals, “Zion” finds the singer confronting a noncommittal lover, as she charges her honeyed voice with caustic takedowns like, “your ego’s too big and your head’s too small”. M.I Abaga features on “Zion”, playing the role of the prideful but remorseful boyfriend with his closing verse, where he delivers his emotive lines with a stoic cadence.

King Promise – “Sisa”

Last July, King Promise finally dropped his highly anticipated debut album, ‘As Promised’. The Ghanaian singer has stayed busy since then, with music videos for select singles and consistent feature appearances. His latest release, “Sisa”, is his first solo non-album single, and it continues to shore up his image as one of the prime purveyors of romance-inclined afropop. Backed by Guiltybeatz’ bouncy, mid-tempo beat, he sings about a lover he once deemed to be good girl. “You were the sweetest girl, now you move dangerous”, he laments on the bridge, wondering where it all went wrong.

Dice Ailes – “Pim Pim” feat. Olamide

Although he scored a hit with “Alakori”, his collaborative single with Falz, Dice Ailes was relatively quiet for much of 2019, closing out the year with the solo single, “Ginika”. Looking to establish himself this year, the Chocolate City singer has just dropped “Pim Pim”, a catchy and sensual cut produced by Crackermallo. Confessing his amorous affections, Dice pleads with his love interest to never leave or betray him, using onomatopoeic sounds to embellish his lustful lyrics. Olamide features on “Pim Pim”, delivering a mellow, remarkable rap verse with impressive turns of phrase and a few quotable lines.

Ajebutter22 – “Ginger” feat. Mayorkun

Ajebutter22 has spent the past few weeks teasing new music and the possibility of a new album sometime this year. Since his last studio album, 2017’s ‘What Happens In Lagos’, Butter has only dropped one solo single—“Lagos Love”—but it looks like he’ll be delivering more of those in the nearest future. His debut release for this year is “Ginger”, a catchy, Mayorkun-assisted single tailor-made for dancefloor audiences. Over Spax’s up-tempo beat and in between Mayorkun’s striking hook, Ajebutter22 admires his lover and declares the lengths he would go to in order to prove his love and protect his woman.

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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter

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Yung L is living the Zimm life in his video for ‘Juice and Zimm’

Posted on by The Native

Yung L opened the year with an impressive ‘Juice and Zimm’ EP. The project saw him expand his Pan-African reach with features from Nigerian singer Tay Iwar, Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie and Tanzanian singer Vanessa Mdee. His distinctly Caribbean brand of Afropop is expected to remain in our ears through the coming months as he just shared a 6-minute long ‘Full Video’ for all 7 tracks from ‘Juice and Zimm’. The video was directed by The Alien and shows Yung L serenading his love interest while they bask in the serene ambience of the beach.

Watch the video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Yung L
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ICYMI: Stream all the songs from Yung L’s ‘Juice and Zimm’ EP here

The effects of climate change and Lagos’ current heatwave

Posted on by The Native

Just a couple weeks ago, Nigerians joined the rest of the world in sharing their condolence with Australia after wildfires ravaged the region and took hundreds of lives. As the havoc of climate change becomes more pressing, Nigeria is also starting to feel the sting, with Lagos currently experiencing one of her most intense heatwaves in recent history.

This month, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) showed temperature forecasts readings as high as 42°C when the recorded average between 2005 and 2015 was 29°C. There has never been a better time to be invested in the sunscreen business in Lagos. Walking under the sun is a frequently performed chore following the recent changes in the metropolis’s transportation laws. The adjustment period is especially uncomfortable with the health hazards of being exposed to the heat.

Once our bodies’ physiological capacity to cope with increased heat stress is exceeded, we stand at risk of sunburn, functional failure and worst of all, death. If the body temperature rises above 38°C, physical and cognitive functions are impaired; above 40.6°C, risks of organ damage, loss of consciousness, and death increase sharply. At high temperatures, displacement of blood to the surface of the body may lead to circulatory collapse.

Tomorrow’s forecast promises light showers, but the heatwave is still expected to peak at 37 °C. We have to start figuring out ways to slow down the effects of climate change before it starts to take lives. Reducing carbon emission and impose bans on tree-cutting would be a good place to start. We don’t have to wait till we’re experiencing a drought to start developing recycling culture, investing in renewable energy and taking better care of the environment.

With 350 million more people projected to be living in Lagos by 2050, the temperature rise will be unbearable. According to department spokesperson for Environment Ministry’s Department of Climate Change, Onotu Bright Abavo, the government has plans to engage Nigerians with an awareness campaign to be rolled out in three stages across the country. But solutions like that take time, and for now, Lagos residents have to come up with their own heat hacks. Sadly, the most common fix, air conditioning powered by generator sets encourages more emissions. The best bet is to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and keep strenuous activities to a minimum.

Featured Image Credits: Web/ Maria Kassabian
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Zoro reps his roots in the video for his catchy single, “Kulture”

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Even without a solo album to his name, Zoro has established himself as one of the leading ambassadors of indigenous rap music from the Eastern parts of Nigeria. Continuing his focus on releasing singles, the rapper dropped his first single of the year, “Kulture”, a catchy, Igbo folk-inspired bop, co-produced by Tspize and Major Bangz. Over the fast-paced percussions and heaving guitar licks, Zoro brags about his current acclaim and he reiterates his dedication to making money and representing his culture. “Kulture” now has a new, TG Omori-directed video, in which he continues to represent his roots with pride.

Watch “Kulture” here.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Zoro Music

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The Shuffle: Remembering “Shake Hands” by the legendary soul singer, Geraldo Pino

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

In 1967, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti moved to Ghana in search of work for himself and his highlife-jazz band, Koola Lobitos. During this job hunt, Fela visited a club in Accra where the late Sierra Leonean-Nigerian singer, Geraldo Pino played with his band, the Heartbeats. In “Fela: This Bitch of a Life”, the 1982 autobiography authored by Carlos Moore, the Afrobeat pioneer explained the profound effect of seeing that show, saying, “After seeing this Pino, I knew I had to get my shit together. And Quick!”

That Fela statement illustrates how much command Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats had over the West African music scene. In the early ’60s, highlife was the premier genre of music, and even though it was associated with sophistication, the recording practices and performance gears of most bands at the time were antiquated. Performing with cutting edge instruments, imported amplifiers and a six microphone public address system, Geraldo and his band were light years ahead of their peers in terms of sonic aesthetics. This superiority also embellished their status as one of the pioneering soul music bands on the continent.

Starting off in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats were initially a rock n roll band, but by the mid ’60s they tapped into the craze of the American soul/funk music sweeping the world, via the work of superstars like James Brown and Ray Charles. With superior gear and a fresh take on an internationally acclaimed sound, the band became a west African sensation, following their concurrent relocation to Accra, Ghana. According to the Heartbeats drummer, Francis Fuster, the move to Accra helped their appeal in multiple countries, since they were located in the centre of these places.

“Shake Hands”, their first smash hit, played directly into this larger regional appeal and as they also urged their African listeners to embrace one another. “Let bygones be bygones, let’s start again/call me brother!”, Geraldo Pino bellowed over propulsive guitar licks, shrill piano chords and rolling percussion. It was released during the post-colonial era and as a result, carried the high level optimism and sense of national togetherness that was common to West African countries at the time.

“Shake Hands” kicked off a dominant run for Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats, a period during which they toured multiple countries and scored more hit records. By the late ’60s, Geraldo relocated to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and in the early ’70s, the original lineup of the Heartbeats departed. By this time, though, Geraldo Pino’s impact on African music was already outsize: he had memorable moments like sharing a stage with James Brown, and his band effectively raised the bar for music in west Africa.

Listen to “Shake Hands” here.

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Essentials: Bryan The Mensah reiterates his goals on ‘I Don’t Feel Like Going Outside’

Posted on by Dennis Ade Peter

Across his well-received 2017 debut EP, ‘Friends with the Sun’, Bryan The Mensah spun tales and quips about dealing with haters and fake friends, as well his desire to become one of the biggest stars of his generation. After a solid sophomore EP, ‘W I L D F I R E’, and a slew of loose singles, Bryan is still working his way around niche circles. But with his latest, the 4-track EP ‘I Don’t Feel Like Going Outside’, the rapper/producer is clearly undeterred by his slow—but steady—progress.

At its most compelling, Bryan The Mensah’s music reflects youthful exuberance and burning ambition in equal measure. ‘IDFLGO’ finds the Ghanaian artist a bit more aggressive and clearer about his financial goals. On the aptly titled opener, “Forbes List”, Bryan raps about being on his grind since 2012, but instead of sounding exasperated he comes across as hopeful, with an understanding that “it ain’t overnight”. His optimistic tone is reinforced and made more endearing by the appearance of Ghanaian rapper Kiddfresh, whose interludes serve as vocal support to reassure Bryan that he’s on the right path.

Usually, when artists make music about their motivation to make more money, it’s in service of trying to live an extravagant lifestyle. For Bryan, though, it seems like all the years of grinding has tempered the lust for excesses. “So what’s it gon be?/go and hang with the boys and have the time of my life/or go and make a boring ass decision that’ll probably gon triple my price”, he ponders in the final seconds of “Build My Home”. While Bryan’s wizened outlook makes sense for him, the real victory is that he doesn’t come across as puritanical since he’s not projecting his decisions on others.

From a purely musical standpoint, ‘IDFLGO’ also succeeds because of Bryan’s narrow focus on communicating his ambitions. His songwriting, which has always been impressive, is much sharper: the hooks are bold and often memorable, and his raps convey a sense of urgency both in writing and delivery. The beats—all self-produced, with the exception of “Dimirika”—continues his preference for maximalist soundscapes, but instead of dense arrangements, ‘IDFLGO’ employs thumping 808 drum patterns and mood-setting piano loops.

With just a single proper feature from the ever-impressive Tulenkey on “Deposits”, Bryan The Mensah hones in on his strengths as a rapper, songwriter and producer within the 4-track duration of the tape. The remarkable results showcases why familiar fans should continue believing in his crusade and why everyone else should be paying attention.

Stream “I Don’t Feel Like Going Outside” here.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/bryanthemensah

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Dennis is not an interesting person. Tweet Your Favourite Playboi Carti Songs at him @dennisadepeter

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Watch Zlatan celebrate his stardom in new video for “Life”

Posted on by The Native

Zlatan is conquering the world despite rapping in his indigenous Yoruba language. Last year, he featured on GTA 5 online playlist among other international playlists and his latest release, the music video for “Life”, finds him celebrating his stardom in the icy mountains of Lebanon.

“Life” is one of the standout tracks from Zlatan’s ‘Zanku’ album debut from last year. The video shows him narrating his inspiring come-up story while presumably on vacation with his friends.

Watch the video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/ZlatanIbileVEVO
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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

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Watch French singer, Dadju and Burna Boy’s video for “Donne-moi L’accord”

Posted on by The Native

Dadju is a big fan of Nigerian music. His latest album, ‘Poison Ou Antidote’, features Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy on three different songs and he continues to show his appreciation for the sound with the newly released music video for “Donne-moi L’accord” featuring Burna Boy.

The video was directed by Bleu Nuit who captures the singers dancing to the Kel P produced tune while standing next to a vintage car. The neon lighting, fabrics set designs, stylish costumes and the sexy dancer who features in some of the cuts gives the music video for “Donne-moi L’accord” a fashion show look. Shouldn’t be much longer before music of African origin becomes a regular feature in France and at the big stage for Paris Fashion Week.

Watch the music video for Dadju and Burna Boy’s “Donne-moi L’accord” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DADJU
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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Stream all the songs from Dadju’s ‘Poison Ou Antidote’ album here

Offei and Patoranking tribute legendary Ghanaian group on new single, “Fi Ma No”

Posted on by The Native

Ghanaian singer, Offei just put out a new single, “Fi Ma No”, a refix of legendary Ghanaian music group, Blackstone’s popular “Befi Mano”. Assisted by the freshly produced beat by CTEA, Offei gave the classic love song a new spin and featured a guest verse from Patoranking who also contributed a verse in Twi. Veteran artist, Kawastone of Blackstone also performed his memorable verse and featured in the music video David Nicole-Say directed.

Watch the music video for Offei, Patoranking and Kawastone’s “Fi Ma No” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Dwood Productions
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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

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