Rema Wants a Seat at the ‘Big Three’ Table—Has He Earned It?
With sonic versatility and global reach, Rema is rewriting the rules of Afrobeats. But does that earn him a place alongside Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid? Read More...
Zainab Kuku
The Ingenuity of Ayra Starr’s Afropop
On The Year I Turned 21, Ayra Starr proves to be a limitless star—undefined and unconstrained by musical boundaries or rules. Read More...
From Moral Panic to Water and Garri Tiwa Savage within a Globalized Afrobeats Climate
Against the backdrop of a misogynistic society, Tiwa Savage’s long-term success—as a woman who creates Nigerian popular music—is an anomaly, and such success has not been without backlash. Read More...
The Arrival of Burna Boy Remembering L.I.F.E Ten Years Later
Exactly ten years ago, Burna Boy released his debut album. L.I.F.E was a bold and unsafe debut; has it lived up to its promise? Read More...
Performative or Genuine? Unpacking the Motivations Behind Pan-African Collaborations in Afrobeats
In addition to the rise in collaboration between Afrobeats artists and western musicians, there has been increased ‘Pan-African’ collaborations with older, more traditional African artists. Are these collaborations motivated by pursuit of international accolades or genuine creative expression? Read More...
Sampling and the ‘New Fela’ Complex Is the Ethical Preservation of Black Music Possible?
The ethical preservation of Black music is an attempt at remembering our varied musical histories and treating such histories with respect. By sampling indigenous music and celebrating the impact of Black legacy acts, many artists are currently demonstrating the importance of preserving, understanding or displaying an interest in the musical contexts which inform their work. Read More...
A Myopic Perception of Non-Western Music The ‘Global Music’ Category at the Grammy Awards
The Recording Academy needs to review and redirect how they categorize non-Western musical practices and cultures. To start, more award categories could be introduced to reflect the diverse range of Black music across the world. Read More...
‘I Write to Gain a Better Understanding of Who I Am’ Zainab Kuku’s First Draft
Nigerian writer, Zainab Kuku, believes any Afrobeats musician that is currently highly-rated is deservedly so. Read More...
Collaborative and Experimental The Evolution of Afrobeats and Its Current Landscape
Afrobeats has evolved commercially, sonically and collaboratively over the years. We need to strike a balance between commending Afrobeats for its global success and protecting the genre, so its authenticity is not diluted for global markets. Read More...
