Africa: Youssou N'dour Lights the World in 2025

Youssou N'Dour is as grand a figure as African music has yet produced. Twenty-five years ago, Folk Roots magazine named him "Artist of the Century," but this was hardly a… Read more »

Africa: Afropop Top Videos, April 2025, Voices of Protest

March was a good month for Afropop videos. We have 12 new ones, starting with three that fearlessly call out the sorry state humans have brought the world to in 2025. Protest is in… Read more »

Sudan: Alsarah & the Nubatones Forge a Tough Road From Sudan to America

Alsarah and the Nubatones are back after a five-year pause with their third album, Seasons of the Road, and it's a knockout. Alsarah (born Sarah Mohamed Abunama-Elgad in Khartoum,… Read more »

Africa: Field Report - Babel Music Expo 2025

Marseille is the oldest city in France, founded in 600 BC, and is today the third largest city in the country. Situated on the south coast along the Mediterranean Sea, this port… Read more »

Madagascar: Women of Malagasy Music - Their Side of the Story

It's Friday, March 8, 2024, International Women's Day and a memorable evening for two men in Madagascar. My colleague Morgan Greenstreet and I are sweating in front of the stage of… Read more »

Africa: Jupiter & Okwess, Everything Must Go

Jupiter Bokondji and his group Okwess have been shaking up our notions about Congolese music since their debut album Hotel Univers dropped in 2013. The band actually formed in… Read more »

Cape Verde: Lucibela, Old Fashion, and Proud of It!

Afropop Worldwide has long celebrated the proliferation of talented female singers from Cape Verde, following in the footsteps of Cesaria Évora. Topping that list is… Read more »

Africa: Angélique Kidjo and Christian Mcbride Support Jazz House Kids

On March 6, 2025, Angélique Kidjo joined nine-time GRAMMY winning bassist and composer Christian McBride for the Ralph Pucci 9th Annual Jazz Set, The Lowdown: Conversations… Read more »

Africa: Afropop Top Videos - March 2025

They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. We shall see about that last part, but so far, it's definitely roaring. There's a lot of cultural collision in these… Read more »

Africa: Women's History Month Special Programming

Afropop Worldwide is proud to announce a special lineup of programs celebrating the extraordinary contributions of women in global music throughout March 2025 in honor of Women's… Read more »

Tanzania: Afropop Worldwide in Tanzania - Week Two

Dispatch #2: Inside the 2025 Sauti za Busara Music Festival with Afropop in Stone Town, Zanzibar Read more »

Africa: Blackness in Punk Rock Beyond the Bad Brains

What sort of imagery does the word punk inspire? Spiky, colorful hair, studs and anarchy signs; hordes of people crammed into mosh pits, jumping and pushing their sweaty selves… Read more »

Tanzania: Afropop Worldwide in Tanzania - Week One

Our Afropop travelers have arrived in Tanzania, kicking off an unforgettable journey in Dar es Salaam, the country's bustling cultural and financial hub. With a week full of live… Read more »

Africa: Emmanuel Jal - Life Lessons From a Survivor

Emmanual Jal is a self-made man and a self-made artist. He emerged from a horrific childhood amid civil war in Sudan. He was trained to fight as a child soldier, barely survived… Read more »

Africa: Paul Beaubrun Shines Light From Haiti

Paul Beaubrun descends from Haitian music royalty. His parents, Lolo and Mimerose Beaubrun, are the founders and leaders of the legendary racine band Boukman Eksperyans. Paul broke… Read more »

Nigeria: Tems Wins Best African Musical Performance Grammy

Tems was the one African to shine at the Grammy Awards last night. She won Best African Music Performance for her hit track "Love Me JeJe." To do that, she had to beat Afrobeats… Read more »

South Sudan: Emmanuel Jal and Bun Xaapa Release New Single 'Chaak'

Today, South Sudanese artist, author, and former child soldier Emmanuel Jal (new book My Life Is Art out now) teams up with South African producer Bun Xapa (named one of DJ Mag's… Read more »

Africa: Afropop Top Videos - January 2025: Salif Keita, Ramy Essam, Sofaz and More

Welcome to 2025, a year when we're going to need musical diversion and engagement more than ever! Here are eight items to start off Afropop's video list for the year. You could… Read more »

Cape Verde: Elida Almeida's Trimphant Return to New York

Elida Almeida is a major player in a new generation of Cabo Verdean female singers who have risen, quite gloriously, in the wake of Cesaria Évora's storied career.… Read more »

Senegal: Souleymane Diamanka's 'One Poet Show' in Paris

A Resident of Nowhere, Originating from Everywhere When asked why people should come to his show, Souleymane Diamanka's response was simple yet profound: "You'll find yourself in… Read more »

Ghana: Weedie Braimah - Djembefola, Educator, Visionary

Weedie Braimah is a djembefola (a master of the djembe drum), and a force of nature. Born in Ghana and raised in East St. Louis by two world-class drummers, his father Ghanaian and… Read more »

Africa: Votia - a Family Tradition From Isle De La Réunion

We first saw Votia at Montreal's Nuits d'Afrique back in 2018. We were thoroughly entranced by this group from Réunion Island then and hoped some day to see them again. With… Read more »

Africa: Celebrate Black History Month With Afropop's Exciting Lineup of Audio Programs

January 21, 2025 - Brooklyn, New York- Afropop is thrilled to announce a vibrant schedule of audio programs in honor of Black History Month, showcasing the history of African and… Read more »

Africa: New York Comes Alive With Globalfest, Afromondo and More!

Followers of this site will know that the second weekend in January brings an explosion of thrilling music in New York. With arts presenters from all over the continent, and… Read more »

Somalia: Sahra Halgan - the Message Is the Music

The history of Somalia (officially, the Federal Republic of Somalia) and Somaliland (officially, the Republic of Somaliland) in the 20th century is, sadly, and like too many… Read more »