Africa: Wesli's 'Makaya - ' From the Haitian Diaspora With Love

Wesley Louissant--a.k.k. Wesli--is a Montreal-based singer/composer/guitarist/bandleader from Haiti. His stylistic range is deep and wide, and he's a dynamo on stage, as we've… Read more »

Benin: Might Angelique Kidjo Be the Righful Queen of Afropop?

We're thinking Kings and Queens this week at Afropop. And while many might make the claim to be "Queen of Afropop" these days, it's hard to think of anyone with a better claim to… Read more »

Africa: Donkey Jaw Percussion - Nothing Like It!

We recently noted considerable Instagram excitement over a brief video of a young Peruvian girl playing percussion on a donkey jawbone. The video was posted by the Afro-Peruvian… Read more »

Africa: The Little Film That Could - the Banjo Boys Makes Its Debut

The 33rd African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) opens with a bold lineup of contemporary African and Afro-diasporic films exploring resilience, artistic freedom, and… Read more »

Mali: Mariam Forges On With Joy!

When Malian singer Amadou Bagayoko fell sick this past spring, those around him assumed he would recover. "C'est le palu." "It's malaria," he told one acquaintance, not an uncommon… Read more »

Africa: Afropop Top Videos - Sosa, Shizza, Noura, Wesli and More!

The end of the year is always a busy season for music releases. Here are 10 new entries to our Top Video list, ranging from Afrobeats to cumbia to contemporary jazz. Lots of… Read more »

Morocco: Aziz Konkrite's 'Siba Sawt System' Makes the Past Sound Like the Future

In pre-colonial Morocco, Blad as-Siba ["The Land of Anarchy"] referred to those parts of the country, especially in the mountains and deserts, where the Sultan's tax collectors did… Read more »

Ethiopia: Let the Circle Be Unbroken - Meklit Hadero, a Piece of Infinity

The acclaimed Ethiopian-American artist Meklit Hadero released her new album A Piece of Infinity on September 26 on the Smithsonian Folkways label, and recently released sessions… Read more »

Africa: Baz Kompa - a Big Sound From Haitian Montreal

Montreal has long been a refuge for Haitian exiles. Of all the African and Caribbean populations in this chilly Canadian city--and there are many--Haiti is the oldest and largest.… Read more »

Africa: Zily - a Big Voice From a Tiny Island

You can be excused for not knowing that there is a place called Mayotte, and even if you have heard of it, you can be excused for not knowing anything about it. But Zily (Amida… Read more »

Cote d'Ivoire: Meiway - King of Zoblazo!

Meiway (born Frederic Desire Ehui in 1962) is a legend of Cote D'Ivoirian music. The creator of his own music genre, Zoblazo, Meiway has amassed hit after hit for more than three… Read more »

Tanzania: The Zawose Queens - Crowning a New Generation

Our pride is our music, yes.We love and we dance to our African music.We love and we celebrate our Tanzanian music.I am proud of my heritage.I am proud of my clothing.I am proud of… Read more »

Africa: The Women of Wassoulou Music - a Primer

Located around the tri-border meeting point of Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea, the Wasulu region is home to one of the most unique confluences of culture and identity in West… Read more »

Africa: Womex 2025 - Field Report

It's October, which means while many people around the globe are trying to decide what costume to wear for Halloween, we were busy trying to decide which showcases to see at the… Read more »

Africa: Audio Review - Guitari Baro, Acoustic Africa Extraordinaire!

Guitari Baro is a striking new instrumental trio from Mali and Guinea that made their debut at the 2025 Dakar Music Expo -- and immediately became a sensation. The group features… Read more »

Africa: Afropop Top Videos - 11-25: Bomba Estéreo, Patoranking, Amadou & Mariam and More...

Here's a rich selection of new videos. Not all of these will appear on our Top Videos playlist as some are restricted from playlists. But you can see them all here, and they're… Read more »

Morocco: Rappers Lead the Gen Z Protests in Morocco

On the weekend of September 27, 2025, Moroccan young people took to the streets demanding health and education. Police responded with disproportionate force, leading to a week of… Read more »

Senegal: Herve Samb (Part 2) - What Is Jazz Sabar?

In Part I of the interview with Senegalese guitarist extraordinaire Hervé Samb, we discussed his various session and touring gigs. At this point in our conversation, we… Read more »

Africa: New York City's World Music Institute Celebrates 40 Years!

If you've ever seen a life-changing concert of music from a far-flung place around the globe in New York City, there's a good chance it was produced by the World Music Institute.… Read more »

Madagascar: Rajery - Madagascar's Valiha Master

Note: the excerpts from the author's interview with Rajery have been translated from French into English by the author. Read more »

Africa: Habibi Fest Year 5, and Wally Seck Returns

This past week (October 8-12-25) New York hosted musical royalty from North and West Africa. First, the fifth annual Habibi Festival went down at Joe's Pub with five nights of… Read more »

Rwanda: Audio Review - Mississippi Records: From Zambia to Rwanda

An independent label that began in Portland and now based in New York, Mississippi Records is devoted to ethically documenting overlooked music--often by working directly with… Read more »

Senegal: Afropop Living Room Session 1 - Aba Diop & Yermande Family

We are proud to introduce the first edition of the Afropop Worldwide Living Room Sessions. This edition features Aba Diop and the Yermande Family, a band that blends Senegalese… Read more »

Senegal: Hervé Samb, Part 1 - a Guitar Legend You Didn't Know You Knew

Over the years, there have been several documentary films focusing on the session and touring musicians you've heard but never really knew, such as The Wrecking Crew (2008) about… Read more »

Morocco: Jaylann Rallies Moroccans With Remake of 'Ha Wlidi'

The Moroccan singer Jaylann has stirred deep emotions in Morocco with her song and video "Ha Wlidi." The song is a reworked version of a 1972 hit by the legendary Moroccan… Read more »