Bakwa 04 April 26, 2013 Why does the West ignore intellectual property when Africa is concerned? What does the New York Times really know about music in Africa? Can hip-hop save an artist’s life? Is music alternative literature? Does ‘Don 4 Kwat’ start a new chapter in hip-hop? RIP Chinua Achebe. Plus: poetry by Jumoke […]
Soul Makossa by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango dates back to 1972 and is often cited as one of the first disco records ever. Over the years, the song has been sampled and alluded to in songs by artists such as Michael Jackson, Rihanna and Kanye West, with little or no credit given to Manu
Last year, the Cameroonian hip-hop scene took a major step in consolidating its place in the African hip-hop world with MuMak’s release of Jovi’s self-produced debut album, H.I.V (Humanity Is Vanishing). Before Jovi’s emergence, no solo Cameroonian hip-hop act, especially one rapping predominantly in pidgin (Cameroonian Creole), had penetrated the global hip-hop world, or had
Jovi: A New Chapter in Cameroonian Hiphop Read More »
Serubiri Moses Originally published in Start When we meet at 2:45 pm, I’m sitting at the grand piano in the Green Room, behind the stage of the National Theatre wondering whether he will make it through the rain, but I’m glad he does, and our interview can finally start. The piano is quite old, and
A Ugandan MC's intimate keyboard Hip-Hop Read More »
Dibussi dissects the cavalier attitude towards African intellectual property and indigenous natural resources plagiarized and/or exploited with little or no compensation, as well as the ramifications thereof.
Maureen Rutabingwa is a jazz saxophonist, pianist and vocalist based in Kampala. Her Soul Deep band reworks Rihanna, Erykah Badu and the jazz of George Benson and Roy Hargrove. Dancers along Kampala-Jinja Road during the KCCA Independence Day Carnival, Oct. 7th 2012.
Photography by Serubiri Moses Read More »
Anne Moraa, photo credit: Reumac (reumac.wordpress.com) My history of music is intensely personal. I love music. I can’t sing worth a damn, but I love music. You will forgive me, but I’m going to give you a history lesson. My history of music is not the textbook version and I’m sure neither is yours. I’m
Music & Me by Anne Moraa Read More »
Blunted on Reality by Chinedu Achebe; Chinedu Books, 2012, ISBN-13: 978-0615629254. While they enjoyed a late breakfast, they began to discuss the history of Obama’s election. Obi started the conversation saying, “I still can’t believe this racist ass country elected a black man named Barack Hussein Obama to be the President. I guess Bush fucked
[Book Excerpt] Blunted on Reality by Chinedu Achebe Read More »
Rene Nyah Yong Although hip-hop historians cite 1978 as its birthday, hip-hop’s roots can well be referred to the African continent. Music had long been part and parcel of the religion and culture of the African people. It had always been used as an accompaniment in everyday life, as Mbiti puts it: “Wherever the African…
