If you’re not used to it, there’s an easy and engaging way to approach to African music and it’s through its most contemporary and popular incarnation: afropop.
Afropop is an umbrella term referring to anything and everything in African music. It can be Tunisian or South African, Kenyan or Senegalese, but it constantly portrays the present-day sounds coming from the African Continent.
We have dedicated the cover of this issue to Amadou & Mariam, who have become two of the most recognised West-African artists and arguably the most acclaimed representatives of afropop.
To have a better perspective over the style, we reached a London-based DJ who has built her musical selection on notes coming from all over the Continent. We are talking about Rita Ray, “club DJ, broadcaster, presenter, curator, performer, compiler”, African music encyclopaedia and afrobeat whizz.
Here’s her take on afropop…
Tracklist:
- Ami Yèrèwolo feat. Memo – Winner
- Oumou Sangaré – Fadjamou
- Sidiki Diabaté – Dakan Tigui Remix
- Kaba blon – Furu Djougou
- MHD – A Kele Nta
- Wiyaala – Village Sex
- Worlasi feat Sena Dagadu & Six Strings – One Life (Prod. by Worlasi & Mixed by Qube)
- Becca feat. Bisa Kdei – Beshiwo
- Sarkodie feat. Castro – Adonai
- Tiwa Savage feat. Wizkid – Bad
- Moelogo – Penkele
- Tekno – Pana
- Skelewu – Davido
- Runtown feat. Uhuru – The Banger
- Shatta Wale feat. Joint 77, Addi Self & Captan – Taking Over