That’s right, we haven’t brought musical news to these pages for a long time. And there is no excuse. But they are back now. Here we have a compilation of some of the topics that have surprised us the most in recent months. A sample of the great variety of rhythms, sounds, styles, languages, fashions and trends that are cooked in Africa. Themes that cross borders and, regardless of the language in which they are sung, are heard and danced in all corners of the continent and beyond. Because if there is something that characterizes the current African music scene, it is its ease in crossing borders.
Zuchu is, without a doubt, the undisputed queen of bongo flava, a style born in Tanzania and usually expressed in Swahili. The last thing she has published is titled Fire and has quickly caught on in many dance floors of the continent.
There is no denying the originality of Studio Shap Shap, a five-piece Nigerien band that uses traditional instruments such as the komsa, kindé and duma along with electronic bass and percussion. They released a first album in 2016, Chateau 1, and until last April, when they presented their new work, we had not heard from them. This album is titled the modern world and the first single taken from it is the park. The video is still curious, with all those animals dancing.
Talking about Senegal right now means referring to its rappers. Among them stands out Dip Doundou Guiss. An artist who never leaves his followers indifferent, as has been the case with his single caliphate, that has found all kinds of reactions. A strong theme, sung in Wolof.
Very different is the style of another of the voices that are triumphing in Senegal at the moment. This is Aida Samb. your theme loy xoff It continues to be downloaded on specialized platforms and social networks. She, who prefers the mbalax, is the granddaughter of one of the most renowned musicians in the country, Samba Diabaré Samb, and she has been performing since she was very young.
Irma is a Cameroonian who lives between her hometown, Douala, and Paris. She thus reflects it in her latest album, which is titled precisely as follows: Douala Paris. The first single taken from it bears the same name. This work has eight songs sung in French, a big change, since in his previous albums he did it in English.
Jupiter & Okwess have a new single from their album Na Kozonga (I go back home). Is about Mieux que ça. Another theme full of frenetic rhythms. The accompanying video is very curious because it is nothing more than an animation of drawings.
The Kenyan trio Mbuzi Gang (an acronym for Money Bitches Under Zero Influences) is headquartered in Nairobi. His latest project is called Kelele. From it they have extracted a single entitled Soko in which they have the collaboration of several countrymen such as Harry Crazy, Unspoken Salaton and Vic West. At least he has managed to get a lot of people dancing.
We greatly mourn the separation of the most famous duo in Nigerian music, PSquare. Like thousands of their followers, we longed for the Okoye brothers’ reconciliation. And finally the day came when they were seen together celebrating his birthday after years without speaking to each other. That event predicted the return of those who made us dance so much. And so it has been. The chosen theme is Jaive (Ihe Geme). But honestly, they could have tried a little harder.
If we stop in Nigeria, the theme that is really at the top of the charts and in number of downloads is, without a doubt, the remix of Maserati, from Olakira. This time with Davido. He also sounds in bars, maquis and discos almost all over the continent.
We started with the queen and ended with the king of bongo flava, Diamond Platnumz. The Tanzanian has once again broken audience records in recent months, as is the case with each of his songs. This time it is the collaboration with Barnaba that is titled Hadith.
You can follow PLANETA FUTURO at Twitter, Facebook and Instagramand subscribe here to our ‘newsletter’.
#Music #Africa #autumn