Tchobari duo shot the video for ‘Quem Mandou? (Me Nascer)’ in Catambor, Luanda “to show a different side of our city”.

Ben Sharpa & Pure Solid were touring in Europe last month (I missed them — bad scheduling), and also flew by Réunion recently, doing some radio appearances while there. Which reminded me we hadn’t shared Sharpa’s latest ‘Heroes’:

Sharpa and Pure Solid share a stable with Driemanskap. Nice to see the latter making waves recently, and being quoted as an inspiration for the video (H/T Ts’eliso) of Lesotho-based Dunamis’s ‘Destiny’:

We never wrote about how it took the release of a Shangaan compilation album by a London label before some South African music critics took note of the genre’s existence; but that doesn’t mean we don’t dance to it:

Omar Sosa and Paolo Fresu played their take on Simon’s Graceland classic Live at Blue Note Milano earlier this year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMn_hlRZUTU

Always dependable Togolese-American Tabi Bonney releases a soccer/football themed video, alongside his dad!:

Since M.anifest came up with Y.O.L.A. (You only love Azonto!), here’s a mad one by Keche:

http://youtu.be/7W3XWP6s2-8

And finally, Sarkodie, Appietus and Kesse go on an Azonto fiesta for the weekend. If you’re in NY come celebrate here or here tonight!:

http://youtu.be/4_OYtBixrWI

Further Reading

Fuel’s errand

When Africa’s richest man announced the construction of the continent’s largest crude oil refinery, many were hopeful. But Aliko Dangote has not saved Nigeria. The Nigerian Scam returns to the Africa Is a Country Podcast to explain why.

Fragile state

Without an immediate change in approach, Somalia will remain a fragmented country populated by self-serving elites seeking foreign patrons.

Coming home

In 1991, acclaimed South African artist Helen Sebidi’s artworks were presumed stolen in Sweden. Three decades later, a caretaker at the residential college where they disappeared found them in a ceiling cupboard, still in their original packaging.

Imaginary homelands

A new biography of former apartheid homeland leader Lucas Mangope struggles to do more than arrange the actions of its subject into a neat chronology.

Business as usual?

This month, Algeria quietly held its second election since Abdelaziz Bouteflika was ousted in 2019. On the podcast, we ask what Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s second term means for the country.