Africa Is a Country

Weekend Music Break No.93

Weekend Music Break No.93

By
Boima Tucker

Welcome back to our Music Break, after it took a bit of a break itself. Enjoy this selection of tunes from around the African diaspora, and beyond.

This week, we kick off with Afrikan Boy and his latest video for his song “Kunta Kinte”; then, Eazzy brings the neo-Alkaida Hiplife vibes via Ghana; Tanzania’s Vanessa Mdee goes neo-Soukous Afrobeats style with “Niroge”; and Temi DollFace rounds out our Afrobeats section with School Your Face. Off to the Francophone world where Collectif Bassam brings Coupe Decale uplifment vibes after the March attack by extremists on their beach in Cote d’Ivoire; Uganda via London’s Michael Kiwanuka travels to LA, channels Mississippi, and contemplates being a “Black Man in a White World”; then, Africa is a Country favorite Badi performs “Na Lingi Yo” on the Dan Late Show to great effect. Bahrain via London psychedelic rock act Flamingods give us insight into a cultural side of Dubai that is not only often overlooked, but difficult to see in their video for “Rhama”; and we round it out with some cool Latin vibes — joining in the Cuba fever sweeping the former Western Bloc nations with Alexander Abreu y Havana D’Primera’s “Me dicen Cuba”; and Paulo Mac on his sweet Kizomba tune “Perfeita Demais”. Enjoy!

Further Reading

Not exactly at arm’s length

Despite South Africa’s ban on arms exports to Israel and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Palestine, local arms companies continue to send weapons to Israel’s allies and its major arms suppliers.

Ruto’s Kenya

Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for—a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.

Between Harlem and home

African postcolonial cinema serves as a mirror, revealing the limits of escape—whether through migration or personal defiance—and exposing the tensions between dreams and reality.

The real Rwanda

The world is slowly opening its eyes to how Paul Kagame’s regime abuses human rights, suppresses dissent, and exploits neighboring countries.

In the shadow of Mondlane

After a historic election and on the eve of celebrating fifty years of independence, Mozambicans need to ask whether the values, symbols, and institutions created to give shape to “national unity” are still legitimate today.

À sombra de Mondlane

Depois de uma eleição histórica e em vésperas de celebrar os 50 anos de independência, os moçambicanos precisam de perguntar se os valores, símbolos e instituições criados para dar forma à “unidade nacional” ainda são legítimos hoje.