Sila and the AFrofunk Experience Win NAACP Image Award
Sila and the Afrofunk Experience won an NAACP Image Award for their album, “Black President”. In a competition that pitted them against seasoned veterans including Zap Mama and Omou Sangare, Sila and the Afrofunk Experience won the prize for Outstanding World Music Album.
Victor Sila
DK, the new voice in African R&B
UK based Nigerian R&B singer/songwriter DK aka Don Kolionny is a hot, new talent to the emerging African R&B scene and is already drawing comparisons to the likes of Ne-Yo. Born Kola Olatunji, in Lagos, Nigeria, DK’s love with music started at the tender age of 10 when he was the youngest member of his secondary school choir. Through his father’s record collection he was exposed to different styles of music as a child, including Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, King Sunny Ade as well as Gospel artists.
DK started writing songs at age 15 and his first live performance was at Lekki Beach Carnival in Lagos with Green Squad, a group which included his brother TK Rosky and friend Drillz. His songwriting talents developed further when he started playing the keyboard. » Read more…
Canoe Quarterly Sets sail with GOAT Edition
Canoe Quarterly Magazine has set sail yet again with the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) edition which celebrates some of Africa’s original music icons and legends. Canoe 53 Sails showcases stories on fashion, beauty, home, lifestyles, sports and business; essentially highlighting the various dimensions of Africa’s progress, while paying homage to the continent’s strong heritage.
Canoe
Will Smith and Jay-Z support Fela Kuti Musical
It is heartening to see that Will Smith and Jay-Z think that the Fela Kuti musical is worth shelling out millions of dollars to support. The musical is a tribute to the life of Fela Kuti, a musician who was not afraid to challenge the status quo and call out the corruption he saw in the government.
Sahr Ngaujah (AP Photo/Richard Kornberg and Associates, Monique Carbon)
Presenting Cheb Khaled’s new album-’Liberte’
Cheb Khaled
Musically known as Cheb Khaled, the King of rai music, he is a rai, jazz, and blues singer-songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist born under the Algerian sun. Khaled has been said to be the most internationally famous Algerian artist with over a decade of experience in the music industry and still growing strong. He is getting ready to release his new album in late August 2009. » Read more…
Femi Kuti Speaks Out About Government Corruption
Femi Kuti is passionate about his country, and about his people. In an interview seen on Spin Earth, he talks about his battles with the government about activities at the New Afrika Shrine.
Africa rocks the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee
The Bonnaroo Festival has traditionally hosted jazz, blues, and comedy, but this year, the focus turned to Africa. With an impressive roster of world-renowned artists, they dedicated one tent solely to the performance of African artists.
The list of artists included, Vieux Farka Toure, Bela Fleck and Toumani Diabate, Toubab Krewe, King Sunny Ade and the African Beats, and Amadou and Mariam. The headliner was none other than Femi Kuti, son of the legendery Fela Kuti. » Read more…
Starchild: I weave “HOPE” for my people”
”While we crawl in the darkness, cursing it as we search for the light, we fail to realize that the light is within our minds, and all we must do to illuminate the obscurity is open them.”-Amir ‘Starchild’ Abdel-Fattah.
Blitz the Ambassador
Ghanian rapper, Blitz, the Ambassador is making a difference in the music scene in hip-hop battles around the U.S. He has released two CDs (Soul Rebel in 2004 and Double Consciousness in 2005) and is recognized as a talented rapper by both fans and people in the music industry, alike.
The Musical, “Fela”
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Nigerian Afro-beat musician and political activist who died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1997, was hugely popular throughout Africa in his lifetime and still has a devoted following today. Born to a father who was a minister, and a mother who was a feminist leader, he didn’t quite get into the spirit of politics until he visited the U.S. in the 1960’s.
Sade, Fela Kuti, and Seal among artists with most memorable album covers
Music icon and creator of Afrobeat (Yoruba music, jazz, Highlife, and funk rhythms, fused with African percussion and vocal styles), Fela Kuti’s 1975 album cover Expensive Shit is featured on slide #7.
African Events Calendar
Upcoming Events
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June 22 - 24, 2010
2010 Africa Business Conference and Trade Fair
USA - North East
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July 10, 2010
Talent-ED
USA - North East
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March 22, 2010
A “Tribute to Mama Afrika: Miriam Makeba”
USA - North East
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July 14 - 17, 2010
Africa Fashion Week New York (AFWNY) in New York
USA - North East
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