Liberia Stand Up: Damyarea (area song)
Junior Freeman & African Soldier - "Damyarea" (area song) by Akwaaba Music Today Liberians vote for their next president. Just four days after the Nobel Foundation decided to let the world - and in particular Liberians - know how much they like Ma Ellen. We prefer...
Kibera Benga “Kichwateli” – Just A Band, Modeselektor, Maasai Mbili
"Kichwateli" is an Afro-Scifi music-mentary performed by the super nerdy African boy band Just A Band, Berlin's top electronic act Modeselektor and Nairobi's talented art group Maasai Mbili. This video is Studio Ang's contribution to the BLNRB project, a cooperation...
Chief Boima: Lone Stars Mix
Lone Stars Mix by chiefboima About one year ago, Akwaaba's own Benjamin Lebrave discovered gbema at the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana. There he met Shadow, who gave him a thorough update on Liberian music. One song stood out in particular: the high-paced,...
Wanlov The Kubolor: Veverita feat. King Ayisoba
We saw the puppets, we saw the background, and we couldn't wait to see what they would look like on film - FINALLY!!! The song is adapted from a Romanian folktale. Vevi the squirrel disobeys an elder by climbing the sacred tree...he falls and injures his leg...his...
Get Yo Remix On: Double “Tatali”
It has not been easy to single out one song for our next remix contest... as a matter of fact, it's been so difficult we've decided to change the way we do things: from now on we might have multiple remix contests at the same time. Why? Or why not? Up until now we've...
Ikenna Azuike: African Boys Bands?
This man is unstoppable... pair him up with one of our favorite new videos and... how could we miss out on this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7GUatPxkZE RELATEDThis man is unstoppable... pair him up with one of our favorite new videos and... how could we miss out...
Nigerian Musical Odyssey: Siji & Elder’s Corner
As stated on the Kickstarter page: "Elder’s Corner is musical journey through pivotal moments in the colorful history of Nigeria as told through the lives and careers of the nations foremost music legends. It is a story about the eroding effects of colonialism, bitter...
Just A Band Behind the Lens – “Away”
Starring Stella Nasambu and Thimba Gichuki in a tale of obsession this video was produced and directed by Just A Band, with support from the Goethe-Institut Nairobi. The song "Away" was one of Just A Band's contributions to the "BLNRB - Welcome to the Madhouse" album...
Museke Online African Music Awards
Congratulations to Museke for making their MOAMAs bigger and better with every year that passes. Sadly we missed Saturday's live feed from the award ceremony in New York, so in case you did too, here's a roundup of this year's winners: Artiste of the Year - Fally...
DJ Zhao: Ngoma 02 – Afro Tech
Another mandatory listen courtesy of our dood c Download it here. As stated by Leo himself: The drum comes from Africa, and also techno. Here is an extremely simplified version of the lineage: slave songs – blues – gospel – jazz – funk – disco – house – techno —- the...
Kanye Meets Angola on the Dancefloor
Via Benjamin Lebrave's Lungu Lungu column over at Fader Mag: I’ve been neck deep into Angolan house. I recently discovered a never ending thread of good afro-house coming from Angola on Soundcloud. So I quickly put my rusty Portuguese to use and connected with...
Pidgen Rap with the FOKN Bois: Broken Language
Claaaaassic choon already, with a brand new beat composed by DJ Juls (still no decent links for him). You can grab the entire mixtape here, but start with a quick listen of this song Broken Language... sounds like the FOKN Bois' decleration of all things pidgin!...
Ghana: Azonto Dance – Don’t Sleep
Erybody's doin' it! Around these parts anyway. If you haven't witnessed some azonto moves, then chale u need fo go ghana party sef: Yep, earworm of a track, Sarkodie feat. E.L., U Go Kill Me, you can download it here....
Cabo Snoop Update: Dançéé, Ghana, Puto Cossa
What can we say... Cabo Snoop's stuff is catchy. And now he flirts with Congolese and Ivorian styles, bam! Another fun video by Hochifu. More Angolan goodness while we're at it: And last but certainly not least... Cabo Snoop in Ghana:...
Good Morning – Yaa Pono feat. Efya
Very nice work by King Luu! Pidgen Music makes the magic happen... extra-ordinary rapper Yaa Pono teams up with Ghanaian soulstress Efya for this beautiful video. Shot in Nima. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25thStzEPSc RELATEDVery nice work by King Luu! Pidgen...
What’s Up Africa with Ikenna Azuike
Loooong overdue. We connected with Ikenna a couple of years ago (already!!) in Amsterdam, and we've been avidly watching his What's Up Africa webisodes. Give Ikenna a couple minutes of your time... cheers to Boima and Ghetto Bassquake for bringing Liberian flyness to...
Where My Money Dey?!
Rehashing the most recent Lungu Lungu column over at Fader: If you spend a few days in Ghana, you’ll hear mostly upbeat dance music. On the radio, at bars or in clubs. It might lead you to believe that all popular music in Ghana is music to dance to. At least I...
BigxGH.com: Friday Faves
More Ghana pop to prepare for more hazardous dance moves at drinking bars across the world... this week we picked three unknown newcomers. Well, unknown to us. The highlife guitar is long-gone, the production is percussive and minimal: this is GH 2011. So here are our...
Schlachthofbronx meet Ruff N Smooth: Soca Mayhem
Well well... our favorite Bavarian duo went berzerk again on some crazy-arse soca madness. Just came out on Mixpak. This time they get a helping hand from the Swagga boys Ruff N Smooth, if you recognize where the vocals are from we'll send you their album for free!...
BigxGH.com: Friday Favorites
We finally met with BigxGH.com, a 4 year old website who's presence has been getting very strong lately. Actually BigxGH is perhaps the first and/or most successful Ghanaian mp3 blog out there. Every monday through Thursday, Paa Kwesi posts a dozen or so tracks, some...
It’s Kesse Baby
Got a chance to catch up with Myke last week. Go to Fader for the full piece, grab his song Oh Yes right here: Myke Kesse, "Oh Yes" by The FADER http://soundcloud.com/fadermedia/myke-kesse-oh-yes RELATEDGot a chance to catch up with Myke last week. Go to Fader for the...
Your Favorite Ghanaian Clowns Are Back
Well actually, it's more like they never left. Hey have you listened to their new song Thank God We Are Not A Nigerian? Funny stuff. You may want to take a moment and read through the (mostly explicit) comments left on their Facebook page by irate Nigerians. It seems...
Bradez Say Wassup?
We don't mean to re-hash what you may have already read, but man... we just can't get enough of Bradez' new jam Wassup. Listen and download here: No need to repeat what we wrote over on the new Lungu Lungu column at The Fader, so go there and feed your brain!...
Sudan Votes Music Hopes Meets Akwaaba
We have a few things to celebrate here. First of all, let's welcome South Sudan, the world's newest nation, which comes into existence this Saturday July 9. Please do yourself a favor and indulge into spending a few minutes on South Sudan's Wikipedia page. In most...
From Accra, Ghana: Bike Lordz
In Western capitals, trendizoids rush to customize their multi-thousand dollar fixed gear bikes, praying for hills to stay out of their way for fear of falling and denting their neon paint job (please make it stop). Meanwhile in Ghana, a new frenzy is growing around...
Hip Hop Very Much Alive in Eastern Congo – Salaam Kivu All Stars
Interesting timing: although there hasn't been any mention of it on here, Benjamin Lebrave just got back from a wild journey in eastern Congo, starting off in Goma, where this VERY exciting video was shot. Goma has gone through hell for most of the last decade, but it...
Limited Edition FOKN Bois CD – Made in Ghana
Akwaaba, digital label? Scratch that. We've got one hundred CDs under our belt. Made in Ghana that is! Numbered and shipping from Accra as of today. We won't make any more, sooooo we suggest you act FASTA FASTA if you want to get a copy! Link to buy is on the Bandcamp...