Discovered on a Random Spotify Scroll, Now I Can’t Stop Playing “Mali Spirit” by Lagos In Paris
It was a quiet night. I was deep into one of those spontaneous Spotify scrolls, chasing something unfiltered, something with soul. You know the feeling: half bored, half hopeful. Then bam, “Mali Spirit” came on. I froze.
The track opens with the delicate strum of the Mandingo guitar, grounded by the earthy tones of the calabash and hypnotic vocal loops, immediately anchoring the track in West African tradition. But it doesn’t stay there for long. As log drums collide with electronic textures, the song transforms into something haunting and transcendent, less a track, more a spiritual experience. I didn’t know who Lagos in Paris was when I hit play, but within seconds, I was completely captivated.
A Sonic World Built on Heritage and Vision
Lagos in Paris might not have been on my radar before, but with “Mali Spirit”, they’ve carved out a permanent space in my rotation and maybe even in my soul. This genre-blurring collective, rooted in West Africa and shaped by a web of diasporic experiences, delivers a sound that feels like both a homecoming and a revelation. Mali Spirit is not just a song, it’s a sonic journey.
Every layer is deliberate, breathing in and out with organic ease, crafting a soundscape that’s as ancient as it is experimental. It’s rare to find a track that feels both sacred and subversive, but Lagos in Paris strikes that balance effortlessly.
This is not your average Afrobeat track. There’s no formulaic hook, no predictable drop. Instead, “Mali Spirit” leans into nuance, emotion, and spiritual depth. It’s music that moves with purpose.
Why the Sound Feels Addictive
What keeps pulling me back to “Mali Spirit” is its beautiful contradictions. It’s grounded in deep ancestral roots, yet it dares to wander, explorative and experimental. It blends electronic polish with organic pulse, where each rhythm carries a kind of spiritual urgency, even as it’s wrapped in sleek, modern production. It feels like the past speaking fluently in the language of the future.
This isn’t just another track engineered for playlist placement or algorithm wins. Lagos in Paris isn’t chasing virality, they’re chasing feeling. And you can hear it. Every beat, every loop, feels lived-in and intentional. It’s not music made for the moment, it’s music made from memory, from ritual, from raw emotion.
And when that beat drops? It doesn’t just hit, it takes over.
More Than Music, A Movement Called ‘Afraw’
Lagos in Paris calls their signature sound Afraw Electronic Music, a fusion of traditional African instrumentation, global club aesthetics, and storytelling. Their ethos is nomadic, their approach DIY, and their output stunningly original.
With previous collaborations spanning from Aya Nakamura to Runtown, Sidiki Diabaté to Mayra Andrade, the group has crisscrossed continents, recording and performing in France, Senegal, Germany, South Africa, and Guinea. Each stop leaves a mark. Each encounter weaves itself into the music.
An Ode to Dance, History, and Cultural Memory
The first time I watched the “Mali Spirit” video, I was completely drawn in. It didn’t feel like I was watching a performance; it felt like I was witnessing something sacred unfolding in real time. Shot in the vibrant heart of Abidjan, the video reimagines the Bolo Super, a centuries-old dance from the Kroumen tribe of Ivory Coast and Liberia. But it wasn’t a history lesson or a distant cultural nod.
It was electric, alive, and moving with purpose. Two dancers flowed through the city’s streets with raw, modern energy, blending tradition with contemporary choreography so seamlessly, it felt like past and present were speaking the same language.
As I dug deeper into Lagos in Paris’ discography, I stumbled on their newly released single “Afro G Western”, featuring Stevo Atambire and Tsie, and once again, I was hooked. Just like “Mali Spirit”, it followed the same blueprint: a bold fusion of ancestral rhythms and futuristic sound design. The patterns, the pulse, the feeling, they all carried the same depth.
A Debut EP on the Horizon
And now, with speculation around their debut EP set to drop this September, it’s clear that Lagos in Paris is creating more than just songs; they’re crafting a movement. Mali Spirit wasn’t merely a teaser; it was a bold statement, a declaration that African alternative music is evolving, and they are at the forefront of that transformation. Their work doesn’t simply honor the past; it reclaims it, reshapes it, and reintroduces it to the world—unapologetically, and entirely on African terms.
At a time when so much music feels forgettable, Mali Spirit lingers. It shakes the soul. It reminds you that sound can still be sacred.
Finally, after what feels like forever, something original. Something African. Pure art. Just epic.
As we continue on this journey of discovering and amplifying Africa’s rich and ever-evolving soundscape, Lagos in Paris has become one of those rare finds that truly stays with you. Their music isn’t just meant to be heard, it’s meant to be felt. It stays with you, echoing long after the final note fades.
Stay connected with Lagos in Paris on social media, and follow Music Custodian as we continue spotlighting the voices shaping the future of African music.
