What if East Africa has been singing the same song all along? Not the same lyrics. Not the same instruments. Not even the same languages. But the same pulse. That question sits at the heart of CHIKKA, an ambitious musical and cultural project conceived by Ethiopian producer, researcher and creative director Guta Wakuma Chimsa. What…
This week’s edition of Nairobi Grooves is less a playlist and more a reflection of a region discovering itself in real time. Every city has a soundtrack. Every generation leaves behind a collection of songs that capture its ambitions, anxieties, celebrations, heartbreaks, and hopes. Every music scene experiences moments of transition. There are periods when…
Every week, Afrobeats Heat Different serves as a snapshot of where African music is, where it is heading, and which artists are helping shape the conversation in real time. For the latest edition, Music Custodian places Tiwa Savage at the centre of that conversation. The Nigerian superstar appears on two records featured in this week’s…
Ka bu bai (Don’t leave) gives life to the feeling of emptiness. The anxious goodbye when a lover has to leave yet the warmth of the last embrace makes distance impossible to bear. Karyna Gomes (GBR) is bringing us a gentle side, a song that celebrates the fragility of love when distance is mandatory. In the videoclip released…
East Africa’s alternative music ecosystem continues to deepen its collaborative language. Kenyan collective We Are Nubia and singer-songwriter Xenia Manasseh have officially announced a new joint single titled Longo Longo, set for release this Friday, May 22. Accompanied by warm, emotionally textured cover art and a deeply intentional rollout message shared across social media, the…
Drake’s new project Iceman is no longer functioning as a regular album release. It has become a cultural referendum. Released on May 15, 2026, alongside two surprise companion projects, Habibti and Maid of Honour, the rollout marks Drake’s first major solo statement after the Kendrick Lamar feud reshaped public conversation around his place in rap….
Ayra Starr is entering a new era and she’s doing it on her own terms. The Nigerian star has officially announced her forthcoming album Starr Girl, set for release on August 14, unveiling the project through a striking futuristic cover artwork that immediately ignited conversation across social media. In the visual, Ayra appears in a…
Nairobi, Kenya – What began as a quiet return has now settled into a steady rhythm. Sebuleni, Nairobi’s evolving deep house listening space, continues its journey on Sunday, May 31st at The Rift, reaffirming its place not as an event, but as a monthly cultural ritual anchored in sound, community, and shared presence. Held every…
The music industry has encountered disruption before, AI won’t be the first. From the decline of physical sales to the rise of streaming platforms, each technological shift has redefined how music is distributed, consumed, and monetized. Yet the current moment signals something far more fundamental. Artificial intelligence is no longer operating at the margins of…
Sixteen years after his passing, Michael Jackson has once again repositioned himself at the centre of global music consumption; this time not through radio, MTV, or physical sales, but through the very systems that define modern music: streaming and digital metrics. According to Kworb data circulating across platforms, Jackson has ascended to the #1 Global…
