Category: Regional Soundscapes
Explore the diverse musical traditions and contemporary sounds from different regions across Africa
Drake’s Iceman Era Arrives at the Most Fragile and Fascinating Point of His Career
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 Announces Junior Year Album Starr Girl For August 14
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…
WITH SEBULENI THE RHYTHM CONTINUES
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…
AI Can Make Songs – But Can It Make Culture?
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…
Michael Jackson: The Algorithm Still Bows — How the King of Pop Reclaimed the Digital Crown
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…
On “RNB,” Bridget Blue Lets the Audience Complete the Story
A week before the release of RNB, Bridget Blue walked into KODA Nairobi with a blank board – her album cover, unsigned, unmarked, and unfinished. By the end of the night, it was filled. Every person in the room had left something behind: a name, a message, a trace of presence. That version became the…
Coachella 2026: Black Musical Centrality and the Expanding Logic of African Sound in the Global Festival Economy
Coachella 2026 highlights the rise of Black music and African sound as central forces shaping the global stage and music industry. The 2026 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival is currently underway at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, featuring a historic headlining set by Karol G as the first Latina woman to headline, alongside performances…
Building the Room: How ONErpm Is Creating Space for Women in African Music
In an industry often defined by access, visibility, and power dynamics, the most radical act is sometimes the simplest: like Onerpm is – creating a room and being intentional about who it is built for. Less than a fortnight ago in Nairobi, ONErpm quietly convened over 30 women across the Kenyan music ecosystem for an…
Pan-African Music Collaborations You Should Know
Across timelines and social feeds, Africans love a good debate. From jollof wars to the perennial question of who does it better – Lagos, South Africa, Tanzania, or Nairobi – culture has always been a source of pride, and at times, playful division. Food, fashion, language, and even nation-building narratives have shaped how we see…
Afrobeats Built a Movement, Now It Needs Institutions
Over the past two decades, African music – particularly Afrobeats – has transformed from a regional sound into one of the most powerful cultural exports in the world. From Lagos to London, Accra to Atlanta, and Nairobi to New York, the rhythms, language, and energy of African artists now move through global charts, festival stages,…