Category: Regional Soundscapes
Explore the diverse musical traditions and contemporary sounds from different regions across Africa
Ata Kak Breaks 30-Year Silence: Highlife Pioneer Returns with New Album & ‘Obaa Sima’ Remaster
From cult mystery to global icon, Ghana’s elusive pop wizard is back — and he’s bringing a sonic storm with him. In a world of fast fame and fleeting hits, Ata Kak stands as a miraculous anomaly. After three decades of silence, the enigmatic Ghanaian artist is returning with a brand new album, Batakari, due…
Ebne Hakim Releases “Tsehaye,” a Stirring Ode to Longing and Hope
Rising Ethiopian artist Ebne Hakim returns with his latest single, “Tsehaye,” a poignant meditation on love, memory, and the quiet strength of hope. The track—whose title means “sun” in Amharic—is a deeply personal ballad wrapped in warm melodies and inspired by the energy and rhythms of Tigrigna traditional beats. Released during Ashenda, an annual cultural…
Nyashinski signs landmark deal with Sony Music Entertainment, marking a new dawn for East African Music
In a move that signals a seismic shift for East African music on the global stage, Nyashinski, one of Kenya’s most enduring and influential artists, has signed a groundbreaking recording deal with Sony Music. The partnership inaugurates a new chapter not only for the artist but also for the region’s burgeoning cultural export, positioning East…
Women Behind the Beat: Celebrating Female Trailblazers in African Music
Afrobeats is powered by more than just the stars on stage; the brilliant women behind the scenes also shape it.From producers and songwriters to executives and managers, women across West Africa are redefining the sound and spirit of Afrobeats with bold creativity and quiet force. As Marie Claire notes, their influence continues to shine brightly…
Blankets & Wine Makes Historic UK Debut in Bradford This September
Kenya’s most iconic music and culture festival, Blankets & Wine, is heading to the UK for the very first time. On Saturday, 6 September 2025, Bradford’s Lister Park will host the internationally renowned Pan-African festival as part of Bradford 2025’s UK City of Culture program. Even better? Entry is free. A Festival with African Roots…
Tems’ Leading Vibe Initiative Launches First-Ever In-Person Pan-African Music Program for Women in Lagos
Two-time Grammy Award-winning singer Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, is moving through 2025 with the quiet confidence of an artist who knows she’s making history in real time. Over the past month, she has been steadily expanding her footprint — not only as a performer but as a cultural architect. From launching the first…
5 Hot Kenyan Tracks You Should Have Heard By Now
Kenya’s music scene continues to push creative boundaries. This week’s standout releases blend introspection, swagger, and dance-floor-ready beats—from Bien’s viral confidence anthem to Nadia Mukami’s heartfelt reflection on motherhood, Scar Mkadinali bringing street heat, with Willy Paul, and Bensoul and Kethan adding romantic and summer vibes respectively. Each track offers something unique, capturing the mood…
Fuse ODG ‘Spirit of New Africa’ Sparks a Cultural Rebirth Through Sound, Soul & Storytelling
Fuse ODG returns with Spirit of New Africa not as a nostalgia act, but as a cultural architect reclaiming space and sound. The Ghanaian-British artist isn’t simply releasing an album; he’s asserting a framework. One that honors highlife’s roots, engages Afrobeats’ global pulse, and sharpens it all with the grit of hip-hop and the weight…
Reinventing Afrobeats: The Quiet Brilliance of Odeal, Gimba, and Melvitto
The year of 2024 marked another sonic explosion in Nigeria’s music scene, as new names joined the growing constellation of Afrobeat stars. Yet beyond the noise and hits, a subtler movement is unfolding—one that challenges what Afrobeats is, and more importantly, what it can become. The story of Afrobeats is one of rebellion, rhythm, and…
Tejiri Is the Industry’s Best-Kept Secret and the Blueprint for the Next Generation of Creatives
In our latest Custodian Conversation, we sit with a quietly brilliant mind shaping the contours of today’s most resonant sounds—Tejiri Akpoghene: Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and creative architect behind culture-shifting records like “Wait For U” by Future, Tems, and Drake. Tejiri’s story isn’t the usual linear climb—it’s textured. Woven from the rhythm of his Lagos upbringing,…