Category: Regional Soundscapes
Explore the diverse musical traditions and contemporary sounds from different regions across Africa
Davido, Mayorkun & FOLA Lead Music Custodian’s Latest Afrobeats Heat Different as African Music Continues Its Creative Expansion
African music enters August with remarkable confidence. This week’s edition of Afrobeats Heat Different captures a continent moving with intention, where established stars, emerging voices and unexpected collaborations collectively demonstrate the depth and diversity of today’s African sound. More than a collection of new releases, the playlist reflects an ecosystem in constant conversation with itself…
Children of Blood and Bone: How African Music Became the Heartbeat of Hollywood’s Biggest Fantasy Epic
When the first trailer for Children of Blood and Bone arrived, audiences were immediately drawn into the breathtaking adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling fantasy novel. Beyond its striking visuals and star-studded cast, however, another story has quietly emerged – one that speaks to the growing influence of African creatives across global cinema. More than simply…
Hmusic Unveils the Grounded Universe with New Single, Music App and New Jersey Ghana Music Festival Celebration
Nigerian/Ghanaian executive producer, songwriter and entrepreneur Hmusic (Harrison Ekeoma Osondu Iheke) is preparing to unveil his most ambitious creative vision to date with the launch of the Grounded Universe – a multi-dimensional ecosystem bringing together music, technology, culture and community. Scheduled to launch this September, the Grounded Universe introduces three interconnected initiatives: “Grounded,” a new…
Entertainment Week Africa Returns to Shape Africa’s Music Economy
With Entertainment Week Africa , as African music continues to command global attention, the conversation is gradually shifting beyond cultural influence to a more pressing question: how does the continent build sustainable commercial infrastructure around its creative success? That question sits at the heart of Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) 2026, which returns to Lagos from…
Recording Academy Welcomes Historic New Member Class as Global Music Community Continues to Expand
The Recording Academy has extended invitations to more than 4,000 music creators and industry professionals to join its 2026 New Member Class, marking the largest membership invitation class in the organization’s history. The milestone reflects the Academy’s continued efforts to broaden its global community while strengthening the diversity of voices that contribute to its mission…
Davido & NO11 Lead This Week’s Afrobeats Heat Different as Nigerian Music Embraces a New Generation of Collaboration
Every generation of African music eventually reaches a moment where established stars begin creating not simply for their audiences, but alongside the artists who will inherit the future. This week’s edition of Afrobeats Heat Different captures that transition beautifully. Leading the playlist is Davido, whose latest single “Gimme Dat Ting” featuring rising Nigerian artist NO11…
Yussef Dayes to Perform in Nairobi This September in Landmark Nairobi RnB Showcase
Nairobi’s live music calendar is set to welcome one of contemporary jazz’s most celebrated voices as acclaimed British drummer, composer and producer Yussef Dayes heads to Kenya this September for a special performance presented by Nairobi RnB. Scheduled for 12 September 2026, the concert promises to bring together some of the most exciting names shaping…
Africa Took Centre Stage at FIFA’s Historic First World Cup Final Halftime Show
On Sunday evening, as Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy before more than 80,000 fans inside New York New Jersey Stadium and millions more watching around the world, football introduced a new tradition. For the first time in the tournament’s 96-year history, the FIFA World Cup Final paused for a halftime show. The spectacle…
Spotify Wants Nairobi to Experience Music Beyond the Algorithm
Spotify Greasy Tunes arrives in Kenya as a 12-day cultural programme celebrating the communities, conversations and creativity shaping one of Africa’s youngest music cities. By Music Custodian For years, streaming has changed the way we discover music. Playlists have become modern mixtapes, algorithms have introduced us to artists we’d never have found otherwise, and a…
Custodian Conversations : Mich Straaw on Beautiful Hearts, Faith & Finding His Voice
Nigerian singer-songwriter Mich Straaw joins Music Custodian for an intimate conversation exploring creativity, surrender, faith, integrity and the making of Beautiful Hearts. From the Editor Every so often, Music Custodian encounters conversations that resist being reduced to promotional interviews. This was one of them. What began as a discussion around Beautiful Hearts gradually evolved into…