Vic Mensa ’s Sundiata: A Return to Independence, Heritage, and the Living Archive of African Music

There’s something poetic about watching an artist step into their own light — unfiltered, unbound, and unapologetically in control. For Vic Mensa, that moment has truly arrived. Long celebrated as one of hip-hop’s most fearless thinkers, the Chicago-born, LA-based rapper has spent the last decade weaving through the worlds of music, activism, and art with…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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Inside the Soul of Xowié: South Africa’s Daring New Voice With a Global Rhythm

When rising South African soulstar Xowié touched down in Kenya for a string of intimate songwriting and collaboration camps and media tour, we knew we had to catch her in motion. Luckily, between studio sessions and soulful exchanges, we carved out time for an inspiring conversation that allowed us to uncover the heart of her…

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Efe Oraka

Meet Florence Dei: Inside Efe Oraka ’s Reinvention and Creative Journey

Long before the spotlight found her, Efe Oraka was already quietly shaping her sound, releasing music in her teens, and crafting songs that carried an intimate kind of magic. Though many were first drawn in by her viral cover performances, her journey had long begun, rooted in a deep love for music and storytelling. Now,…

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Olamide

Olamide Hosts All-Star Album Listening for “OLAMIDÉ” , Dropped June 19th

On the 19th of June, where the industry’s finest showed up and showed out, Olamide brought Lagos to a momentary halt as he hosted a high-profile listening session for his self-titled new album OLAMIDÉ, that dropped yesterday, June 19. The event was a collision of legends, tastemakers, and young stars—from the pioneers who helped shape…

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Jeff Akoh Talks Love, Music, and His Journey Through Grace and Grit

In this heartfelt edition of Custodian Conversations, we journey through melodies, memories, and moments with none other than Jeffrey Ufedo Akoh, fondly known as Jeff Akoh, the Nigerian singer, songwriter, and performing sensation whose voice feels like home. From singing in the warmth of family gatherings to echoing through church pews, Jeff’s beginnings were filled…

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XOWIÉ AND BENSOUL BRIDGE CONTINENTS WITH NEW SINGLE “BITTERSWEET”.

JOHANNESBURG, SA – Rising South African star Xowié releases her debutEP ALLO today, featuring her new single, “Bittersweet” featuring Kenya’s afro-soulpowerhouse, Bensoul. The track arrives on the momentum of her first single, Nobody’sFool, and as Bensoul rides high on his latest hit Kautamu Fulani, which isdominatingEast African charts. Bittersweet showcases the synergy between their voices while they trade verses aboutlove’s painful contradictions….

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