“The curious beauty about African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad story”
NELSON MANDELA
For the better part of 2021, South African amapiano (described by Rolling Stone magazine as “a bright, jazzy dance music culled from local house flavours and global RnB”) has transcended the pandemic, gaining significant popularity across the continent. But like most ‘new’ music, this wave of success has been several years in the making.
Alongside dance and storytelling, music is one of the ancient art forms that has thrived through the generations across the continent. In fact, the journals of explorers from as early as the 1600s contain records of their experiences of African music.
Many internationally acclaimed artists over the years have cited African musicians and their sound as a major influence on their own careers.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that the likes of Beyoncé has incorporated Afrobeats into her songs. But these sounds are now being appreciated on the world stage in their own right.
This recognition has been seen at this year’s Grammys, where contemporary Afrobeats musician Burna Boy bagged the Best Global Music Album award.
The continent has given rise to some of the most soughtafter performers, singers, writers and producers. From Lagos to Lusaka and Dakar to Nairobi, the African sound is growing bigger and bigger globally and African musicians are signing with major labels.
The African music scene is full of rich tones and voices with a variety of stylistic influences. It’s about time we all embraced the culture of exploring music from every corner of the continent – that, after all, is how we grow collectively and relate to each other better.
MR. LEO CAMEROON
Recently selected as a member of the Grammy Awards Recording Academy, Cameroonian singer Mr. Leo, known for his vibrant reggae and Afrobeat sound, is a unique artist.
He describes himself as the ‘verso’ type, in that he can play with virtually any genre, go as deep as he wishes and does not confine himself to a single canopy.
“I stay African when you listen to my music,” he says. “I can do rock, hip hop or anything in between and you’ll still feel that it is African. Even when I do reggae or soul, you’ll still know that it is African.”
“I can do rock, hip hop or anything in between and you’ll still feel that it is African”