#artist: muthoni drummer queen

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

Suzie Noma • I'm Feeling It • Ignited • Kenyan Message • Nita • Pale Pale • Secret Love • Stay • Heaven

This is the soundtrack to the Kenyan film Rafiki which depicts a lesbian relationship and discusses the discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in Kenya!

Spotify ♪ YouTube

[womensmusiccanon]

From Qaraami to Dance-Pop - Women of East Africa

Starting our journey off in... Eastern Africa! Yeah, alright, maybe spoiled slightly in the title of the post.

I've had so much fun with this over the last few weeks, and the result of that is brought to you here through some of my top picks. A moment of silence for the albums I wanted to include but didn't due to not being easily accessible </3

The list is not ordered or ranked in any way, though I will admit I've a certain fondness for Saba and Khadja Nin in particular <3.

For ease of access, here's a playlist of some top tracks from each album (ca. and hour and a half), here's an extended version with additional tracks from some artists not featured on this list (ca. two and a half hours), and here's a playlist of the full albums (ca. seven hours), for all your shuffling needs.

Saba - Jidka (2007) Spotify Youtube - A fun and playful somali italian-influenced pop record with some elements R&B, uplifting and a joy to listen to. As a side node, Saba's life story is definitely a google worth, imo.

Mim Suleiman - Umbeya (2012) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - An obvious inclusion in my book, just a great beat / electro album with some elements of soul. You really fall into the world of this album.

Aster Aweke - Aster (1989) Spotify Youtube A lovely Tizita album, a gem of ms. Aweke's sizeable discography (which you are definitely encouraged to dig into <3). I am so in love with the horns and little flourishes, and the rhythm is just... mwah. Aweke ties it all together really well.

Khadja Nin - Ya Pili (1994) Spotify Youtube - A already mentioned my fondness for Ms. Nin, but damn if it doesn't bear repeating... By all accounts an incredible record that really should be on your list.

Faytinga - Numey (2006) Spotify Youtube - The steady rhythms and Faytinga's distinctive vocals makes for a great experience certain to draw you in. Impresseive record from an equally impressive person.

Muthoni Drummer Queen - She (2018) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - A bubbling hip hop album with some flavors of R&B and dancehall. The production on this is great and Muthoni is an incredibly engaged performer. It's just overflowing with life and so, so definitely worth a listen.

Sophie Nzayisenga - Queen of Inanga (2021) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - The album title says it all, really. Even as someone who's not traditionally drawn to the acoustic for the most part, I really enjoyed this album.

Maryam Mursal - The Journey (1998) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - An unavoidable inclusion on a list like this, and for good reason. A poppy qaraami record with some jazzy notes that deserves all of the acclaim it's gathered over the years - Mursal clearly knows what she's doing and she does it well.

MC Yallah - Yallah Beibe (2023) Bandcamp Spotify Youtube - Ending here with a very recent release, MC Yallah's latest is just such a solid hip hop record. It flows really well, and the industrial undertones really worked for me, which is rare. Definitely someone to keep a look on, imo.

... and that's the list!

Do you have any favorites not on here? Please (please <3) feel more than free to share! Have fun!

[kariwoknotsheep]

Over 50 Hip-hop videos out of the 254 last year, The revolution wont be Televised.

[magatistudio]

The Looking Glass Project is a visual project done by Vivi Karia , a visual communicator & Magati Maosa , a Visual Artist.

The project is a studio based shoot that used glasses as props. Both artists worked with the idea of reflection where female models were placed behind a magnifying glass to magnify certain parts of their faces such as the eyes, nose or mouth. The setting is very minimal with a white background and earthy toned clothes as styling for the models.

The idea was derived after both artists listened to SHE album by

Muthoni Drummer Queen. The project has a lot of symbolism in it but it is also balanced with simplicity. They both wanted to tell the story of a woman and the pressures she faces everyday from the society. The magnifying glass represents the surroundings within her such as family, friends or the system. And while see the outcome of the shoot is somewhat distorted images of the models, this is exactly what they were aiming for. To tell the other side of the story where women are mostly misunderstood and their issues are often under looked. The mood of the shoot is very feminine representing the woman in her most natural form.

The Looking Glass - 2018

Director : Vivi Karia

Video Editor : Magati Maosa

[moonsandmelodies]

for the music box ask meme: questions 25 to 30?

Song before i was born = oof there's so many possibilities as a 2000's kid lol. I'll go with Taj Mahal - Queen Bee since this version came out not long before my birth and I found it through his theme for one of my fave childhood shows. It's just so warm and loving

Band that's no longer together = "Girl's Night Out" by The Knife. Still not over their splitting.

Song I've seen live = Bad Reputation. Joan Jett And The Blackhearts was my first concert and today my only concert. It was fun and exciting though. Bad Rep was the one she entered with, I was thrilled.. AND overwhelmed by the loud, loud volume, which also got louder with every song. Kept having to stick my ear plugs in, but I figure that's all live music.

Song I want to see live = This is hard! Something by Siouxsie for sure. Every time I imagined what it’d be like to time travel to the 80s, the idea of finding my way to a Banshee show comes up. If Siouxsie would perform again, I would say Siouxsie solo even if I worry about her live vocals these days. I want to see her do Love Crime, her most recent song (which is still 5 years ago, eurgh).

As for bands that are together now though..?? Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I’m sure something like "Down Boy" would blow me away.

Kelsey Lu comes to mind as a newer artist I'd love to see. That cello, with THAT voice? I would (theoretically) faint.

Song by a band I don't usually like = Usually I consider Chromatics the b-grade and less fun Glass Candy, but I love their song "You're No Good". I even like Ruth Radalet's vocal on it despite the way she bores me on most other songs?

Song I recommend = Right now I'm loving this song by Muthoni Drummer Queen, a female rapper+singer from Kenya, great energetic vocal delivery.

[itsgidi]

Power Music Video by Muthoni Drummer Queen BTS

A photo reel of some of the images captured during the shoot of the Power music video by MDQ.

Song: Power

Artist: Muthoni Drummer Queen

Director: Mei Fa Tan 

[okaynigeria]

Kenya's Muthoni Drummer Queen joins Spotify EQUAL Music Programme

Kenya’s Muthoni Drummer Queen joins Spotify EQUAL Music Programme

Spotify today announced that Kenyan rapper, drummer and cultural entrepreneur Muthoni Drummer Queen has joined its EQUAL Music Programme as December’s Artist of the Month.  Spotify EQUAL aims to foster gender equality in music and provide a platform to highlight influential female creators, and is a deserved platform for the innovative Kenyan artist. Having developed her love for music in…

[studiosamuelfoundation]

STUDIO SAMUEL CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL 2020 // Virtual Event on October 11 Spotlights Studio Samuel Students and Features Special Guests, including: Julian Lennon, Whoopi Goldberg, Izzy Bizu and Muthoni Drummer Queen

“100 Girls: Enrolled, Educated Empowered” info & tickets: studiosamuel.org/idg2020

New York/Addis Ababa-based NGO and non-profit organization Studio Samuel, which empowers girls in Ethiopia to reach their potential through education and employable skills, is participating in International Day of the Girl for the ninth year with its first global event. “100 Girls: Enrolled, Educated, Empowered” will take place virtually on October 11, 8pm East Africa Time | 5pm BST | 1pm EDT | 10am PDT.

Studio Samuel’s “100 Girls: Enrolled, Educated, Empowered” theme and the organization’s mission run parallel to UNICEF’s International Day of the Girl campaign. “My Voice, Our Equal Future,” which calls for adolescent girls to assert their power as change-makers, to learn new skills towards the futures they choose. Studio Samuel will shine a light on the girls in its Training for Tomorrow program, including a graduate of the inaugural class, Betty: “I’m an entrepreneur and employ ten women in my community because of the leadership training and job skills I learned at Studio Samuel. 

Special guests will recognize recognize students during the International Day of the Girl event, kicking off with an opening message by Studio Samuel's Global Ambassador, multi-faceted artist, and Founder of The White Feather Foundation, Julian Lennon. UK Ambassador and singer-songwriter Izzy Bizu, whose mother and cousins volunteer regularly at the training center, will speak about the girls and impact. Whoopi Goldberg, a champion of Studio Samuel, states: “These girls are out to make their lives better and you are helping.” The broadcast will be hosted by Ethiopian journalist, speaker, and community advocate Hannah Joy Gebresilassie, and Kenyan artist, drummer, and cultural entrepreneur Muthoni Drummer Queen will close the event brightly with a performance.  

The goal of the “100 Girls: Enrolled, Educated, Empowered” event is to provide the incoming class of 100 students with scholarships ($500/one year; $1,000/full two-year tuition). Studio Samuel is inspired by the formation of a global community that is connected to its students in Ethiopia; impacting a girl impacts humanity, extending beyond geographical borders. Each $10 ticket for the event provides a menstrual kit, made by students in sewing class, which keeps another girl in school and lasts up to three years. Additional support options include joining The Studio, Studio Samuel’s recurring giving program, and participating in the Silent Auction featuring various goods hand-made in Ethiopia, including students’ paintings.

Studio Samuel’s original song “Her Path” will be woven throughout the event programming, performed and produced by Ethiopian artist Esy, mixed and executive produced by Chiiild and Jesse Boykins III, with music by Beata Moon and lyrics by Studio Samuel Founder and Executive Director Tamara Horton: “Imagine hope in her path; she will amplify change for all girls.”

Said Tamara Horton of the event, "With community gatherings not possible this year, we embrace going virtual, as it truly allows our students to be front and center, sharing their stories and bringing a bit of Ethiopia into homes around the globe. Through this, guests will hear firsthand experiences of girls using education to overcome challenges, further shining a light on our students' strengths. Our girls inspire me every day!"

Studio Samuel is grateful for its event sponsors, The Midtown Group and The Menopause Movement.

Since 2012, October 11 has been marked as International Day of the Girl. The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. Studio Samuel supports education, fosters employable skills and contributes to the global movement through the ripple effect around the girls in its program.

[blockpaths]

Lover – Muthoni Drummer Queen | Virtual Performance

Hip Hop artist and TED Fellow 2019 Muthoni Drummer Queen gives a 2020 performance of “Lover” from Nairobi, Kenya. Enjoy a virtual concert and hear about disruptive technology in the music industry.

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The post Lover – Muthoni Drummer Queen | Virtual Performance appeared first on BLOCKPATHS.

source https://blockpaths.com/news/lover-muthoni-drummer-queen-virtual-performance/

[magatistudio]

The Looking Glass Project is a visual project done by Vivi Karia , a visual communicator & Magati Maosa , a photographer. The project is a studio based shoot that used glasses as props. Both artists worked with the idea of reflection where female models were placed behind a magnifying glass to magnify certain parts of their faces such as the eyes, nose or mouth. The setting is very minimal with a white background and earthy toned clothes as styling for the models. The idea was derived after both artists listened to SHE album by Muthoni Drummer Queen. The project has a lot of symbolism in it but it is also balanced with simplicity. They both wanted to tell the story of a woman and the pressures she faces everyday from the society. The magnifying glass represents the surroundings within her such as family, friends or the system. And while see the outcome of the shoot is somewhat distorted images of the models, this is exactly what they were aiming for. To tell the other side of the story where women are mostly misunderstood and their issues are often under looked. The mood of the shoot is very feminine representing the woman in her most natural form.

[jusiilove]

'Power' - Muthoni Drummer Queen

‘Power’ – Muthoni Drummer Queen

Today, the world celebrates ‘International Women’s Day‘, a constant and sad reminder that humanity still needs to remember itself about gender equality. Kenyan rap artist Muthoni Drummer Queen just provided us with a proper anthem for the day. Her new title ‘Power‘ is a feminist manifesto in which she denunciates patriachial societies and likewise portrays female strenght. As the artist puts it…

[rollingstonemag]

Un nouvel article a été publié sur https://www.rollingstone.fr/live-report-les-escales-invitent-le-bresil-a-saint-nazaire/

LIVE REPORT - Les Escales invitent le Brésil à Saint-Nazaire

Après Détroit et Melbourne, le festival nazairien a fait escale à Sao Paulo pour une 28ème édition tout en diversité. Récit d’un weekend coloré

Le soleil n’a pas encore disparu derrière le quartier du Petit Maroc que les percussions de la Batucada Oléado résonnent déjà. Quelques rythmes de samba s’écrasent sur les murs du vieux port, et entraînent les premiers festivaliers dans un ballet bigarré. A peine sont-ils entré qu’ils attendent déjà un premier artiste de renom : le chanteur et saxophoniste Manu Dibango. S’il se fait tout d’abord attendre, le Camerounais prend rapidement possession de la grande scène et fait onduler un parterre de hanches motivées. Ça promet !

© Jessica Saval

Non loin de là, une future grande dame de la chanson s’apprête à enchanter curieux et amateurs. Chef d’orchestre du big band The Gospel Sessions, Michelle David multiplie les morceaux de bravoure avec une aisance n’ayant d’égal que son rire communicatif. Difficile à croire qu’une artiste aussi charismatique soit encore inconnue ! C’est un problème que ne connait pas sa voisine, une certaine Charlotte Gainsbourg. Tout d’abord assise derrière son clavier puis accoudée à son pied de micro, la jeune femme délivre ses textes avec aussi peu de décibels que sa prestation est intense. Reste sa scénographie… Si son enchevêtrement d’éclairages avait conquis la salle Pleyel il a quelques semaines, il n’a que peut d’effet sur une fosse encore bien trop éclairée.

© Jessica Saval

Focus sur Sao Paulo oblige, c’est à deux grands artistes artistes brésiliens que revient l’honneur de clore cette première soirée. Figure majeure du trash metal,  Sepultura fait d’abord headbanger un public ravi d’assister au seul concert du groupe en France — avant de passer la main à la tout aussi trash Teto Preto. Dénudée, l’artiste/activiste multiplie les provocations et justifie en moins de temps qu’il ne faut pour le chanter son étiquette de performance « pour public averti »

17 heures, le lendemain. A peine a-t-on ouvert les yeux qu’on prend le chemin des Escales, non pas pour un concert mais pour s’initier à une danse traditionnelle brésilienne, le forró. Si ce n’est pas du journalisme total, on ne sait pas ce qu’il vous faut ! Soyez simplement reconnaissants que ça n’ait pas été filmé… Heureusement pour nous, les vrais artistes entrent bientôt en scène. Groupe de funk nantais, Hocus Pocus démarre la journée avec force cuivres et rimes tranchantes. Vient ensuite le tour du lumineux Kiddy Smile. Accompagné de danseuses — et d’une gigantesque bouche gonflable — le héraut du voguing à la française insiste : ce soir, on danse !

Une chose est sûre, ce n’est pas Lomepal qui le contredira. S’il est presque arrivé au terme de sa tournée, il n’en déborde pas moins d’une énergie folle. Son deuxième album a beau avoir été certifié disque de platine un mois après sa sortie, le rappeur parisien semble toujours ému de son succès. Touchant. Vient ensuite le temps de Jeanne Added. Véritable boule d’énergie, la jeune femme enchaîne tubes planants et coups de pied violents avec passion. Que demander de plus ?

© Jessica Saval

Un troisième et dernier jour de concerts peut-être… Et qui de mieux qu’une reine pour lancer les festivités ? Sobrement baptisée Muthoni Drummer Queen, la chanteuse kenyane enflamme une foule déjà compacte avec un charmant surplus de classe. Beyoncé n’a qu’à bien se tenir, la relève est assurée ! Le Brésil n’est pas en reste de grandes vocalistes, et la jeune Tássia Reis débite ses vers à tout allure une scène plus loin. Elle sera suivi de près par un compatriote tout aussi talentueux qu’il est mal habillé, le mystérieux Edgar.

© Jessica Saval

Petits prodigues du rap, les deux artistes ont beau se produire devant quelques dizaines de curieux, ils ne se démènent pas moins… Chapeau ! Reste qu’ils ne pouvaient tout bonnement pas lutter contrer les mastodontes de la chanson Orelsan et Franz Ferdinand. Alternant les tubes et les sauts de cabri, le rappeur français et les rockeurs écossais emportent Les Escales dans un tourbillon de sons dés plus enivrant et ne laissent espérer qu’une chose : que la trentième édition de ce glorieux festival arrive vite !

Jessica Saval

[botheyessareshut]

Ms. Sunshine releases new single 'California Love'

The songwriter and producer of pop music known as Ms. Sunshine has released her latest official single, “California Love.” The single has been proudly published as an independent release without the involvement of the corporate music industry on the Sunny Music Records record label. Upbeat, grooving, and (of course) beaming with her signature friendly disposition, “California Love” again proves that Ms. Sunshine has everything fans of pop music love to hear.

Belgium's Ms. Sunshine cites as main artistic influences Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Miriam Makeba, Suzanne Owiyo (Kenya), Muthoni the Drummer Queen (Kenya), the late Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe), and of course, Alpha Blondy. Ms. Sunshine's own sound takes elements from each of these and adds her own sunny personality for a refreshingly exotic result unlike anything most music fans have heard before. With an emphasis on danceable beats, happy melody lines, and more of the singer's usual uplifting, empowering lyrics, “California Love” by Ms. Sunshine has a little something for everybody.

Asked to describe the overall meaning of “California Love,” Ms. Sunshine writes, “Dreams are valid!!!!! No matter where you are from or your background. We have that dream to make it to Hollywood. And Be recognized by the artists and performers that we see and grace our screens, radio and magazines. This is clearly evident by the amount of artists, producers and actors from foreign lands who are now being recognized in the hollywood plattform. And this is not only inspiring for other foreign artists but equally motivational. To ASPIRE FOR GREATNESS.”

Born Catherine Achieng’ Onyango in Kenya, 1981 Ms. Sunshine speaks fluent Dhuluo, in which African dialect her name means 'girl who is born when the sun is shining.' She has been writing, recording and performing original music since 2010. Popular singles such as “Riding Low Low” (2017) and “Mama Africa” (2013) continue to bring new fans to Ms. Sunshine's already exceptionally enthusiastic following.

“I always been passionate for music and dance since young,” writes Ms. Sunshine. “Later on, during my university years, music took a back seat and I passively self-educated myself on the different genres, more so concentrating on '50s '60s and '70s music. At this time, I got an exposure to appreciate and learn some of legendary music's greatest: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lucky Dube, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, John Lennon, Etta James, Nina Simone, Franco, Miriam Makeba, Dinah Washington, Pink Floyd, Sting, and Elton John, just to name just a few who later have so inspired me in writing my own music.”

Ms. Sunshine has described her musical style as “a prime illustration of Neo-Afro Soul, in that it focuses on the contemporary styles of the genres soul, hip hop and reggae, and sends out a deeper message as opposed to common or commercial music. The songs I have recorded so far exemplify my personal take on life. My philosophy features ideologies from my African influences, with fusions from African-centered and Five Percent theologies, the complex views of diverse African cultural theologies and its complex interpretation of such strong cultural beliefs in our modern and evolving African culture. The majority of Ms. Sunshine music is greatly influenced by my beliefs of the Nation of Gods and Earths and my African roots and heritage.”

“California Love” by Ms. Sunshine on the Sunny Music Records label is available from over 600 quality digital music stores online worldwide now. Get in early, pop music fans.

-S. McCauley

Lead Press Release Writer

www.MondoTunes.com

“California Love” by Ms. Sunshine –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-2C7W1f3P8

[affairesasuivre]

Silicon Africa: A Playlist of Africa’s Electronic Music Innovators

This month, OkayAfrica will focus on technology’s impact on young Africans.

As the continent gains access to fast internet at accelerating rates, we’ll be looking at how Africans are using it to transform their lives—from tech entrepreneurs and inventors to the people and places making the continent a place for innovation and expression.

This Silicon Africa playlist showcases how technological innovation has influenced artists across the continent and their song craft. It features modern, electronic and, at times, experimental tracks from the likes of Spoek Mathambo, Baloji, Okzharp & Manthe Ribane, Just A Band, Petite Noir and more.

Brooklyn-based, Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Eli Fola created a sound he calls ‘Tech Afrique’out of his love for house and techno music. Dive into Fola’s colorful world with “Wonders.”

baloji, eli fola, jojo abot, just a band, manthe ribane, mbongwana star, muthoni drummer queen, okzharp, petite noir, silicon africa, silicon-africa-may, spoek mathambo 

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: Rising French Pop Artist Tennin Takes on a Classic, Golden Era Hip-Hop Hit

New Audio: Rising French Pop Artist Tennin Takes on a Classic, Golden Era Hip-Hop Hit @heygroover

Tennin · The What – The Notorious B.IG, Method Man [Tennin Remix]

With the release of a handful of…

[sweetpalmwine]

15 East African artists you need to hear

While contemporary African music is now getting some much-deserved attention on the world stage, often the focus is on the music of West or Southern Africa. In fact, you can probably narrow it down to four countries: Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Mozambique. Perhaps DRC will get a mention for its 1960s big-band sound and distinctive Lingala guitar, whose influence can be heard in African pop across the continent, and as far afield as Colombia. If it isn't Afrobeats getting a boost from Drake, then it's Diplo talking kuduro and South African house. These are amazing, influential genres of music, but they're a very limited representation of what Africa has on offer. Setting aside the issue of compressing the music of the second-most populous continent under a single label, we are still left with a massive blind spot. One region that remains under the radar (both inside Africa and elsewhere) despite consistently producing significant and forward-facing music is East Africa. Tanzanian and Ugandan acts like Diamond Platnumz and Eddy Kenzo regularly give Wizkid and Davido a run for their money on continental pop charts. Young Nairobi producers are creating thrilling new genres like shrap, which features sheng (Swahili urban slang) lyrics over trap beats. European producers have been sampling Ethiopian rhythms and melodies for decades, but some of this has been done without a proper understanding or regard for the context in which the music was originally made. Electronic music in East Africa is expanding exponentially as access to internet and software grows steadily. (Kenya, for example, has one of the world's fastest data connection speeds, faster than the US and South Korea.) As musicians draw from a rich musical history and incredible ethnic diversity, they are creating sounds that are new and unique. Working to bridge the gap between traditional music styles and commercial forms is Santuri Safari, which facilitates collaboration between musicians inside and outside the East African region, both traditional and electronic. This means they get hardware to DJs and producers in cities like Dar Es Salaam, Kampala, Nairobi and Kigali, while also working with international producers like Sam Jones and Esa Williams, hooking them up with swiftly-disappearing local instruments like the nyatiti or the embaire, a giant xylophone played by eight or more people. All of this is in service of creating club-friendly bangers that can compete with Western hits and their East African derivatives on the radio and the dance floor. Just A Band were among the first in Kenya and East Africa to make a name for themselves internationally with an undeniably electronic sound. Though the band is now on hiatus as members pursue their own projects in film, animation and music, "Blinky" Bill Sellanga continues to blaze trails as an artist, with his first solo album due later this year. Bill believes the East African music scene is experiencing a renaissance. "There's a proliferation of bands and artist communities that are seeking out sounds that represent them," he says. "They incorporate a lot of different elements from around the world, while also looking inwards and coming out with a new sound." Over in Uganda, the label Nyege Nyege Tapes grew out of an electronic dance party series and an international music festival featuring African acts alongside global artists whose work is in conversation with sounds from the continent. Passionate about the music that does not always make it to mainstream Ugandan radio, their releases are unlike anything else out there currently, and are getting embraced on dance floors both in the capital, Kampala, and in Europe. Whether it is singeli music, the furious sound of Dar Es Salaam's ghetto youth, or the eminently danceable wedding music of the Luo people of Northern Uganda, it's clear that we are going to be hearing of a lot more East African artists in the coming years. A list like this one can never do justice to the many East African artists beating against economic and geopolitical boundaries, but here are 15 who define the breadth of the scene in 2018.

Kampire Bahana, one of the bubbling region's rising stars, profiles some of her favourite DJs and live acts.

Alai K AKA Disco Vumbi (Kenya) Coming out of the '90s Nairobi hip-hop collective Ukoo Flani, Alai K's second life as an electronic producer reflects a return to his first loves: the chakacha music of the coastal Swahili people, and benga, the irresistible dance music of rural Kenya. Calling his style "Disco Vumbi"—meaning "dust disco"—his exuberant music calls to mind the outdoor parties of 1970s Kenya from which people would return home covered in dust kicked up by furious dancing.

Muthoni The Drummer Queen (Kenya) Muthoni burst onto the scene over a decade ago, founding a number of live music events including Blankets And Wine, which now takes place in three East African countries, and Africa Nouveau, one of the few festivals on the continent featuring an entirely African lineup. The recently released SHE is a pop-friendly concept album that deals with the construction of African women's identity.

Labdi (Kenya) By playing the orutu, Labdi is defying the culture she aims to preserve. It's a stringed instrument that's taboo for women to play. Yet there is no dissonance in her style, which merges traditional Luo rhythms and lyrics with popular sounds. Her forward-thinking approach to songwriting and her warm vocals make her a popular collaborator for electronic producers in both Kenya and Europe.

Ethiopian Records (Ethiopia) Working alongside Mikael Seifu and Dawit Eklund to create a style they call Ethiopiyawi Electronic, Ethiopian Records (AKA Endeguena Mulu) is at the forefront of producers and DJs pushing back against Western-imitative Ethiopian pop and Ethiopian-imitative Western house and techno to create something new, authentic and rooted.

KMRU (Kenya) Joseph Kamaru's work reflects the diversity of music coming out of a youthful Nairobi. Tending towards ambient sounds, his first EP was released by German label Black Lemon and his next EP will include collaborations with Pablo Fierro, Perera Elsewhere and Ghanaian songwriter and poet Poetra Asantewa.

Otim Alpha (Uganda) Otim Alpha has been making music for years alongside his producer Leo P'layeng, but despite being endlessly danceable, for a long time their tracks did not make it far outside of Luo communities in Uganda and the diaspora. Now, that's changing. Since last year's Gulu City Anthems, released on Nyege Nyege Tapes, Otim has played at the esteemed festivals Unsound and CTM, with plenty more dates lined up in 2018.

Hibotep (Uganda/Somalia) Young DJ, producer and filmmaker Hibotep brings a love of bass and trap to her weird-kid aesthetic. In 2018 her project Ninjabis was selected by Holly Herndon for the 2018 Forecast Platform and she will perform live at the Forecast Festival in Berlin in October.

DJ Rachael (Uganda) Uganda's first woman DJ, Rachael has been holding down the decks in Kampala for more than two decades. Through her Femme Electronic platform she is passing on skills and opportunities to women DJs in Kenya and Uganda. Her recent collaborations with The Black Madonna have brought new attention to her career, and she has performed at WOMEX and Chicago's smartbar.

Faizal Mostrixx (Uganda) Contemporary dancer turned electronic producer Faizal Ddamba Mostrixx makes "tribal house"—with a clear understanding of the role that East African instruments and Baganda rhythms play in their traditional context. His hope in merging these sounds with electronic techniques, he says, is to preserve the cultural heritage of the instruments and songs he samples. His last album, Tribal Match, is a must-listen.

Nihiloxica (Uganda/UK) Another act using traditional Baganda elements, this time a four-person percussive troupe (who also perform under a larger crew called Nilotica Cultural Ensemble) merged with electronic percussion from Blip Discs' Spooky J and his production partner PQ. Together they have created something entirely new. The group made their debut at CTM Berlin and will be all over Europe this summer, including stops at Roskilde and Strange Sounds From Beyond.

Mim Suleiman (Tanzania) Mim Suleiman brings traditional Tanzanian and Zanzibari music to the contemporary stage with collaborations with electronic artists like Spoek Mathambo and Maurice Fulton. Think Taarab vocals and percussion crossed with dub and disco. Many consider the traditions that Suleiman was brought up in to be going extinct, but her music will give you hope for its future.

Sisso Records (Tanzania) Singeli is the opposite of Tanzania's leisurely taraab sound, and the aspirational commercial values of bongo flava pop. Rabid-sounding and driven by the youngest and poorest of Dar Es Salaam's neighbourhoods, it sounds unlike anything you may have associated with Africa. With their release on Nyege Nyege Tapes, Sisso Records producer Bampa Pana and MC Makaveli have become Singeli's ambassadors to the world and just completed a spirited tour of the UK.

MC Caad Reeda and MC Memoree Cad (Tanzania) Singeli, born of slums like Tandale that are synonymous with poverty, is as male-dominated as any other music scene. But two female MCs coming to prominence, Caad Reeda and Memoree Cad, work closely with one of Sisso Studio's pioneers Jay Mitta, and will appear on a forthcoming release on Uganda's Nyege Nyege Tapes label.

Runka (Kenya) Karungari "Karun" Mungai is a member of the art collective Cosmic Homies, who merge electronica and R&B with an indie worldview. She is one of very few Kenyan women in production, and is part of the genre-defying and prolific NuNairobi movement, which includes a number of other young producers making waves like Jinku, NvFunk, Sichangi and Basthma.

DJ Raph (Kenya) The Kenyan underground continues to produce stellar DJs and producers making thoughtful and exciting new music. DJ Raph's latest release, Sacred Groves, comes out of the University Of Bayreuth's Mashup The Archive project. Sampling field recordings that are representative of the extensive archives of African art gathering dust in European collections, Raph creates access to these meaningful works by way of the dance floor. Kampire is performing at this year's Sónar Festival in Barcelona.

Words /Kampire Bahana

Published /Wed, 23 May 2018

7Fantastic to see articles like this! Thank you! Just one very quick query. Currentlg living in Mozambique myself, I was surprised to see the author claim that it is one of four African countries whose music is appreciated outside the continent. Considering the local music styles of pandza and marrabenta are totally unheard of in Europe, that the most popular local tunes tend to be sung in Changana (on the inevitable theme of weddings), and that the most popular music even in Mozambique tends to be from South Africa or Angola (the home of both Kuduro and Kizomba), I am curious as to the reasoning behind this. Anyway, thanks for the great article! Would love to see more like this!