South Africa: Benjamin Jephta – Born Colored, Not Born-Free

[Afropop] Bassist and composer Benjamin Jephta was “born-free” in 1992 in South Africa, in the post-apartheid era, and grew up in the “colored township” of Mitchell’s Plain in Cape Town. The exploration of these terms – “born-free” and “colored” – beca…

Africa: Agatchu’s Global African Pop

[Afropop] Chris Hamiwest–a.k.a. Agatchu–is rising fast in the world of global African music. He’s a versatile beat-maker and a smooth vocalist whose songs are making waves with fans and critics alike. His current track, “Maradona,” produced with AZNV…

Africa: Novalima Leads the Dance With Ramón Perez Prieto

[Afropop] Since its official founding in 2001, the band Novalima has championed a driving, tuneful electronic and, at times, hard-rocking expression of Afro-Peruvian music. After the release of their third album, Coba Coba in 2008, they began touring t…

Africa: Kasiva Mutua – Feeling the 6/8 Rhythm

[Afropop] In 2016, Afropop Worldwide spoke with a young Kenyan percussionist, Kasiva Mutua, when she was a member of the Nile Project. The Nile Project actually kicked off three years earlier, and as Nile Project co-founder and CEO, Mina Girgis explain…

Africa: Youssou N’dour At Brooklyn’s King’s Theater

[Afropop] The excitement and anticipation was palpable as the seats began to fill in the historic Kings Theater on Flatbush Ave on Sunday, April 27th, 2025. When hype-man and percussionist Mbaye Dieye Faye led the twelve-piece band onstage, the capacit…