Sudan: Mahmoud Abdel Aziz – Timeless Voice of Sudan

[Afropop] With an eclectic sound that united both young and old, it’s no surprise that “Al Hoot” (the Whale) still stands as a figurehead of Sudanese revolution in both music and social change. Born in Khartoum’s Bahri district in 1967, Mahmoud Abdel A…

Cameroon: Ekep Nkwelle – Tapping the Spiritual Source

[Afropop] One of the most memorable moments for us this year at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal was the chance to see and hear 25-year old, Cameroonian-American jazz singer Ekep Nkwelle. Over the last couple of years, Nkwelle has been la…

Africa: Afropop Top Videos – August, 2024

[Afropop] The songs of summer 2024 are flying by. We at Afropop Worldwide have our own takes, and here are a few to consider. This month’s seven picks lean heavily into Afrobeats, the genre taking the entire planet by storm, despite ongoing worries tha…

Africa: Salin Cheewapansri – From Bangkok to Africa

[Afropop] Salin Cheewapansri was born in the mid-1990’s and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. Musically inclined, she tried the piano, but then switched to drums when she heard that the drum teacher at her school was fun to study with. Being into grunge and…

Africa: Ron’s 2024 Nuits d’Afrique Rundown!

[Afropop] Afropop’s Ron Deutsch attended the entire run of this year’s Nuits D’Afrique Festival in Montreal. His report on the Montreal Jazz Festival was a tour de force! Here’s his rundown on our favorite North American African music festival.

Nigeria: Ego Ella May Is Not Alone

[Afropop] What’s in a name? For jazz singer/songwriter Ego Ella May, it’s a window into her rich heritage. Her first name, pronounced “eh-go,” honors her Nigerian roots – her parents having emigrated from Nigeria. Her middle name pays homage to jazz le…