music

Nicholas Zakaria, a pioneering figure in Zimbabwe’s sungura music and a founding member of the Khiama Boys, has died. He was 66. Zakaria — widely known by his stage name "Madzibaba" — was celebrated for his deft guitar work and a voice that helped shape the rhythmic, guitar-driven sound that defines sungura. His family said he was a "talented musician and beloved member of our community" who left an indelible mark on Zimbabwean music. As one of the early members of the Khiama Boys, Zakaria performed with and influenced a…

Djibouti music icon Fuaad Ahmed ‘Ilkacase’ dies after long illness; funeral draws officials, artists DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti — Fuaad Ahmed Gadhle, the towering Djiboutian singer and actor known on stage as Ilkacase and celebrated for a career that spanned more than four decades, died this week in Djibouti City after a prolonged illness. He was buried Monday night, with senior officials, artists and residents in attendance, according to family and colleagues. Ahmed’s health had been in decline for years and he recently…

Lady Gaga’s night, and the VMAs’ widening map of pop Long Island’s UBS Arena felt, at moments, like the center of the music world on Tuesday night — a patchwork of sequins, fandoms and cross-genre collaborations that underscored how global pop now arrives in many languages and forms. Lady Gaga walked off with Artist of the Year and three other trophies, but the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards were less a coronation than a catalog of pop’s kaleidoscopic present: K‑pop and Latin giants rubbing shoulders with veteran icons, young…

There's growing concern in Somali society about how online displays of bravado might teeter dangerously close to hate speech, stirring up long-standing clan rivalries. In Somalia, "The Big Tribal Game" isn't just a pastime—it's practically a cultural phenomenon. This so-called game draws in massive audiences without linking its participants to any form of clan violence. Everywhere you look, thousands of phones light up with this spectacle, not just in Somalia, but across the globe. The typical participants? Enthusiastic…

South African sensation Tyla has made waves at the MTV Europe Music Awards, securing not just one, but three prestigious titles: Best Afrobeat, Best African Act, and Best R&B. This is a monumental achievement, as she’s now the first African artist to snag three MTV EMA awards in a single evening. What a phenomenal feat! Dressed to impress, Tyla paid homage to the legendary Aaliyah by donning a striking replica of the iconic Roberto Cavalli dress the late star wore during the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. A heartfelt…

In South Africa, the battle for women's rights has reached a new crescendo, with dedicated activists rallying against the anticipated performance of the controversial U.S. artist, Chris Brown. The advocacy group, Women For Change, has initiated a petition aimed at urging both the government and concert promoters to reevaluate the decision to host him in December. The petition articulates a clear demand: the Department of Home Affairs should revoke Brown's visa, thereby preventing him from entering the country altogether.…

Renowned musician Ayodeji Balogun, more famously known as Wizkid, has recently set his sights on fellow artist David Adeleke, or as many call him, Davido, igniting yet another round of verbal sparring across social media platforms. There's been talk that Wizkid intended to drop the inaugural track from his eagerly awaited album, "Morayo," on the same day Davido teased his first single for the upcoming 2024 calendar. In a bold move, Wizkid took to his X account, unleashing a stinging critique against Davido. He described…

In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, almost a thousand children live on the streets. Mostly aged 8 to 15 years, they are left to themselves for various reasons. Befa Centro, a Central African musician based in Chevilly-Larue in France,…

The famous bassist Richard Bona, a naturalized American for several years, takes a step further in his break with his country of origin, Cameroon. In a video broadcast on March 17 on social networks, we see him destroy his Cameroonian passport and express harsh…

Brazzaville is recognized as the cradle of rumba. But this city with more than 1.5 million souls also vibrated in the 80s and 90s to the rhythm of the souk of the legendary Cassava group whose main host, Jacob Desvarieux, bowed on Friday 30 July. Nightclubs, even though they were officially closed due to Covid-19, pay tribute to him.…