Best Afropop Podcasts (2024)

1
Hispanic Heritage Month 2024 - The New York Sound of Latin Music 59:04

18h ago59:04

59:04

New York City has long been a major incubator for Latin music with its large populations of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Panamanian, Cuban, and Colombian musicians and music fans. We celebrate some of the giants of New York’s Latin music scene—Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Jerry Gonzalez—as well as less well known artists. Topics include the cross-pollin…

1
S3E10: Qing Madi - Rising Rhythms, Guided by Grace 52:19

8h ago52:19

52:19

On this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Qing Madi steps into the spotlight with a fresh perspective that’s turning heads in the Afrobeats scene. At just 17, she made waves with her breakout hit “Ole,” and now she’s here to share her journey from a young artist to a rising star. Qing Madi joins Joey Akan, sponsored by oraimo, to discuss her debut…

1
Planet Afropop - Afro Nation 44:25

9d ago44:25

44:25

Planet Afropop - Afro Nation by Afropop WorldwideBy Afropop Worldwide

1
S3E9: Louddaaa: Beats, Hits & Ayra Star 59:07

7d ago59:07

59:07

Step into the studio with Louddaaa, the producer behind some of Afrobeats’ biggest tracks, on this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence. Louddaaa joins Joey Akan, sponsored by oraimo, to talk about his journey from Lagos to Mavin Records and his role in shaping hits for artists like Ayra Starr and Simi. Louddaaa shares his thoughts on the oraimo Space…

1
S21,E16: 09/09/24 (Rodney Cromwell, Magon, Worn-Tin, Sports Coach, The Reds, Pinks & Purples, Chastity Belt, Bonny Doon) 45:10

4d ago45:10

45:10

Season 21 Episode 16 Exercise Class - Rodney Cromwell Havana Bay - Magon Our Love is Real - Magon Hard Erase - Worn-Tin Joe & Ruth - Worn-Tin Pendulum - Sports Coach Infinity - Sports Coach Dead Stars in your Eyes - The Reds, Pinks & Purples Public Art - The Reds, Pinks & Purples I-90 Bridge - Chastity Belt Clock Keeps Ticking -Bonny Doon This epis…

1
African Sounds of the Indian Subcontinent 59:04

8d ago59:04

59:04

In this Hip Deep program, we explore musical connections between Africa and India. First up is the story of the Afro-Indian Sidi community. In the 13th century, Africans arrived in India as soldiers in the armies of Muslim conquerors. Some were able to rise through the ranks to become military leaders and even rulers. Their descendants continue to …

1
S3E8: Bien-Aimé Baraza’s Solo Adventure: Exploring New Sounds and Old Roots with Alusa Why Are You Topless? 1:00:46

14d ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Bien-Aimé 'Bien' Baraza the celebrated Sauti Sol frontman turned solo artist, graces Afrobeats Intelligence with his latest project, Alusa Why Are You Topless?. In this episode, Bien joins Joey Akan, sponsored by oraimo, to delve into his debut album that fuses Kenyan heritage with global sounds. From exploring the depths of Fuji and Apala to refle…

1
South African Roots in the 21st Century 59:04

16d ago59:04

59:04

Yes, it’s the age of South African House, Afrobeats, Afro R&B and the likes, but roots music lives on in South Africa. This show updates the Zulu pop music known as maskanda, with a look back at its history and a survey of the current scene--rich musically, but troubled by fan rivalry that can lead to violence and even deaths. We’ll hear nimble uka…

1
S21,E15: 08/26/24 (Dumbo Gets Mad, Bibi Club, Ford Chastain, Katy Kirby, Marina Allen, Pasiflorez, Smaller Hearts) 51:07

18d ago51:07

51:07

Season 21 Episode 15 The Depth of an Answer - Dumbo Gets Mad Rue du Repos - Bibi Club Le feu - Bibi Club Strangers - Ford Chastain No Way - Ford Chastain Table - Katy Kirby Drop Dead - Katy Kirby Bad Eye Opal - Marina Allen Love Comes Back - Marina Allen Gravel Disco Road - Pasiflorez Farmers Friend - Pasiflorez Deadly Understudy - Smaller Hearts T…

1
S3E7: Harmony 'H-Money' Samuels - Crafting Global Hits 1:13:44

25d ago1:13:44

1:13:44

From the streets of London to the palm-lined avenues of California, Harmony ‘H-Money’ Samuels has lived a life in sound. He’s a man who has seen it all: a Grammy-nominated producer who has shaped the sonic landscapes of legends, from Janet Jackson’s timeless grooves to Wizkid’s Afro-fusion anthems. On this episode of "Afrobeats Intelligence," Joey …

1
Borderless Sounds: The New North Africa 59:04

22d ago59:04

59:04

North African music receives very little coverage in the United States. There are no high-profile mixes of recent Tunisian underground dance music from hip DJs, and no young Algerian musicians with major distribution deals in the U.S. So we decided to explore what exactly is going on in this part of the world. We trace the origins of some of the re…

1
Bongo Nation: Tanzania's Music Economy 59:00

1M ago59:00

59:00

Bongo Nation: Tanzania's Music Economy by Afropop WorldwideBy Afropop Worldwide

1
S21,E14: 08/12/24 (Famous Friend, Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Majak Door, Silver Biplanes, Gitkin, Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band, Molly Lewis, Golden Bug and The Limiñanas feat. Vega Voga) 55:20

1M ago55:20

55:20

Season 21 Episode 14 Blue - Famous Friend The Future is Our Way Out - Brigitte Calls Me Baby Impressively Average - Brigitte Calls Me Baby Borderline - Majak Door Call It What You Want - Majak Door Back of My Mind - Silver Biplanes Silver Wings - Silver Biplanes Go Time - Gitkin Don't You Want Me Baby (Cumbia) - Gitkin Love for the Sake of Dub - Ba…

1
Benin: Transforming Traditions 59:04

1M ago59:04

59:04

This program tells the story of generations of creative musicians from Benin who translate traditional, largely Vodun occult music into popular and experimental music. We hear traditional music styles including tchinkoumé, agbadja, and kakagbo, and explore how, starting in the 1970s, Sagbohan Danialou (a singer, drummer, guitarist and composer know…

1
Shake It Fo Ya Hood - The History of New Orleans Bounce 59:04

1M ago59:04

59:04

New Orleans, Louisiana is home to some of America's greatest musical traditions, and plays an outsized influence on the evolution of everything from jazz through to r&b, rock and funk. Today, the city is still legendary for its second line brass bands and brightly costumed Mardi Gras Indians. But if you've rolled through New Orleans on pretty much …

1
The Enigma Of Baba Sora 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

Foutanga Babani Sissoko, known also as Baba Sora, was one of the most generous patrons of Malian musicians, particularly griots, in modern times. His gifts of cash, gold, cars and houses are legendary, and the amount of music he inspired was voluminous. But the source of all those riches turned out to be dubious, to say the least. And when he died …

1
The Cameroon - Cuba Connection 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

The Abakuá society of Cuba conserves with remarkable orthodoxy language and rituals from the Ekpe society of West Africa. For The Cameroon-Cuba Connection, Dr. Ivor Miller shares with Georges Collinet and Ned Sublette his decades of research into the roots of Cuban Abakuá in Cameroon. Featuring ceremonial and pop music of southern and southwestern …

1
Rap, Reggae and Cultural Resistance in Belo Horizonte, Brazil 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

Belo Horizonte is Brazil’s sixth largest city and including its surrounding districts, the country’s third largest metropolitan area. The capital of Minas Gerais, a state built on mining, dairy products and coffee production, Belo Horizonte is often seen as a parochial, conservative backwater, yet its thriving alternative arts scene provides robust…

1
La Bamba – The Afro-Mexican Story 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

Much has been made of Mexico's rich Spanish and indigenous heritage, but until recently there's been little talk of Mexico's so-called "Third Root": Africa. Africans came to Mexico with the Spanish as soldiers and slaves -- so many that by 1810, the black population of Mexico was equal to that of the United States. Today, African heritage persists …

1
Lost Files E04: NSG 57:40

3M ago57:40

57:40

NSG is a British afroswing collective from Hackney East London. The group consists of Six members: OGD, Kruddz, Mojo, Dope, Papii Abz, and Mxjib. Their latest album, "Area Boyz," is out now.By Joey Akan

1
Youssou N'Dour Live at the Ritz 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

In 1989, very few Americans had heard the extraordinary voice of the man destined to be named “Best African Artists of the 20th Century.” Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour and his juggernaut mbalax band Le Super Etoile had played at The Ritz in New York three years earlier, and had recently been signed to Virgin Records. N’Dour’s own star was undoubtedly on…

1
Lost Files E03: Timi Dakolo 1:09:40

3M ago1:09:40

1:09:40

Timi Dakolo is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He emerged winner of the inaugural season of Idols West Africa in 2007. Accompanying his victory was a recording contract with Sony BMG, in addition to other prizes. A great vocalist his latest album is titled, "The Chorus Leader."By Joey Akan

1
Amazigh Rising, Part 2 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

The long awaited follow-up to Afropop's popular 2002 program "Berber Rising" brings listeners up to date on music being made by the original inhabitants of North Africa, the Imazighen, or Berber. The program will include interviews and music from Takfarinas, Malika Zarra, Idir, Amazight, Fatima Tabaamrant, Iness Mezel, Najat Aâtabou and more. We'll…

1
Amazigh Rising 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

The Amizigh, or Berber, are the original inhabitants of North Africa, which means their roots run deeper than the region’s better known Arab or European inhabitants. Berber history and music span from ancient sounds from the Atlas and Kabyle mountains to the latest pop fusions. In this, the first of Afropop’s Berber music series, we get the history…

1
Planet Afropop - Season Finale with Noise Cans and the Swanky Kitchen Band 59:28

3M ago59:28

59:28

The 20th edition of Planet Afropop marks the end of our first season. In this episode, we sample top new music picks from Mukwae and Banning, Georges remembers a childhood sweetheart, Mukwae interviews Bermudian DJ Noise Cans, and Banning interviews Samuel Rose of the Swanky Kitchen Band from the Cayman Islands.…

1
Mbalax Fever 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

From the 1970s to the present—hip-hop and Afrobeats notwithstanding—the most beloved and popular music in Senegal has been and remains mbalax. Mbalax grew out of a scene where urban bands Dakar bands like the Star Band and Orchestra Baobab were experimenting with Afro-Cuban music, funk and other foreign styles, blending and mixing them with local t…

1
Lost Files E1: Abdul Quam Tadese 57:52

3M ago57:52

57:52

Abdul Quam Tadese is a multi-faceted musician, culture entrepreneur and philanthropist.By Joey Akan

1
Planet Afropop - The Garifuna Collective: They Came Before Columbus 52:34

3M ago52:34

52:34

In this episode of Planet Afropop, we explore the music and language of the Caribbean coasts’ Afro-indigenous Garinagu People of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, St. Vincent, and Nicaragua commonly known as the Garifuna. The official story is that these are descendants of enslaved Africans who were shipwrecked on the Island of St. Vincent in 1635. The …

1
East African Taarab 59:04

4M ago59:04

59:04

The "taarab" music of East Africa's Swahili coast offers an amazing history lesson. Bantu and coastal Africans, Arabs, Portuguese, Germans, Brits, and Indians all figure in. With guest, anthropologist and author, Kelly Askew, this Hip Deep program explores the taarab music of Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mombasa, Kenya. The show features rar…

1
Breaking Into Afrobeats 59:04

4M ago59:04

59:04

On "Breaking Into Afrobeats" Georges Collinet and Lagos-based producer producer FayFay, shed light on the challenges faced by aspiring artists in the Afrobeats music industry in Nigeria. This episode introduces listeners to emerging talents like Romi, Bayanni, Boy Spyce, Lady Donli, Young John and Kidd Carder - highlighting their journeys, obstacle…

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