Your essential dose of art and culture
Jazz and activism have long been intertwined, but how does the music speak today?
Gyakie blends Afrobeats, R&B and soul to create a sound that’s all her own
South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini’s latest album, uNomkhubulwane, is a masterpiece of transcendent spiritual jazz that draws on his Zulu cultural heritage and cosmology
The Mail & Guardian asked some of our favourite musicians and critics what they thought of the list and to tell us which three South African albums they believed should be on such an inventory
Record labels that bring us sounds which fly under the radar
The reissuing of African music is far more than
merely an exercise in nostalgia and ‘retromania’
Rebeca Omordia has taken the continent’s classical music onto the stages of the world
‘Music is the weapon of the future,’ said Fela Kuti. If so, Africa’s leaders need to arm themselves —and these are the songs they should start with
The death of Kurt Cobain shocked photographer Youri Lenquette, but he sees future in African music.
Classical musical instruments get a new life with modern recordings.
The duo returns to cause mayhem with their ‘Pretoria High School’ hair-do and gospel porn rap.
Charles Leonard chooses a fine, eclectic mix of jazz – local, spiritual, Afro-futurist – dub, electronica and pop.
Hip-hoppers Cassper Nyovest and AKA dominate the accolades of this year’s South Africa’s Hip Hop awards.
African and Western musicians collaborate to produce rich music influenced by their different cultures.
The highest-earning but most overlooked artists in the music industry are finally getting their own awards ceremony.
Rokia Traoré has been pursuing her muse — and discovering more of her Malian musical identity.
The continent is becoming hot stuff as traditional instruments take over dance floors across the world.
Intercontinental inspiration mixes with Africa in the work of these talented artists who are global stars on the music scene.
Musician Baaba Maal speaks to the M&G about ‘Africa Utopia’, a series of talks, concerts and events he is curating in London ahead of the Olympics.
It would be easy for someone as in demand as Fatoumata Diawara to forget exactly who she is at times.
Words that defined a generation were more profound than this celebrated composer from Mamelodi realised, writes <b>Lloyd Gedye</b>.
Bob Marley’s 67th birthday provides an opportunity to reflect on reggae’s love affair with Africa.
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/ 14 November 2011
Nigerian artists took the lion’s share of the prizes at the Channel O Music Video Awards this weekend.
When I registered for my part-time honours degree Mary Rörich had started an appreciation club for postgraduate students.
Words and songs have long inspired us. "If music be the food of love, play on," said William Shakespeare, writes <b>Nikiwe Bikitsha</b>.
<b>Lloyd Gedye</b> takes a musical journey through the streets of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar’s Stone Town.
When not wandering the musical globe, DJ Oil works with other musical explorers from France.
Musician Thomas Mapfumo may well be the prophet in the aphorism: "Only in his hometown is a prophet without honour."
Percy Zvomuya speaks to Oliver Mtukudzi about the changing context of his music.
Percy Zvomuya talks to Putumayo head Dan Storper about the complex task of compiling world music.
There’s a growing volume of scholarship around South African music.