africandanceunderground.jpg HOMECOMING™ founder Grace Ladoja and electronic music lead Zoë Hodges pick out 10 essential DJs from the African dance underground Africa’s club culture is entering a new phase driven by DJs who aren’t waiting for validation from the global stage and outside of traditional infrastructures. The rise in electronic music in [...]
afrohouse.jpg The Afro House movement has taken the electronic music world by storm, blending the deep, hypnotic grooves of house music with the raw energy and polyrhythmic complexity of African percussion. Rooted in tradition yet driven by modern production techniques, Afro House represents a fusion of cultures, sounds, and dancefloor experiences. In this article, we’ll [...]
The influence of electronic sonics on Nigeria's mainstream music landscape has ramped up considerably in recent years, evolving its sounds beyond the long-established dominance of Afropop. Blossom Maduafokwa reports on the groundbreaking fusion of sounds ushering in a new era of Nigerian music Nigerian MCs and dancehall specialists skating across Baile funk beats? Asake, Fuji extraordinaire and Street Pop rebel, sampling Louisiana bounce? Young Jonn, resident Afropop [...]
Ahead of her performance at Miller & Beatport's 'Miller Mix' show in Johannesburg on December 7th, rising African dance music DJ Shamiso introduces us to some of her country's most innovative and soul-stirring tracks. I am extremely thrilled to share this playlist with you. I have created a mix that honours Afrocentric rhythms, which [...]
Amsterdam Dance Event 2024 showcased Afrohouse in all its forms, evidencing the genre’s exponentially expanding influence and appeal. Once an underground movement known for its deep, soulful grooves, it's no secret that Afro House is surging into dance music's mainstream. And the 2024 Amsterdam Dance Event left no doubt about its broadening global reach. This year's [...]
Amapiano has taken over the world, but despite its success, some of the genre's most influential creators are not getting the rewards they deserve. In the final instalment of our three-part series documenting Amapiano's Second Wave, Jake Colvin explores how South Africa's economic conditions and exploitation from established stars are adversely affecting young producers [...]
East Africa’s first music technology summit, Kilele, brought together artists and industry figures from Kenya and across Africa and Europe for a series of boundary-pushing performances, discussions and collaborations. Martin Guttridge-Hewitt reports on how the event and a bubbling local underground are ushering in a new era for Nairobi’s electronic music scene Exiting your car [...]
Pioneered by Thakzin and co-signed by Kaytranada, this twist on Afro house combines elements of amapiano, Afro tech and broken beat. Shiba Melissa Mazaza charts the genre's rise. It was a sweltering December evening in Johannesburg and I was perched onstage behind a speaker, only arm's length from the decks. All around me, a [...]
The hotly-tipped Brazilian DJ/producer and label head gives us the low down on his invigorating Afro House tribute to Brazil's indigenous peoples. Hey Maz, congratulations on your Beatport #1! Have you had a chance to celebrate? Hey Beatport fam, thank you so much! I want to thank you all for the support on the track; [...]
South Africa's love for house music flourished in the early ’90s as the Apartheid era ended, pushed primarily by DJs in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria. Now, it's a focal point, filled with local styles and stars. Martin Guttridge-Hewitt heads to Gauteng to learn the story of the scene’s origins, and the risks its pioneers [...]