Miriam Makeba was the first African to win a Grammy, but only when she partnered with a US star, Harry Belafonte.
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African artists with major US industry support have the advantage - now more than ever.
Kora star Ballaké Sissoko at the sacred place of Sanementereng in The Gambia.
Screengrab/Ballaké Sissoko: Kora Tales/Vimeo
The extraordinary documentary Ballaké Sissoko: Kora Tales takes a journey from Mali to The Gambia.
Angelique Kidjo on stage in Paris in 2021.
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Kidjo has a remarkable cultural vision that spans the globe but stays true to her roots.
Burna Boy promotes his new album Love, Damini in the US.
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With his new album Love, Damini he has conquered the world. But how much of his creative soul does he have left?
World Circuit Records
Gomis was the last surviving founder of Orchestra Baobab, Senegal’s most famous band.
Orlando Julius (left) on stage with his wife, the dancer and singer Latoya Aduke.
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The man who taught Fela Kuti a thing or two has been all but erased from formal music history. He deserves much better treatment in death.
Musician Orlando Julius with his wife, dancer Latoya Aduke Ekemode.
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He played every venue that mattered, a global face of Afrobeat. Orlando Julius embodied the groove.
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His rhythmic sounds connected with the diaspora and his collaborations with stars like Drake and Beyoncé elevated his name.
Made Kuti performs in Lagos in 2021.
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Of a record nine nominees, seven are from West Africa. The global rise of Afrobeats music owes its soul to Nigeria’s iconic star Fela Kuti.