It's a great time in history for children of Africa. Hope is abound. Obama is in office. Nollywood is telling African stories by and for Africans. And African hip-hop is on the come up. While not all of these factors equate to a definite change in the African reality, it does prove that the possibilities for a better, brighter, and bolder future are more within our grasp than ever before. It is up to us to re-create tomorrow in our own image.
Some of the brave soldiers making this attempt ascend from the world of Hip-Hop. They come from Africa and are not ashamed to say that. In fact, with their positive, clever lyrics, soulful rhythms, and mesmerizing melodies, they are bringing more and more people along for the ride of the new African musical bandwagon. Some names to check for are Krukid, K'Naan, Nneka, Asha, Somi, Madarocka, and X Plastaz. There are many more to name and to discover so do your research.
One artist I had the pleasure to (re)discover recently is Ghanaian emcee M.Anifest. His newest release, The Birds and the Beats, restores my faith in good hip-hop the African way. He and others like him are pushing, pulling, and probing listeners to rethink what they know about Africa and how Africans should look, sound, and think. Download his music for free at www.manifestmc.com and hear it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.
I'll be posting new findings and time-tested African artists up here for your enjoyment and enlightenment from time to time. Check in to get the scoop.
Udo.
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