Month: May 2019

Short Wave |ep.001| Martial Panucci on Hip Hop Music in Congo, French Neo-colonialism, and Living in Exile

Martial Pa’nucci is a hip-hop artist from the Republic of Congo currently living in exile in Burkina Faso following various threats to his life as a result of his activism through music against the dictatorship in his home. Whilst in Accra for a workshop engagement, we managed to spend some time with him to learn a bit more about himself, his work and his general outlook on the lives of artists in Congo. Speaking to Martial was an education and reminder of the risks various artist across the world have to take to be expressive.

Album Review: Youssou N’Dour Pay Tribute To Architects of His “History” on New Project

As the African contemporary sound continues to grow and change, it is also important to be reminded of the brilliance that brought us to where we are, and celebrate that excellence. Albums like History are bespoke for this purposes, filling you will the satisfaction of nostalgia yet guiding you into the future.

Album Review: Tresor Reminds Us Of The Refreshing Sound of Nostalgia

Tresor’s Nostalgia is definitely up there with some of the very well written and composed bodies of music reviewed on this website. The project is a testament to the diversity of the contemporary African sound as it offers an alternative joy to the pulsating and algorithmic “afrobeat” sound. Much like Pierre Kwenders, Chino Amobi and Beatenberg, Tresor via Nostalgia expands the scope of what our lives as Africans can sound like. Indeed, this is made possible by grounding the album in the music of his childhood drawing of the intrinsic rhythms and melodies that are enveloped in his memories of the past, made fresh by the voice of the present.