The UK's
African Music
Guide
Bringing together the UK's vibrant African music scene
Calabash!
Celebrates Africa!
Africa has the most diverse and exciting music on the planet.
Discover the latest releases – from Africa, the diaspora and homegrown talent in the UK with an African flavour!
Keep up with what’s on – with our events and gig guide dedicated to African music.
Enjoy our playlists – of songs from the latest African music releases and artists on stage in the UK
Tony Allen photo credit : Bernard Benant
COVID 19
It is so wonderful to see a few venues opening up again!
Please follow venue guidelines – lets beat this! and get our live music back!
News, features & reviews
Orchestra Baobab 50th Anniversary
This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of Africa’s greatest bands, Senegal’s Orchestra Baobab. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, the band has announced the issue of their landmark 2002 reunion album ‘Specialist In All Styles’ for the first time ever on vinyl, on September 25th.
Oumou Sangaré | Acoustic Album | Out June 19 |
An acoustic version of the 2017 album ‘Mogoya’ will be released by Nø Førmat digitally on June 19, 2020, with physical formats available from August 28, 2020.
The album simply named ‘Acoustic’ is a totally unplugged ‘live’ studio recording with the same members who played with Oumou at the London EartH show in April 2019 that celebrated the 15th anniversary of her label Nø Førmat.
You can view the album trailer here.
Africadelic – International Africa Day
Africadelic the annual event in Amsterdam that celebrates International Africa day has organised a 12-hour live streaming event on 25 May
With over 15 confirmed artists so far including ONIPA, Blick Bassy, and Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band, it promises to be an enthralling day of performances and lively debates. There is also 2 days of contemporary African cinema available on demand too.
NOT TO BE MISSED!
Full details of how to watch here
An African Music Safari
We are delighted to have been asked by Travel Africa Magazine to compile an ‘African music safari’ for their readers. It covers some of the continents amazing artists from Morocco to Zimbabwe. You can read the journey here.
Don't miss these
live and online events!
22nd August 2020 • 6pm or 8:45pm • London & Online
The Nest Collective invites you to enjoy a beautiful outdoor concert with Millicent Chapanda and Germa Adan.
Millicent Chapanda is a proud cultural artist with a vibrant mission to bring the lived experience of women in Zimbabwe onto international world music stages with her mbiria and distictive voice.
Germa Adan is musician, composer and singer-songwriter. With influences by Haitian, American and British folk, as well as her classical training.
Malian vocalist Fatoumata Diawara will deliver an exclusive set from her home as part of the Royal Albert Home sessions.
Saturday 22nd Aug and Sunday 23rd August at 18:00 – 22:30
Live Gambian Music with master kora player Jally Kebba and his band at Grow Hackney
Forging a new trajectory of sound for the West African harp, Jally Kebba skilfully blends the traditional repertoire into his own heady jazz concoction that is filled with nuances and intoxicating rhythmical layers that give the music depth and intrigue.
Out on the town
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