Drawing inspiration from both traditional Rwandan sounds and global influences, Sema Solé's work is a fusion of past and present, creating something distinct and relatable. His underground status allows him to experiment freely, carving a niche for himself in a scene that increasingly values artistic individuality.
Genre bending and shape-shifting is the name of the game when it comes to these projects.The basis of each of these projects is hip-hop and this is showcased in the rhythmic and percussive elements as well as lyrical flows and vocal cadences. But the artists’ creativity is seen in how each turns the traditions of the genre on its head, and expands with their own musical sensibilities.
R&B is back with the past quarter's latest musical giftings from the likes of Ugandan singer/ producer, MAUIMØON aka La Soülchyld, Kenyan singer-songwriter Maya Amolo and Kenyan-Ugandan artist Xenia Manasseh. We tap into these three artists’ projects, where they shift the idea of what R&B can mean in a world of genreless music.
Xenia Manasseh’s return to Kenya couldn’t have come at a better time. Fresh off the success of her latest album, Love/Hate Pt. 2, which recently topped the Apple Music R&B and Soul charts, she’s back home to give fans a live experience of the project.
In the beginning of 2020 over choppy Whatsapp calls, hours and hours were spent writing lyrics and bouncing ideas off of each other. These Whatsapp sessions were raw and real but marked a tough season of recalibration. Finding their voice after a period of feeling lost wasn’t easy, but they do speak of the time with nostalgia. They saw a lot of growth within themselves and their artistry and the music that came out of that time in something that brings the two pride.
Elsy Wameyo is an artist called to create, manifesting music that is deeply rooted in the state of her soul and a profound yearning to embody the essence of her spirit and culture.
We had the chance to chat with 5 filmmakers based here in Nairobi, Kenya who, each propelled by their love for cinema and art, have been making films and visual projects that have inspired many. With each in varying stages of their film career, we gained an understanding of the scope of what it really looks like trying to make movies in a climate that for very long, was working against you.
In the wake of protests and growing political literacy, Kenyan creatives are harnessing their power of creativity to push for systemic change and document the realities of the nationwide protests.
From Anguka Nayo to Daima, hear how a cross-generation of musicians has added their voices to the growing protests.
Curating a look, pulling a fit, and impressing the masses on the daily with your personal style is a feat not many are capable of taking on. But the artists and fashion folks we spoke to for this piece do it with ridiculous regularity.
From music, to photography, to visual artists, these people are using the power of the collective to share their stories and have impact on their local and even global communities.
The fourth edition of State of Fashion, under the theme “Ties that Bind”, brought together creative practices in fashion, textiles, and contemporary art from across the Global South. Curated by Louise Bennetts and Rachel Dedman in collaboration with Sunny Dolat, Kallol Datta, and Hanayrá Negreiros, this decentralized edition unfolds across Arnhem-Netherlands, Nairobi-Kenya, Bengaluru-India, and São Paulo-Brazil.
Goethe Institut’s The Jam concert held on Friday, April 19th, curated by TANGAZA Magazine, was a pulsating showcase of the dynamism of Kenya’s music scene.
WONDARLAND follows a young man named Baby Boy played by Frederick Sanga as he wanders through Dar es Salaam after abruptly being put out of his home. His escapades through the city blur the line between reality and fiction, bringing to life an array of curious characters that guide Baby Boy through his journey of becoming.
Sketch and stand-up comedy are the most popular forms of comedic performance in Kenya, often with an emphasis on slapstick and physical humour. Many Kenyan comedians have grown and gained great popularity in this arena over the last decade. But there’s a new crop of comedians and artists in the space who are changing the way audiences in Kenya think about comedy.
We explore a few of East Africa’s most interesting and dynamic fashion brands. These are brands that are moving the needle, and experimenting with fashion in big ways right in our backyard.
Nairobi Design Week is an annual festival that promotes the Kenyan design community, in collaboration with local and international partners. The annual festival gives citizens a chance to explore the scene, and participate in projects and conversations concerning their city by focusing on a theme, year after year.
Each year, the Ballantine’s True Music Fund awards 10 organizations are granted £10,000 to help sustain and enhance their essential work. The goal of the initiative is to support emerging local music-centric organisations and collectives as they strive for equality in music. Santuri East Africa is one of the recipients of the 2023 cycle of the grant, alongside nine other progressive organisations from across Africa, Brazil, and Spain.
At the tail end of 2020, three film lovers Jesse Mpango, Gertrude Malizana and Darragh Amelia came together to form the audio-visual collective Ajabu Ajabu. At first, the three would meet to watch independent African films on a big screen with friends. Eventually, the purpose was clear: to foster space for the preservation, production and presentation of audio-visual art.
It was Kalamashaka who together with Hardstone, Poxi Pressure and K-South became the mavericks that made it their own.
