This Is Africa

BBC World Service

DJ Edu catches up with the biggest names in music from across Africa, and meets the stars of afrobeats, amapiano, afrohouse and more. Tyla and Black Coffee from South Africa, Davido, Burna Boy, Rema and Tems from Nigeria, Sarkodie from Ghana and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania are now international superstars selling out at major venues around the world. One of the most respected club DJs from Africa, Edu has been there from the beginning of the afrobeats journey, bringing Africa's music to the world. This is Africa podcast brings you unmissable interviews and reveals the personalities behind the music, as well as the resilience, determination - and sometimes luck – they need for success. It is about all of Africa: artists from francophone and lusophone Africa, from Somalia to Sao Tome, from Niger to Namibia, making music in genres ranging from kizomba to genge, afro soul and afro pop to hip hop and electro, through to coupe de cale, rumba, soukous and afro dancehall. And every episode DJ Edu brings his “10 in 10” playlist, mashing up ten hot new tracks from ten different countries in Africa. You can contact the show via WhatsApp +44 8000 321721 or on the socials @iamdjedu, #BBCthisisafrica You can also listen to a music rich version of This Is Africa on BBC World Service radio. Broadcast times for your corner of the world can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct72fb Previous guests on This Is Africa include Bien, Nasty C, Lojay, Inez, Guchi, Fuse ODG, Emma’a, Miss Jobizz, Theodora, Milton Kizzy, Lydia Jazmine, Oxlade, Dystinct, Wendy Shay, Jay Cash, Yo Maps, Ruger, Gyakie, Rophnan, Ckay, DJ Maphorisa, Magic System, BNXN, Tiwa Savage, Black Sherif, Ayra Starr, Sauti Sol, Joshua Baraka, Sampa the Great, Awilo Longomba, Santrinos Raphael, Moliy, Moonchild Sanelly, Victoria Kimani, Joe Boy, Qing Madi, John Frog, Stonebwoy, Shasha, Adekunle Gold, Simi, Libianca, Onesimus, Angelique Kidjo, Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Fally Ipupa, Dizzy Dros, Mr Eazi…

Episodes

  1. 12h ago

    Sampa the Great and Jagari Chanda

    DJ Edu is joined by two of Zambia’s most groundbreaking musicians, Sampa the Great and Emmanuel Jagari Chanda. Sampa the Great’s career took off in Australia, where she was a student. Heavily hip-hop influenced, her first body of work, The Great Mixtape, introduced a bold, distinctive, politically engaged voice, proudly feminist and proudly African, with a rich and inventive sound. Birds and the Bee9, dropped in 2017, brought Sampa critical acclaim and fans around the globe. It was followed by The Return in 2019, and As Above So Below in 2022. Sampa has performed at Glastonbury, Coachella and the Sydney Opera House, and has collaborated with the likes of Angelique Kidjo, Tricky and Ezra Collective. Her song Never Forget featured prominently in the promotional material for the Marvel movie Black Panther – Wakanda Forever. Sampa’s latest album Nu Zamrock is, as the title suggests, deeply influenced by Zamrock, a musical genre that shook up Zambia in the 1970s. Jagari Chanda is the lead singer of Zamrock band Witch, which stands for We Intend to Cause Havoc. Fired up by western musicians including Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, Witch shook up conservative Zambia with their wild performances, which were mobbed by fans. Thanks to US record label Now-Again, and the re-release of their music, WITCH has been enjoying a revival, and, for the first time, global fame. DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklisting: Nta Liya - أنت ليا - Inez ft Najm (Morocco) Ja Maru Negn Ke Dessie - JA MARU (Ethiopia) Bernay - Markafish (Sierra Leone) PENSULO - Driemo (Malawi) Nous aussi - Delpega (Gabon) Too Much - Nutty O & Fido (Zimbawe & Nigeria) Pejy Araiky - Rim-Ka & Fokawa (Madagascar) Face Card ft C.I.C - Stunn (Liberia) Ala Bekee - Yemi Alade & Don Jazzy (Nigeria) Red Dress - KiDi (Ghana) Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows

    Sampa the Great and Jagari Chanda
  2. Sep 4

    Morravey

    There are thousands of girls with beautiful voices in Nigeria, and hundreds who sing covers of afrobeats hits and post them on social media. But there are not many who get spotted by Davido. As she tells DJ Edu, Morravey was dumbstruck when Davido reached out to her, having seen her cover of Bandana by Fireboy DML and Asake. It didn’t take long for her to abandon her studies, pack up her bags and leave Port Harcourt for Lagos. That was in 2023, and now Morravey, still only 22, is signed to Davido’s label, has performed with him and features on his song In the Garden. Davido also appears on her own title, Magician. Morravey has a string of popular tracks including Ifineme, Condo and You. She tells DJ Edu she has had no singing lessons, but has been watching and learning from other artists, imitating their vocal techniques, since she was 15. Beyonce and Zara Larsson are especially big influences. When it comes to her storytelling, Morravey’s sources are wide ranging, but she likes to watch movies and imagine herself in the shoes of the characters on screen. DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklisting: Ngiyaphuza Ngijabula - Way Kay & Piano Ya Africa (Botswana) Vera reka - Lion Hill, Ljo & Ceasar (Madagascar) Nutu - Mapia One Dictionary (South Sudan) Kasi Lam - Nkosazana Daughter & Focalistic ft Da Muziqal Chef & Mlooda (South Africa) Celebration - Vibron (Cameroon) Mai Maria - Nutty O & Gemma Griffiths (Zimbabwe) SAFF - Asidik (Gambia) Frangō - Kweku Flick (Ghana) Look At Me - Naeomi (Nigeria) TAYINI - David 6D (Mali) Presenter - DJ Edu Producer - Catherine Fellows

    Morravey
  3. Aug 14

    Phillbill

    Phillbill from Cameroon is a talented producer and artist who is succeeding despite the odds. He comes from Buea, in Cameroon’s south-west region; it's part of the anglophone territory which has experienced awful violence since 2017, following a separatist uprising. Phillbill has had to relocate to Douala and, as he tells DJ Edu, navigate the complex social landscape of his country. His songs are sung in a mixture of French and pidgin English, and he also draws on the numerous African languages of Cameroon as well as the musical traditions of various ethnic groups including the Doula, Beti and Bamileke peoples. Phillbill has produced songs for a long list of other artists, including Kocee, Daphne and Blanche Bailly from Cameroon, and Roseline Layo from Ivory Coast. He produced Paris Fever, a collaboration between Senegal’s Wally Seck and Chris Brown from the US, and he’s had hits with his former band Ridimz. But now he’s focusing on his own music and his passion for promoting the rich culture of Cameroon, making music which celebrates the positive and brings divided people together as well as bringing them solace. He calls his sound Afro-moderne, and he’s also coined a new term – Bikossa - because he blends Makossa, Bikutsi and other Cameroonian popular musical forms with urban genres like afrobeats, hip hop and afro house. He’s already a big star at home, but he’s determined to bring his music to a global audience. DJ Edu's 10in10 Tracklisting: Lolendo - Yuma Yeyo & Héritier Wata (Democratic Republic of Congo) Uhakika (Remix) - Ibraah ft Zuchu (Tanzania) Feel Am - Magixx (Nigeria) Lisboa - Nelson Freitas ft Agatchu (Cabo Verde) Iholele - Drama T (Burundi) What Do I Know - Joshua Baraka (Uganda) You Know (Ah Ah Aah) - One Blood Namibia (Namibia) No Games - Drizilik & Isat (Sierra Leone) SORRY MOYO WANGU - ExQ (Zimbabwe) Popopo - Pheno Ambro (Togo) Presented by DJ Edu Produced by Catherine Fellows

    Phillbill
  4. Aug 7

    Davido

    Davido sits down with DJ Edu to celebrate his 15-year career, and a new album, Oriadé, which he says is all about going back to his roots. Davido has been a huge player in taking Afrobeats to the next level, and in particular gaining visibility in the US and globally. He has sold out London’s O2 and New York’s Madison Square Garden, he is five-times Grammy nominated, and his 2019 hit Fall had the longest run for a Nigerian song in Billboard chart history. However, in this interview, Davido reminds us that he has always made a point of touring Africa, and believes African artists are now too obsessed with success in the US and the wider world, forgetting that there are a billion-plus music lovers in Africa. He expresses his concern about the anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, as well as his enthusiasm for South Africa’s 3-step Afro house subgenre. Davido also talks about the toll touring takes on him, his huge wedding in Miami, spending time with his wife and two-year-old twins, and working in his new state-of-the-art home studio. Presented by DJ Edu Produced by Catherine Fellows DJ Edu's 10 in 10 tracklist: Maria - Rita Wangui (Kenya) Pépélé - Fally Ipupa & Guy2Bezbar (DRCongo) Yoyo - Will Flash ft Nahj (Liberia) Nu Ten - Lisandro Cuxi (Cabo Verde) Voz da Multidão - Deejay Telio (Angola) Dima ديما – Inez ft KeBlack (Morocco) Seydou Daouda & Aïcha - Shiloh.MMG & Zikiri Sourakata Kone (Mali) BON MOOD - Døpelym (Ivory Coast) BENIN - Bobo Wê (Benin) Borrow - Magasco (Cameroon)

    Davido
  5. Jun 12

    Introducing...This Is Africa

    DJ Edu catches up with the biggest names in music from across Africa, and meets the stars of afrobeats, amapiano, afrohouse and more. Tyla and Black Coffee from South Africa, Davido, Burna Boy, Rema and Tems from Nigeria, Sarkodie from Ghana and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania are now international superstars selling out at major venues around the world. One of the most respected club DJs from Africa, Edu has been there from the beginning of the afrobeats journey, bringing Africa's music to the world. This is Africa podcast brings you unmissable interviews and reveals the personalities behind the music, as well as the resilience, determination - and sometimes luck – they need for success. It is about all of Africa: artists from francophone and lusophone Africa, from Somalia to Sao Tome, from Niger to Namibia, making music in genres ranging from kizomba to genge, afro soul and afro pop to hip hop and electro, through to coupe de cale, rumba, soukous and afro dancehall. And every episode DJ Edu brings his “10 in 10” playlist, mashing up ten hot new tracks from ten different countries in Africa. You can contact the show via WhatsApp +44 8000 321721 or on the socials @iamdjedu, #BBCthisisafrica You can also listen to a music rich version of This Is Africa on BBC World Service radio. Broadcast times for your corner of the world can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct72fb Previous guests on This Is Africa include Bien, Nasty C, Lojay, Inez, Guchi, Fuse ODG, Emma’a, Miss Jobizz, Theodora, Milton Kizzy, Lydia Jazmine, Oxlade, Dystinct, Wendy Shay, Jay Cash, Yo Maps, Ruger, Gyakie, Rophnan, Ckay, DJ Maphorisa, Magic System, BNXN, Tiwa Savage, Black Sherif, Ayra Starr, Sauti Sol, Joshua Baraka, Sampa the Great, Awilo Longomba, Santrinos Raphael, Moliy, Moonchild Sanelly, Victoria Kimani, Joe Boy, Qing Madi, John Frog, Stonebwoy, Shasha, Adekunle Gold, Simi, Libianca, Onesimus, Angelique Kidjo, Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Fally Ipupa, Dizzy Dros, Mr Eazi…

Trailer

About

DJ Edu catches up with the biggest names in music from across Africa, and meets the stars of afrobeats, amapiano, afrohouse and more. Tyla and Black Coffee from South Africa, Davido, Burna Boy, Rema and Tems from Nigeria, Sarkodie from Ghana and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania are now international superstars selling out at major venues around the world. One of the most respected club DJs from Africa, Edu has been there from the beginning of the afrobeats journey, bringing Africa's music to the world. This is Africa podcast brings you unmissable interviews and reveals the personalities behind the music, as well as the resilience, determination - and sometimes luck – they need for success. It is about all of Africa: artists from francophone and lusophone Africa, from Somalia to Sao Tome, from Niger to Namibia, making music in genres ranging from kizomba to genge, afro soul and afro pop to hip hop and electro, through to coupe de cale, rumba, soukous and afro dancehall. And every episode DJ Edu brings his “10 in 10” playlist, mashing up ten hot new tracks from ten different countries in Africa. You can contact the show via WhatsApp +44 8000 321721 or on the socials @iamdjedu, #BBCthisisafrica You can also listen to a music rich version of This Is Africa on BBC World Service radio. Broadcast times for your corner of the world can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct72fb Previous guests on This Is Africa include Bien, Nasty C, Lojay, Inez, Guchi, Fuse ODG, Emma’a, Miss Jobizz, Theodora, Milton Kizzy, Lydia Jazmine, Oxlade, Dystinct, Wendy Shay, Jay Cash, Yo Maps, Ruger, Gyakie, Rophnan, Ckay, DJ Maphorisa, Magic System, BNXN, Tiwa Savage, Black Sherif, Ayra Starr, Sauti Sol, Joshua Baraka, Sampa the Great, Awilo Longomba, Santrinos Raphael, Moliy, Moonchild Sanelly, Victoria Kimani, Joe Boy, Qing Madi, John Frog, Stonebwoy, Shasha, Adekunle Gold, Simi, Libianca, Onesimus, Angelique Kidjo, Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Fally Ipupa, Dizzy Dros, Mr Eazi…