The Long Story of Rock Music in Africa

The Long Story of Rock Music in Africa

Rock music in Africa has never been a copy of the West. From 1960s city bands to hybrid alternative scenes of today, African musicians have used rock to express identity, resistance, and change in their own terms. This is the story of how the sound took root, survived, and evolved.

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Is There Still Hope for African Music Bands?
By Josplay | 1/15/2026 | General
Once the backbone of African popular music, bands shaped the sound of the continent from highlife to soukous and afrobeat. Today, solo stars and digital production dominate the charts. But as live music scenes quietly re-emerge and audiences rediscover the power of collective sound, the question remains: is there still hope for African music bands?
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If African Music had a Personality …
By Josplay | 1/9/2026 | General
If African music had a personality, it would not be a single character. It would be a ...
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Is African Music Really “All About Drums”?
By Josplay | 1/8/2026 | General
We associate Africa with rhythm almost by reflex. But where did that idea come from, and what does it miss?
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Shaabi Music, heartbeat of the Streets
By Josplay | 1/5/2026 | Genres
When you walk through the neighborhoods of Cairo, there is a rhythm that pulses through the streets, a sound that captures the heartbeat of everyday Egyptian life. This is Shaabi music.
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The Ekpe Secret Society: Its Governance, Ritual, and Symbolism in West Africa
By Josplay | 12/29/2025 | People
The Ekpe secret society of West Africa developed sophisticated governance systems using leopard symbolism, Nsibidi writing, and coded drum communication centuries before colonial contact. Explore this enduring Nigerian cultural institution.
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Genre Spotlight: Gqom in South Africa
By Josplay | 12/24/2025 | Genres
In the early years of Gqom, minibus taxis served as the testing ground for the genre. Because its heavy bass and compressed rhythms cut through noisy environments, taxis became moving sound systems—and if your taxi played Gqom, people noticed. This is the story of how the raw, minimalist sound from Durban claimed its place in global club culture.
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Genre Spotlight: Morna in Cape Verde
By Josplay | 12/16/2025 | Genres
Cape Verdean Morna, known as the Queen Music, is a heritage genre born from centuries of migration and longing. Rooted in the improvised songs of enslaved women, it evolved into a poignant musical form expressing sodade—deep emotional yearning—that Cesária Évora brought to global stages.
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Afrobeats, Amapiano… and What Next?
By Josplay | 12/15/2025 | Genres
Afrobeats dominated the 2010s. Amapiano owned the 2020s. But what is next? Could it be Afro Rave, Arewa Sound, or Afro House or Afro tech? The next global sound of Africa is forming right now.
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Your Detty December Opportunities
By Josplay | 12/12/2025 | General
Detty December is not just vibes. It is a chance for you, an indie artist, to be seen, heard and remembered. Here is how to turn Lagos festive chaos into real momentum
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Gender Roles in African Music Traditions
By Josplay | 12/11/2025 | Instrument
The nyatiti was strictly played by the male gender until Anyango (Eriko Mukoyama), a female Japanese player, broke a rule thousands of years old.
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Spiritual Symbols of African Animal Carvings
By Josplay | 12/8/2025 | General
Different animal carvings in Africa create a living visual language. The lion symbolizes kingship and authority, while the crocodile symbolizes duality and spiritual power. The elephant, serpent, antelope, birds and buffalo represents different virtues.
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Remastering, Remixing, Reimagining, Sampling, and Interpolation: What’s the difference?
By Josplay | 12/5/2025 | General
Remastering, Remixing, Reimagining, Sampling, and Interpolation, What is the difference?
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Genre Spotlight: Igbo Rap in Nigeria
By Josplay | 12/3/2025 | Genres
Rather than mirroring American hip-hop, Igbo rap carved its own identity by blending traditional instruments like the igba, udu, and ogene with contemporary production. Pioneered by Mr. Raw and MC Loph, then revolutionized by Phyno street-focused storytelling, the genre has evolved from cultural commentary to raw youth narratives.
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Genre Spotlight: Kadongo Kamu
By Josplay | 11/28/2025 | Genres
Kadongo Kamu is oldest mainstream genre  from Uganda. It blends rich Ganda storytelling with its signature single-guitar style. Rooted in Bakisimba rhythms, it remains culturally powerful through pioneers and modern artists who are keeping its tradition alive across generations.