The Bridge Between African Music and Fashion

Across Africa, music and clothing have always worked together as powerful cultural languages. From sacred ceremonies to global music stages, rhythm and cloth continue to express identity, heritage, and creativity across the continent.

Celebrating African Women in Music

By Josplay | 3/9/2026 | General

From Bikutsi gatherings in Cameroon to the global stages of today’s Afrobeats stars, African women have shaped the sound and story of the music of the continent. This International Women Day, the African Music Library celebrates their enduring influence.

Ogene Music: The Sound of Igbo Heritage

By Josplay | 3/6/2026 | Instrument

Ogene is backed up by some other instruments, Ichaka, Oyo, Olu, Oja, Udu, and Takuro or Mpokoro. The lead instrument is determined by which eastern part it is played

Cameroon, Where Language Shapes the Rhythm

By Josplay | 3/4/2026 | People

Cameroon is a country divided by language and held together by sound. English and French mark its geography, but it is the balafon, the hoddu, and the insistent roll of bikutsi that mark its people. But how does its two tongues influence the music?

When Mother Tongue Shapes the Nigerian Sound

By Josplay | 2/27/2026 | General

Why do Nigerian artists instinctively switch between English and indigenous languages mid-song? From Afrobeats to gospel, the blend feels effortless yet intentional. Is it tonal instinct, cultural identity, or commercial strategy at play? This week, we explore how language does not just carry lyrics in Nigerian music — it shapes melody, authenticity and market reach.

Josplay awards $1,000 in artist development grants to emerging African acts

By Josplay | 2/23/2026 | Company News

The initiative highlights the commitment of Josplay to empowering emerging African musicians through structured funding and platform visibility.

Do You need to Learn Music Theory to Excel in Music?

By Josplay | 2/18/2026 | General

Do you need music theory to excel in music? From Fela Kuti taking classical training at Trinity College to Salif Keita teaching himself in secret, the stories of the greatest African musicians suggest that theory is a tool — not a requirement. The real question is not whether to learn it, but when it becomes useful.

SHEKERE KÌ Í LỌ S Ọ̀DẸ̀ ÌBÀNÚJẸ́: Emotional Boundaries in Yoruba Instrumental Practice

By Josplay | 2/13/2026 | Instrument

Yoruba musical culture views instruments in terms of occasion and function. Every instrument has social, emotional, and occasionally spiritual connotations that influence its use and timing. As a result, context, not taste, determines how music is made.

Ghanaian Highlife Joins UNESCO Intangible Heritage List

By Josplay | 2/9/2026 | General

From the coast of Ghana to global recognition, the inscription of Highlife on UNESCO heritage list highlights its role in shaping African popular music across generations.

Africa at The 2026 Grammy Awards

By Josplay | 2/6/2026 | People

The 2026 Grammys marked more than a win. They signaled how far African music has come and how much further it can go when authenticity meets global strategy.

Mara Dance: Breaking Gender Boundaries in Nigeria’s TrenchTok Movement

By Josplay | 2/3/2026 | Genres

From Lagos trenches to TikTok timelines, Mara dance and Street House music are reshaping how Nigerian youth express identity, resilience, and gender beyond rigid social norms. How?

What Would a Performance Tour Across Africa Look Like?

By Josplay | 1/30/2026 | General

This is a journey across Africa told through stages, crowds, and sound. From the Congo River to the Atlantic coast, from the highlands of Ethiopia to the streets of Lagos, the tour becomes a map of African music itself.

The Guitar Came, Saw, and Built a Home in African Music

By Josplay | 1/26/2026 | Instrument

The guitar arrived in Africa as a traveler, but it stayed as family. Join us as we explore the journey of the guitar from coastal ports to village squares, from palm-wine bars to stadiums, and how African musicians turned six strings into a thousand tongues of rhythm and history.

The Long Story of Rock Music in Africa

By Josplay | 1/21/2026 | Genres

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.

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?