Genre Spotlight: Igbo Rap in NigeriaBy Josplay | 12/3/2025 | GenresRather 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.
Genre Spotlight: Kadongo KamuBy Josplay | 11/28/2025 | GenresKadongo 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.
The ABC of SongwritingBy Josplay | 11/26/2025 | GeneralAs songwriters, we move through a wide spectrum of themes: romance, joy, heartbreak, birth, death, longing, conflict, healing, celebration, loneliness, and every unnamed feeling in between.
Genre Spotlight: Maskandi in South AfricaBy Josplay | 11/24/2025 | GenresMaskandi is a Zulu folk sound rooted in migrant history, blending storytelling, guitar traditions, and modern influences. Its resurgence among young South Africans shows how the genre is evolving into a bold expression of pride, identity, and cultural memory
A Case for African Female ArtistsBy Josplay | 11/21/2025 | PeopleA deep look at female African artists, their rising global influence, the barriers they face, and why the music industry must create stronger pathways for women.
Genre Spotlight: Mahraganat in EgyptBy Josplay | 11/19/2025 | GenresMahraganat music, Egypt’s electrifying blend of Shaabi rhythms, hip-hop energy, and raw electronic beats, began from Cairo’s streets and went ahead to become a defining voice for urban youth. Despite bans and controversy, the genre continues to reshape Egyptian pop culture through rhythm, resistance, and grassroots creativity
Nigerian Contemporary Music Scenes in the 1990sBy Josplay | 11/17/2025 | GeneralThe 1990s marked a defining era for contemporary Nigerian music, blending indigenous rhythms with global influences to create a fresh sound. This period witnessed the rise of pioneering artists who fused hip-hop, R&B, reggae, Afro-juju and highlife into a new urban identity.
The Extraordinary Journey of Raï MusicBy Josplay | 11/13/2025 | GenresRaï music began in the smoky cabarets of colonial Oran and eventually made its way to the cultural heritage list of UNESCO. It is most defiant and influential musical export from Algeria, a genre born from struggle that never gave up.
Genre Spotlight: Asakaa in GhanaBy Josplay | 11/10/2025 | GenresBorn in Kumasi’s Ashanti New Town, Ghana’s Asakaa music blends local slang, drill rhythms, and hip-hop energy. Led by the Asakaa Boys, it’s reshaping Ghanaian youth culture, fashion, and global perceptions of African street music.
The Streaming Platform Built for African Music is JosplayBy Josplay | 11/6/2025 | Company NewsAs the African music industry continues its explosive growth, platforms like Josplay are not just streaming services, they are cultural infrastructure, ensuring that the creative wealth of the continent benefits its creators and communities first.
Genre Spotlight: Coupé-Décalé in CongoBy Josplay | 11/3/2025 | ReviewsCoupé-Décalé fuses Ivorian and Congolese rhythms into an energetic dance sound born in Paris. From Abidjan to Kinshasa, its electric guitars, flashy style, and club-ready beats continue to shape Congo’s nightlife and modern African music culture.
Josplay joins Africa’s biggest music conversation - ACCES 2025By Josplay | 10/28/2025 | Company NewsJosplay will join hundreds of Africa’s leading music professionals in Pretoria, South Africa, for ACCES 2025 - the Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases.
Genre Spotlight: Dancehall in NigeriaBy Josplay | 10/24/2025 | ReviewsDancehall, which emerged in Jamaica in the late 1970s, evolved from roots reggae into a rhythm-heavy sound defined by its Patois lyrics and infectious riddims. In Nigeria, it grew into Afro-dancehall; a lively fusion of Jamaican grooves, African rhythms, and local storytelling that continues to shape the country’s modern music scene.
Salif Keita: The Golden Voice that Defied TraditionBy Josplay | 10/22/2025 | PeopleHe was born royal, but forbidden to sing. From Mali’s noble lineage to global stages, Salif Keita turned rejection into rhythm and pain into purpose. His album Soro didn’t just make history — it changed the sound of African music forever.
