African express

The rightly global recognition of contemporary African stars has been a massive case in point. Africa’s vital impact on, and interaction with, international music is deep-rooted, but this decade saw a kind of Western mainstream awakening, and the emergence of youthful, anthemic ‘Afrobeats’ (not to be confused with Fela Kuti’s 70s Afrobeat movement) as a catch-all pop term. Nigerian stars soared, including Davido (whose 2012 debut was entitled Omo Baba Olowo – Yoruba for ‘Son of a Rich Man’ – and who has Nigeria’s biggest Instagram account, with 14 million followers), Wizkid (who raised the roof at London’s Royal Albert Hall), Mr Eazi and Burna Boy, though the sounds have been essentially pan-African, with elements including hip-hop, Ghanaian highlife, South African kwaito, and much more.

US artists including Beyoncé, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar took clear musical and visual inspirations from African talents, and Bey collaborated with many acts, including Wizkid, Eazi, Tiwa Savage and Busiswa, on her 2019 ‘curated soundtrack’ for Disney’s remake of The Lion King. A diverse array of young British artists also referenced their African heritage, spanning Ghana, the Gambia, Zimbabwe and beyond, including Londoners like Fuse ODG (whose exuberant 2014 debut album was TINA – This Is New Africa) and singer-songwriter/rapper J Hus, while the elegantly bold Shingai Shoniwa (former Noisettes frontwoman/bassist) took Bantu roots into new realms on her brilliant 2019 release Ancient Futures.