We are going to bring a playlist of African contemporary music published by First World Music. check them out at www.firstworldmusic.org

ARTIST COUNTRY TRACK TITLE CD TITLE LABEL

01 PIERRE AKENDENGUÉ [OPENING THEME] GABON AFRIKA OBOTA VERITE D'AFRIQUE LUSAFRICA

02 JOAN SORIANO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MI ÚLTIMO LLANTO EL DUQUE DE LA BACHATA IASO

03 JOAN SORIANO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MARIA ELENA EL DUQUE DE LA BACHATA IASO

K16 is a African HipHop pioneer from Nigeria. Formerly known as Mouth MC, he was actually a member of Nigeria's 1st ever hiphop group Emphasis. in the early 90's signed to Premier Music (formerly polygram). He is now coming back with his debut solo album entitled The Return of the Baddest and to stir things up before then, has dropped an EP entitled Tribute to the South. A concept EP dedicated to the dirty south sound. You can download The Tribute to the south pack here.. http://www.sendspace.com/file/qb8tfk

Learn more about the artist on the Ikukurecords website (http://www.ikukurecords.com)

Here's the official music video for Chris Akinyemi first single "Radio" off his debut EP "Autumn"
slated for release later on this fall.

Directed by Kristopher Rey Talley

Songs from Okyeame Kwame, Wax, Sasha P, Blu 3, Nneka, Tay Grin, Gazza, Banky W, Ikechukwu, Stagga Don Dada, 2Face Idibia, Nameless, Nakaaya, Nox, Dudu Miyaki, Redsan make up the One Africa – African All Stars, Volume 1 Artists album. A lot of these were popular in Africa in 2009.

Tay Grin – ‘Focus Africa’
He is Malawi’s most famous rapper by far. At age 9, Lambadi Kalian aka TAY GRIN asserted he would be his own boss. At 14 he predicted two things; that he would own his own company and be a rap music sensation before he was 21. The first rap artist to make an impression on Tay Grin was Jay-z. To find his individual and distinctive rap voice however, Tay looked inwards at his African soul and found that the roots of his Chechewa heritage and Malawian culture gave him his true and unique style that complemented the original American hip-hop template.

Sony Music Africa is proud to announce the launch of ‘One Africa – African All Stars, Volume 1’ album, now available in stores nationwide. The album is a compilation of a unique blend of prolific and dynamic young Pan African artists, such as Nigeria’s 2Face Idibia (MTV Music Award winner), Malawi’s Tay Grin, Kenya’s Nameless and many other artists from around the continent.

One Africa – African All Stars, Volume 1 is aimed at celebrating a united Africa by showcasing the continent as a musical powerhouse. The album’s high quality production is sure to help put these featured artists on the same map as the legendary Angelique Kidjo, Baba Maal & Youssou N’dour, whose songs have infiltrated the music industry throughout the world.

Simon Webbe from BLUE and Genevieve Nnaji who is arguably the biggest actress in Africa have been confirmed to host this year’s O2 African Music Awards, on Friday 15th October at Wembley Arena, London.

Genevieve started her acting career as a child actress in the then popular television soap opera Ripples at the age of 8. In 2004 she became the face of Lux soap in a highly lucra¬tive spon¬sor¬ship deal. In 1998 at the age of 19 she was introduced into the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “Most Wanted”. Her subsequent movies include Last Party, Mark of the Beast and Ijele.

She has starred in over 80 Nollywood movies. Nnaji has received several awards and nominations for her work, including the Best Actress of the year award at the 2001 City People Awards and the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2005 African Movie Academy Awards. In 2004 she signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record label, and released her debut album One Logologo Line, a mix of R&B, Hip-Hop and Urban music.

This is one of those powerful features that come once in a blue moon. An icon to South Africans and giant in Kwaito, works with one of the most talented rappers that brought us “Aint No Thing”, “Promise” and “I Am”, Morale and Zola make this the best feature/ duo in 2010.

As you know Zola makes real people music that is full of emotions. Morale is the best hip hop writer to come out of SA, harbouring between swagger and real hip hop.

The two make a touching song about one of Morale’s fan letters.

Listen to the song here
Artist: Morale featuring Zola
Song Title: Ayamaah (Fan Letter)
Album: Decoded
Publishing: Neo Shanty/ SonyATV

From Kwesispost - This short documentary explains how western musical instruments — brought to Sierra Leone and Liberia by expatriate former slaves from the United States and England — and that of local palm-wine tappers fused to become Highlife music.

Kwesi wants people to learn the roots of our (highlife) music, and realize hiplife is the second evolution/fusion of West African music with Afro-American influence.

Watch the documentary short

Most Gifted RnB Nominees includes @ToluMide

Where to Vote
http://mva.channelo.tv/nominations/most-gifted-rnb/

To say 2kay, real name Abiye David Jumbo, has had to struggle for his break in the music industry is an understatement. Not that having to fight to get what you want is an alien concept to the newest artise on the Grafton Streetz label.

He grew up in the violent regions of Port Harcourt and it is those experiences that 2kay started writing music about from a very early age. But trying to focus on the music was difficult when he had turmoil in his private life that reflected that going on in his surroundings. At the age of 12 he had to hawk kerosene on the streets to help his struggling mother maintain the family. It is perhaps here that 2kay was able to understand the power of his music as he proved a popular salesman with a selling and singing pitch.