AFROWAVE

Over the past five years, AfroWave has been your seasonal gateway into the vibrant musical heart of Africa. With our recent relaunch, we embrace a pivotal time when our music and cultural expressions have moved to the forefront. Our aim goes beyond curating a playlist; we're fostering a community. Each quarter, we delve into distinct themes to guide new listeners through the wealth of Africa's musical heritage.

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This Quarter's Playlist

AfroWave XVIII: Femme Fatale

This season's theme, "Femme Fatale," celebrates the impactful contributions of African women to the music scene. Featuring artists from Brenda Fassie to Amaraae, in musical hubs like Abidjan and Cape Town, we are thrilled to present this compilation of female/femme artists, Djs, producers and songwriters who are breaking ceilings and forging paths for future generations.

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AfroWave Echoes

Africa Is a Country is proud to present a new partnership: AfroWave Echoes. Utilizing the convenience of digital platforms, the following essay and accompanying playlist are an invitation to engage in music away from the manipulative tentacles of corporate algorithms. We hope that they will immerse you in a form of intellectual and emotive listening that is enhanced through reflection, repetition, and communal participation. AfroWave Echoes is presented in partnership with the Diop clothing brand, listen to it on your preferred platform.

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CURATORS

Achille (Co-Founder) is a writer and philanthropy professional with Cameroonian roots who calls Brooklyn, NY home. A seasoned traveler, he has lived in 6 African countries, explored 17, and journeyed through more than 30 cities across Africa. In both his personal and professional life, Achille is dedicated to showcasing the vast diversity and vibrant cultures of the African continent and its Diaspora.

Jess is a Ghanaian-British multidisciplinary artist (Aamowi), DJ (Badgalbob), and curator. Her attraction to everything bold, bright, and unusual manifests in her work across art forms. She is continuously inspired by the worlds within and around her.

Born in Ivory Coast of Rwandan origins, Laura is a DJ (BIG CHEEKS) currently based in Dublin, Ireland. Thereshe works a 9-5 in Tech, while enjoying and curating art through different avenues. Specifically, she’s passionate about making African visual art more accessible to a wider audience.

Richard (Co-Founder) is an engineer from Gabon with a keen interest in photography and music. He grew up in Paris where he once curated music events. Currently, he divides his time among Paris, Libreville, and Geneva, where he resides now. He’s an avid traveler and a lifelong supporter of Olympique Lyonnais.

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WEAR DIOP

AfroWave is sponsored by Wear Diop. Established in 2018, Wear Diop is a Diaspora Inspired clothing brand founded by Mapate Diop. They offer a wide selection of Ankara tops, bandanas, and face masks. They have been featured in Teen Vogue, GQ, and ELLE Magazine.

Africa Is A Country

Africa Is a Country is a site of opinion, analysis, and new writing on and from the African left. It was founded by Sean Jacobs in 2009. Unless otherwise noted, all the content on Africa Is a Country is published under a Creative Commons BY 4.0 license.

Thanks for visiting our site! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the playlist. Please share which artists and experiences you'd like us to feature.