The Plutomania aftermovie from Iconiq Fest 2025 is here. Shallipopi, Zerry DL, Famous Pluto, a surprise Burna Boy appearance, and a TurnTable Charts No. 1 award — all captured in one film.
There’s a New Sound Coming Out of South Africa — Meet AmaGroove
March 7, 2026Three South African artists — Dhahabu, Q2K, and DrexxBeats — take African heritage to the global stage through the AmaGroove movement.
Fuse ODG Puts Out a Casting Call Celebrating the Unity of African and Caribbean Women
March 2, 2026Fuse ODG is looking for confident Black women for a London shoot on 8 March celebrating the unity of African and Caribbean nations through energy, presence, and movement.
THE HYPE MAN ECONOMY: WHY AFROBEATS’ MOST ESSENTIAL ROLE IS STILL ITS MOST UNDERVALUED
February 28, 2026ActiveBoy — resident hype man at Obi’s House and one of Lagos’s most in-demand voices — says 70% of the industry still undervalues the people who make the party work. In this exclusive feature, The Beats of Africa explores the Afrobeats hype man economy, the emerging Afro Hype movement, and why the genre’s most essential role remains its most underpaid.
The Addis Jazz Festival Turns Five — and Ethio-Jazz Has Never Sounded More Alive
February 19, 2026The Addis Jazz Festival 2026 brought Ethio-jazz legends and new voices together for three days at the Ghion Hotel. Over 3,000 daily attendees proved the genre’s enduring power.
Nigeria’s First Copyright Levy Payout Is Here — ₦1.2 Billion for Songwriters, Producers and Artists
February 19, 2026The first Nigeria copyright levy payout totals ₦1.2 billion. MCSN receives the funds under Section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022. Registration is essential for every creator.
Kilele Summit 2026 Heads to Nairobi — Kenya’s Music Industry Gets Its Biggest Stage Yet
February 19, 2026Kilele Summit 2026 arrives in Nairobi from 23–28 February. The third edition gathers international speakers alongside Kenyan industry leaders for a week of panels, networking and live music.
Gengetone Refuses to Die — Kenya’s Street Sound Is Back With a Vengeance
February 18, 2026Everyone wrote Gengetone off. Kenya’s street sound just wrote itself back in. Ethic Entertainment, Wakadinali and a new generation of artists are proving the genre’s staying power.
How LVRN Quietly Dominated South Africa in 2025 — 288 Million Streams and Counting
February 17, 2026LVRN South Africa hit 288 million+ streams in 2025. Ciza’s Isaka became the country’s most-streamed song. Summer Walker sold out twice. TXC won a BET Award. The numbers speak.
Nigerian Music Video Directors Sound the Alarm — ‘We Do Not Own Anything’
February 16, 2026Nigerian music video directors face a hard truth: they own nothing. The Alien Visuals sparked a viral thread calling for IP reform, guilds and a seat at the copyright levy table.
