July 2017 theme: Hip hop in Africa

Because of its universal appeal, hip hop has also become more than just a genre belonging to Africans. Today it is performed by artists of all ethnicities and languages. And for good reason. Hip hop bears with it a wide blend of sub-genres that cater for endless approaches, whether they be in sound or philosophical/poetic expression. The genre itself has informed whole cultural movements, fashion and sound production techniques – it has even shaped dialects, added new diction to everyday language and redefined censorship criteria.

In Africa it is the genre that is responsible for thousands of collaborations, which have brought together artists from different countries and cultures to work together. Hip hop has in effect rendered borders meaningless and enforced a musical pan-Africanism that has given African hip hop its own form and identity.

Music In Africa has commissioned and published original Overview Texts that cover the historical development of the genre in various African countries, with many more still to come. We have also compiled a selection of hip hop-related features, news articles and reviews from our magazine section, which will be updated as the month progresses. 

Overview Texts

• How French hip hop found its own voice by going back to Africa
• Hip hop in Gabon
• Hip hop in Benin
• Hip hop in Togo 
• Hip hop in Chad
• Hip hop in Zambia
• Hip hop in Mali
• Hip hop in South Africa 
• Hip hop in Cameroon
• Hip hop in Tanzania 
• Hip hop in Senegal 
• History of Nigerian hip hop 
• Hiplife in Ghana 
• History of hip hop in Kenya 

News, Features and Reviews

• South Africa's Proverb named Flight Centre non-exec director
• Malawi to host hip hop awards
• Top 5: African women in hip hop
• Hip hop: The basics of freestyling
• The story of Kenyan hip hop and how an Englishman made Kenyans rap in Swahili
• 10 years later: Modenine’s ‘Cry’ remains relevant
• Wurasamba, Leeroy play World Music Day concert
• SA: After Cannes, Khuli Chana is ready to ‘take over the world’
• Young SA artists hope Deezer Next will bring success
• YCee – The First Wave 
• Lal Daggy: Kenya’s deaf rapper defies limits

Also be sure to check out the Music In Africa directory

• Event Suppliers directory
• Events directory
• Venue directory