Afropop Worldwide

Afropop Worldwide

Experience the rich, musical sounds of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas in a lively blend of music, interviews, and stories.

Samir Langus performs

Moroccan musicians use traditional sounds to confront injustice

Moroccan musicians are using traditional sounds fused with international styles to preserve threatened cultures.

Moroccan musicians use traditional sounds to confront injustice
Carnival's festivities include the West Indian American Day parade, a colorful spectacle with plenty of history.

The wild magic of Caribbean Carnival is alive in Brooklyn

The wild magic of Caribbean Carnival is alive in Brooklyn
Fally Ipupa is shown live in New York on Labor Day 2015.

Surviving the pop apocalypse: A lesson from Congolese pop music

Surviving the pop apocalypse: A lesson from Congolese pop music
A studio

For Haitian radio stations seeking a place on New York’s airwaves — the options are borrow or steal

For Haitian radio stations seeking a place on New York’s airwaves — the options are borrow or steal
Protesters run as they are dispersed by police officers

Valedictorian — and rapper — finds herself at center of massive South African student protest

Valedictorian — and rapper — finds herself at center of massive South African student protest
Fadimata Walet Oumar

Mali's musicians endured a lot to keep doing what they love

Life in Mali is only now returning to normal, after violence erupted a couple years ago. But Mali's musicians already knew what to do when times got tough.

Mali's musicians endured a lot to keep doing what they love
Fadimata from the group Tartit during a discussion in Segou's Festival Sur le Niger.

Peace talks in Mali — at a music festival

The country's north feels it's long been neglected. Other regions feel the same way. People from all across met at the Festival Sur le Niger to air their grievances, but not fight about them.

Peace talks in Mali — at a music festival
Ngoni maestro Bassekou Kouyate performs at the Festival Acoustik de Bamako.

Photos: Mali’s holds its first, colorful, international music festival since its military crisis

Afropop returned to Mali and found traditional and contemporary music thriving at the Festival Acoustik de Bamako, in Mali's capital.

Photos: Mali’s holds its first, colorful, international music festival since its military crisis
Cover art for The Brasileiro Treasure Box of Funk and Soul

Review: A tasty slice of '70s Brazilian soul and funk

As the weather gets colder, it's time for some choice Brazilian music. Jesse Brent at Afropop Worldwide takes on a decade of funky gems.

Review: A tasty slice of '70s Brazilian soul and funk
Jim Reeves on the Grand Ole Opry, September 3, 1960.

Why American country legend Jim Reeves endures ... in Nigeria

Nashville moved toward Reeves' sound in the 1960s, then moved on. Africa's most populous nation remains in his corner.

Why American country legend Jim Reeves endures ... in Nigeria
A portrait of Bob Marley hangs in a market in Los Angeles

Bob Marley would be 70 now. These may be the reasons Obama paid homage.

Bob Marley, whose museum President Barack Obama visited in Jamaica on Thursday, may have been the biggest "Third World Superstar" — and his influence extended to musicians worldwide.

Bob Marley would be 70 now. These may be the reasons Obama paid homage.
South African artist Spoek Mathambo performs in 2011.

Want to find the best Afropop? It's on Soundcloud — not an album

It was a great year for African pop music and its growing crossover influence, but some of the most important and interesting releases of the year weren't on albums. They were part of the online mixes that are now a vital part of discovering and enjoying new music.

Want to find the best Afropop? It's on Soundcloud — not an album
Modern salegy artist Aly Mourad performs at Jao's Pub in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Mourad blends traditional salegy with a more upbeat style.

Go inside salegy, the music that dominates Madagascar

In the days after World War II, musicians in the northern villages of the huge island nation of Madagascar started fusing traditional folk songs with modern styles. The result was a style called salegy, and it's still everywhere in Madagascar, now evolving for yet another new age.

Go inside salegy, the music that dominates Madagascar