Africa: Amayo’s Inner Lion Awakes

[Afropop] Duke Amayo is a familiar figure to fans of America's pioneering Afrobeat band, Antibalas. A charismatic and flamboyant frontman, Amayo has provided Antibalas shows and recordings with an authentic shot of Nigeria-ness. And no surprise. Amayo grew up in the same Lagos neighborhood as Fela Kuti, and began attending shows at Fela's Shrine at a tender age. Fast forward to 2025, and Amayo is releasing an ambitious, themed album called Lion Awakes, an ambitious mashup of Afrobeat punch, Chinese martial arts

Africa: Rikki Stein and the Lost Art of Moving Music, and People, in an Age of Disillusionment

[Afropop] Mark LeVine is a longtime contributor to Afropop Worldwide, also a scholar, musician and author of numerous books. Here, he reviews Rikki Stein's memoir, Moving Music. Afropop's Banning Eyre recently interviewed Rikki Stein about the book.