International Collaborations: The Best New Releases from Africa, Europe, and America

2023-10-20 17:00:15

Every Friday, The World Africa presents three new musical releases from or inspired by the continent. This week, time for international collaborations – “features”, in the jargon – between artists from Africa, Europe and America.

“Roll On Me,” by Lavaud (feat. Tiwa Savage, Kanis, Patoranking & Reekado Banks)

After two years of silence, the British singer Lavaud returns in force with the song Roll On Me, published on October 6. And well accompanied, since the artist of Mauritian origin has surrounded herself with a fine line-up of Nigerian afrobeats stars: Tiwa Savage, Patoranking and Reekado Banks, to which must be added the American-Haitian rapper Kanis.

In short, three continents are brought together on this track rocked by Latin guitar and Afropop rhythms. “I love how we managed to bring our cultures together to create something timeless,” rejoices Lavaud, who says more generally “inspired by the rhythms of Africa mixed with the diversity, energy and originality of London”.

« Best We Can », de James BKS (feat. Angélique Kidjo & Nomcebo Zikode)

A genius producer who collaborated with the cream of American hip-hop before going solo, Lee-James Edjouma alias “James BKS” appropriates with disconcerting ease and efficiency the musical genres that cross the African continent, to which he gives a universal scope.

Latest example: the song Best We Can, from his album Wolves of Africa (Pt. 2/2), released mid-September. On this title which surfs the amapiano wave coming from South Africa, we find the biological son of Cameroonian Manu Dibango (a discovery he made late) in the company of the South African singer Nomcebo Zikode and the Beninese superstar Angélique Kidjo. Attention, contagious positivity!

« Falling Up », d’Adekunle Gold (feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)

If further proof were needed of the global success that afrobeats has enjoyed for several years, here it is: in its fifth opus, Tequila Ever After, released at the end of July, the Nigerian Adekunle Gold, one of the pillars of the genre, has the luxury of inviting two big names in American – and world – music on the piece Falling Up.

On guitar, the master of disco and funk Nile Rodgers, former leader of the group Chic; and the voice, the essential Pharrell Williams, now artistic director of the men’s collections at Louis Vuitton. As for Adekunle Gold, he presents his album as a ” love letter ” intended for African sounds that have established themselves throughout the world, from afrobeats to amapiano.

Read also: Blurring the tracks: the musical selection from “World Africa” #164

Find all the editorial’s musical favorites in the playlist YouTube of World Africa.

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