Let’s start our weekly round-ups of new music videos this year with some bangers. Representing Congo this week, rapper (and professional dancer) Dinozord: above. Next up, there’s new music and visuals from Art Melody (representing Burkina Faso):

“Lefteneh” by Bajah and the Dry Eye Crew — by the way, about the meaning of that Sierra Leonean “dry eye”:

Ty (born Ben Chijioke — Nigerians claim him) has a new video out as well:

From Liberia (Alloysious Massaquoi) and Nigeria (where Kayus Bankole’s parents come from) via Scotland (Graham Hastings’s place): Young Fathers:

Lee Fields played a set in a Dutch church last year. Yes, we’ll feature all of his videos:

Another acoustic performance; by France-based Oxmo Puccino (né Abdoulaye Diarra):

Judging by the rate at which Laura Mvula is putting out quality videos recently, it seems she’s intent on making the year 2013 hers. We don’t mind:

And in response to what’s happening in Mali, Fatoumata Diawara and her label have brought together a big group of musicians to record the song below. Artists performing on the track include (I’m copy-pasting) Amadou and Mariam, Oumou Sangare, Bassekou Kouyate, Vieux Farka Toure, Djelimady Tounkara, Toumani Diabate, Khaira Arby, Kasse Mady Diabate, Baba Salah, Afel Bocoum, Tiken Jah, Amkoullel and Habib Koite. Bruce Whitehouse’s got the details on the meaning of it all; and wonders where the Tuareg musicians are:

Further Reading

No one should be surprised we exist

The documentary film, ‘Rolé—Histórias dos Rolezinhos’ by Afro-Brazilian filmmaker Vladimir Seixas uses sharp commentary to expose social, political, and cultural inequalities within Brazilian society.

Kenya’s stalemate

A fundamental contest between two orders is taking place in Kenya. Will its progressives seize the moment to catalyze a vision for social, economic, and political change?

More than a building

The film ‘No Place But Here’ uses VR or 360 media to immerse a viewer inside a housing occupation in Cape Town. In the process, it wants to challenge gentrification and the capitalist logic of home ownership.