Africa Is a Country

Hipsters Dont Dance Top World Carnival Collabs of 2015

Hipsters Dont Dance Top World Carnival Collabs of 2015

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Hipsters Don't Dance

Hipsters Don't Dance

After doing a year of monthly roundups for the best in the World Carnival sound in 2015, we have noticed that Afropop in particular has had a stellar year. Perhaps most noticeably, it was Wizkid exploding onto the international stage that drew our collective attention, and we expect bigger things from him next year. Another noticeable trend was South African producers becoming the go to guys for Afropop hits, helping shape the sound across the continent and diaspora. Additionally, so many other great inspiring African sounds from Lisbon to Lagos became staples in clubs across the world.

Much of the successes in 2015 for African artists have come from high profile collaborations. These became the go to strategy for artists trying and become the next break out artist in markets unfamiliar with them or their national sound. This trend has been the general order of the day for artists from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and beyond, landing music from the continent in markets as far removed from the sphere of daily continental influence as Colombia, Trinidad, The UK, and that great specter: USA.

Since so many artists from across Africa and the diaspora ended up working together to bring us some of the most exciting tunes of the year, here are our top ten world carnival collaborations of 2015. Here’s to 2016 being even bigger!

1. Wizkid feat Drake & Skepta x Ojuelegba Remix
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VGS6w2hVBg&w=560&h=315]

2. Ayo Jay & Fetty Wap x Your Number
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pR83SfI0P8&w=560&h=315]

3. Kwamz & Flava feat R2Bees x Wo Onane No remix
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGz6khwPqDo&w=560&h=315]

4. Frenchie Feat Naira Marley x Cele
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcO7lJ1q1Qk&w=560&h=315]

5. Boddhi Satva feat Nelson Freitas x May Heart
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxftL-7leAY&w=560&h=315]

6. Edanos feat Timaya x Whine For Me
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ul5_Yw7xZ4&w=560&h=315]

7. Rundown feat Wizkid x Bend Down Pause
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovhX7LUzhPs&w=560&h=315]

8. Patoranking feat Wande Coal x My Woman My Everything
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxllb09N6TQ&w=560&h=315]

9. Leriq feat Wizkid x Say You Love Me
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9h7s_OJoYI&w=560&h=315]

10. Frenchy Le Boss feat Giggs x Flexing
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flXrSI4oz-U&w=560&h=315]

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.