Africa Is a Country

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Boima Tucker

Boima Tucker is a music producer, DJ, writer, and cultural activist. He is the managing editor of Africa Is a Country, co-founder of Kondi Band and the founder of the INTL BLK record label.

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Black America’s Africa

Black Panther arrives as black America diversifies, but the US becomes more isolationist. It’s not beyond many African Americans to reflect nativist tendencies.

Africa Is a Radio presents #INTLBLK, Episode 1

It has been awhile since our last Africa Is a Country Radio episode. More than a year in fact! Being busy is no excuse, so I'm going to say that the real reason is we've been holding back so that we can bring bring you bigger and better things! I'm happy to premiere today the first show for a new season from a new location. This is the INTL BLK show from Los Angeles hosted by myself, DJ Chief Boima and INTL BLK collaborator Nora Rahimian. This episode was a preview for our INTL BLK event last Sunday at the Ace Hotel in downtown LA. It featured a guest mix and interview with Nigerian-Angelino Tomi Tribe, and a guest mix from Afro-Panamanian-Angelina Francesca Harding. Enjoy!

Weekend Music Break No.109 – Shameless self-promotion edition

Music Break! Welcome to your weekend. This week we have a bit of shameless self promotion, some new heat from old favorites and some questions. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLseDnIPw8h8L2SyHDMh56exeb5JY7POOM Weekend Music Break No.109 1) Shameless self-promotion alert! My band, the Kondi Band has a new album out today, check out the video for our song "Titi Dem Too Service." 2) Drizilik comes to me by way of a Slovenian friend who got it sent to her from Freetown. Too much Salone pride, I love it! 3) Mr Eazi cannot loose. Here is his newest clip. 4) 2Baba presents memory flares from the Biafra war (perhaps?), which began 50 years ago this week. 5) Davido doesn't want to be a player, but has no qualms about carrying out traditional gender roles. 6) Brockhampton brings "Heat," and it really is nice weather out in Southern California. 7) Africa Is a Country favorite Killer Mike appears alongside Big Boi in this exciting collaboration from Atlanta's older generation of rappers. 8) Now for the questions section of our show... First, who is Joss Stone? And, why has she felt the need to insert herself into the audio-visual scenery of every African capital? 9) Second, why are western musicians obsessed with war imagery in Uganda these days? Last Music Break we saw French Montana get kidnapped on his way to the airport in Kampala, and this week, Londoner Jesse Hackett, gets eaten by cannibals in a Wakaliwood homage. 10) Finally, we close out this edition with a dance video from Sacramento soundtracked to the music of Africa Is a Country contributor Delasi. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Music Break No.108

This time no theme, just another Music Break for your weekend! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLseDnIPw8h8KFi_a-MymUblhuSb1uS0CG Weekend Music Break No.108 1) This week starts out with Morocco via Bronx rapper French Montana's approach to the current Afropop zeitgeist in the USA, and obligatory accompanying video shot in Africa... a trip surely inspired by Ugandan youth's propensity towards "viral dance videos," Nice, but what's up with that ending French!? 2) Awesome Tapes From Africa recently reissued the hit 1980s album from South African Bubblegum artist Umoja. Here is the original video for the hit double platinum song "707." 3) Up next J Hus, the catchy-hook-laden UK street rapper of Gambian origin, releases the long awaited first single from his forthcoming major label debut. 4) Fellow UK Afrobeats artists, Omo Frenchie, Kwamz, Flava, Sona, Selimax and GB team up for an Africa Is a Country all star lineup. The results are hypnotically spectacular. 5) Then, we head to Nigeria, with Burna Boy, and the visuals for his new single "Hallelujah." 6) That is followed by another standout performance from Nigerian artist YCEE, "Juice," featuring production by super producer Maleek Berry. 7) We love anything that brings together the Americas with Africa. So, Sean Tizzle, and his salsa-afropop hybrid "Latin Lover" takes us to Central America and the Caribbean. 8) Heading a bit South from there to the Pacific Coast border of Ecuador and Colombia, Rio Mira play "Román, Román" live at the Petronio Alvarez festival in Cali. 9) Cuban Hip Hop is getting a lot of attention these days. Last week saw the release of the Afro Razones album. This week, we have Cuban Hip Hopper La Dame Blanche showing us a bit of her recent trip to SXSW in Austin, Texas. (Side note, it's amazing for me to hear the connections between traditional Pacific coast Afro-American music and the Cuban melodies in La Dame Blanche's flow.) 10) Finally, we have to pay homage to the cradle of contemporary global pop music, Jamaica, with Alkaline and his new single "After All." Have a very happy weekend!

Weekend Music Break No.107 – French presidential election edition

Paris, even though I've never lived there, has perhaps been more important in my formation as a DJ than any other city (ok maybe New York is tied). Its diverse immigrant communities have created a rich cultural mix, the impact of which has spread across the globe. For example, without France's African communities, the global Afropop (Afrobeats) industry from Lagos to Johannesburg wouldn't have the reach or aesthetic it touts today. Standing on the front lines of the global battle against European supremacy, and redefining what belonging means in the global North in general, I believe we all owe France's immigrant communities a deep debt. This playlist is dedicated to all my French immigrant whatever generation brothers and sisters living up and down the country. My thoughts and heart are with you this weekend.

Weekend Music Break No.104 – Songs from banned countries: Sudan edition

We're returning to the older format of Weekend Music Break (a series of embeds rather than a playlist) for this very special guest selection from proud Sudanese-American Ahmed "Sinkane" Gallab. We reached out to Ahmed to give us a selection of tunes from his parents' homeland, one of the seven countries on US President Donald Trump's visa ban list. It's been a trying couple weeks for our global community, particularly for those of us who understand (and enjoy the benefits of) an interconnected world. We understand that the current form of globalization's ills stem from the twinned trends of freedom for money and limits for people. We thought an attempt to humanize Sudan and Sudanese people, by experiencing their folk, youth and online culture (freedom for information), would allow some folks to understand a bit of what's at stake when borders are hardened for people. We don't imagine Africa Is a Country readers are amongst the population who don't understand this, but remember 49% of American support the ban, so share this post widely on social media! We also want to do our part to assuage some of the panic going on via the mainstream media, so for those of us who don't need such perspective as above, this perhaps can be just a bit of an escape from the deluge of negative news and tweets. Check out Ahmed's selection of classic and new Sudanese sounds below and preview his new album "Life & Livin' It" which he is currently on the road supporting. 1 ) Sammany - "Dyarom" 2 ) Salah Mohamed Al-bashir 3) JVLS - "Enemies" 4) Qurashi & Salah Mohamed Al-Bashir 5) MaMan - "Brain Wars" 6) Ibrahim Awad 7) Rainy Day feat. Rotation - "All Night, All Summer" 8) Salah Bin Al-Badia 9) Rotation - "Rota$ion" 10) Sufyn - "Moon Dance" 11) Bonez, Skripter, SP a.k.a Sporadic - "All I Can"

Weekend Music Break No.101

It's the last music break of the year, and we leave 2016 with the 101st edition. It's been a pleasure for me to do these playlist. If you've been enjoying them as well, make sure to donate to our end of the year funds drive, so we can continue to expand our coverage of the global African pop culture map! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLseDnIPw8h8Kfr4QfZP3Gc1Qx_Ga0t7oF Weekend Music Break No.101 1) This edition we kick things off with Blitz the Ambassador who has a new album out this week. The above video, shot in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, is the final installment of his self-directed Diasporadical video triology (we've featured part 1 and part 2 here before). Be sure to check out the album that perfectly accompanies this video short collection. 2) Next up, we head to Nigeria with Santi and Odunsi and their "Gangster Fear" video, shot in Lagos' streets and teenage house parties. 3) After that we get some rhythmic fire from Cameroon's Reniss, who teaches us about the joys of Cameroonian cooking. 4) We have a habit of posting Booba videos here on the Weekend Music Break, why break with tradition? Headed to DKR (and once again linking with Sidiki Diabate) to represent his Senegalese roots, Booba certainly shows he has no intention to. 5) UK Afrobeats og Silvastone teams up with Frank T Blucas in the video for "Remedy" showing a warmer side of London that is probably being missed by that city's residents right now. 6) Teddy Yo and Joe Lox take us to Addis Ababa showing what might be the exciting growth of an indigenous Ethiopian Hip Hop scene? (Take back those samples brothers!) 7) A UK-raised Sierra Leonean, Brother Portrait reflects on the Black British experience in this video poem for "Seeview/Rearview". 8) Next up Ghalileo attends a funeral in Ghana, and channels a history of pan-African leadership in the process. 9) Then, Vic Mensa takes on police brutality in Chicago. 10) And finally, Star Zee takes on "2 Much" corruption and general social malaise in Sierra Leone. Have a great weekend and a very happy holiday season wherever you are, and whatever you believe!

Weekend Music Break No.100

Music Break number 100 is here!!! Let's celebrate the occasion with a playlist of classic African music from our younger years. I know that for me, many of these songs soundtracked long car rides and late night parties at home. Sean Jacobs also puts in some of his own favorites to reminisce on. No description this week, just enjoy some classic sounds from around the continent. And if anything sounds new, go ahead and follow the Youtube wormhole! https://youtu.be/0y6BjNJD0ZM?list=PLseDnIPw8h8KikTzE5p-XPu61Y5qQae8P Music Break No.100 Have a happy weekend!

Weekend Music Break No.99

After a bit of a vacation, our end of the week round up of 10 videos from or attached to the continent of Africa are back! Enjoy this catch up edition of the Weekend Music Break, curated by your resident praise DJ on our Youtube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLseDnIPw8h8L0MokdO-qTCuzWy0GCfsA3 Weekend Music Break No.99 1) First up we have a major global music event with the release of the video for the sonic collaboration between North American First Nations deejay group A Tribe Called Red, Iraqi-Canadian rapper The Narcicyst, and the entire world's favorite local rapper Yasiin Bey. 2) Next, Al Sarah and the Nubatones release "Ya Watan" off of their latest album out on Wonderwheel Recordings. 3) I'm in awe of the choreography in the video for "Soudani" by Afrotronix from Chad, who is another Montreal-based artist showing the vibrancy of the independent and global music scene in Canada. 4) I'm really happy that Donae'o keeps pushing the UK Funky sound he helped popularize globally in Afropop directions. His "Party Hard" remains as one of if not the foundational song for the global Afrobeats craze. 5) And to illustrate that connection, Nigerians Naomi Achu and Skales come with "Gbagbe" an Afropop song tailored to the day. 6) Africa is a Country contributor Young Cardamom and his collaborator HAB provide the lead single from the Soundtrack to Disney's Uganda flick Queen of Katwe. 7) Since this writer is Rio de Janeiro based, I have to represent with the biggest Funk tune of the season here, "Malandramente". Will it's ubiquity remain through our summer into Carnival? 8) Brazil also has elections this weekend, and while we made a hesitant endorsement for the fraught presidential race in the US, we can give a much more enthusiastic thumbs up to the campaign of Marcelo Freixo who is running for mayor of Rio de Janeiro. And as this campaign jingle shows, we're not the only ones! 9) Élage Diouf is another Canada-based African artist, and shoots his video for "Mandela" an a return trip home, showcasing the beauty and vibrancy of his homeland. 10) Foresta, Royal Blu & Lila Ike show a different side of Jamaica than we're used to seeing, a nice change of pace, from the regular image pushed to outsiders by foreign media. And that laid back R&B tune is a perfect way to close out this weekend's music break, until next time!

Africa is a Radio: Episode #18

Today, is the last official day of summer in our Northern Hemisphere headquarters of New York. So, let's mark the passing of the earthly seasons by revisiting our Africa is a Radio live broadcast from The Lot Radio in Brooklyn this past June. Africa is a Country contributor, New York city resident, social media guru, and Zimbabwe specialist Shona Kambarami was our very special and enthusiastic guest. Listen back, and check the track list below.
  1. Rihanna - Work (DJ Bboy Afrobeats Remix)
  2. J Hus - Lean and Bop
  3. P2J Music - T.O.T.T  ft Moelogo
  4. Wizkid - Ojuelegba (Uproot Andy Remix)
  5. Booba - Validee feat. Benash
  6. Sali Sabibe - Wale Gnouma Don
  7. Jojo Abot - Stop the Violence
  8. Al Sarah - Soukura (Boddhi Satva Ancenstral Soul Remix)
  9. Indigenes - Da Hoti (Osunlade Yoruba Soul Mix)
  10. DRC Music - Lingala
  11. DJ X-Trio - Africa (Rancido Noite Angola Remix)
  12. Kondi Band - Belle Wahalla
  13. J Martins - Touchin Body feat. DJ Arafat
  14. MHD - Afro Trap pt. 3 (Champions League)
  15. Tchobari - Quem Mando me Nascer?
  16. Djeff - Piluka (DJ Satxibala Remix)
  17. Ziminino - Intermitência (Boima’s Capoeira Angola Remix)
  18. Baiana System - Playsom (Remix)
  19. Mauro Telefunksoul - AjeumbaSS (Tributo ao Cortejo Afro)
  20. - Interview and song selects with Shona Kamari -
  21. Nonku Phiri - Things we do on the Weekend
  22. Poe - Who You Epp? [T.A.P Remix]
  23. Oga'Silachi - Leona
  24. Burna Boy - Soke
  25. Sarkodie - Dumsor
  26. Jules Henry Malaki - Makiyaj