After several powerful Afro-American musicians surfaced, from the Banjo, and Gumbe players among black slaves, to post-independence singers such as Jazz lord Thelonious Monk, Blues Legend Little Walter, and the vocal amazon Dinah Washington, among others, music from African natives in the Diaspora has continued to be on a steady upward drive.
Now, with the likes of Rotimi, Jae5, Dave, Seal, among others, African acts continue to seize the spotlight in contemporary musicdom. With barely 10 days to the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA), here are some of the big shots in the ring for the highly acclaimed ‘Best African In The Diaspora’ (Male).
Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde & Portugal)
FONDLY called ‘Mr. Magic’, Nelson Freitas is an avant-garde singer, dancer and one of Europe’s most vibrant crowd controllers. "I ain't got on diamonds, ain't got on pearls to give / But I'll give you loving, every day all day / Every day all day," Freitas’ song, Every Day All Day featuring Spanish producer, Juan Manuel Magán González, perhaps best embodies the 46-year-old singer. Born to African Parents from Cape Verde, the wide-eyed singer rose from a music enthusiast on the streets of Holland, to become one of the finest Afro-fusion singers in the Diaspora.
Dave (Nigeria & UK)
Two years ago, Dave beat the likes of Anna Calvi, The 1975 and Foals for the prestigious 2019 Hyundai Mercury Prize with his debut album dubbed, Psychodrama. That album became the foundation of David Omoregie’s phenomenal rise within the UK and African Hip/Hop music scene. Born to Nigerian parents, Dave grew up with under his mother in the streets of Brixton. His clear-minded lyricism underscores his entire discography, pushing him to the limelight as one of UK’s most socially conscious lyricists.
Double S (Uganda & UK)
Born Bashir Bazanye, Double S is a prolific British rapper repping both Tottenham and Uganda. He is very popular for being an original-founding member Shoddy Crew-a grime collective from the Northumberland Park Estate in Tottenham - which also comprised Chipmunk. When it comes to Grime Music, the maverick is best known across UK as one of the ‘big daddies’ of Grime.
Headie One (Ghana & UK)
Irving Adjei is one son that Ghana, and Africa, can be proud of. The 27-year-old rapper better known as Headie One is an enigmatic drill rapper in Tottenham, London. He is a member of the drill group dubbed, OFB. His raps are mostly stewed in his life experiences and observations. The artiste whose last album dubbed, Edna, is named after his mum, is one of the masters of dancehall, hip-hop, drill and trap fusions in UK’s musicdom.
JAE5 (Ghana & UK)
Jonathan Mensah is not just your typical 28-year-old African creative. The Ghanaian-British music producer is one of the hottest on the scene right now. He is notorious for his dexterity in combining hiplife, hip-hop, house, dubstep, bashment, Afrobeats into his discography. His summer smash with Rema dubbed, Dimension, alongside his other unreleased collaborations, have solidified his position as one the most vibrant African-British music makers of our time.
Tion Wayne (Nigeria & UK)
Another 28-year-old Nigerian-British rapper winning on the big scene is Dennis Odunwo, better known as Tion Wayne. His collaborations with other African heavyweights such as Davido, Kojo Funds, Rema, Afro B, among others might be the only records you remember of the rapper, but Wayne has been winging it on the lyricist side since 2010.
Rotimi (Nigeria & US)
You might probably have known him first for his role as Andre Coleman in the Starz network blockbuster Power, but 32-year-old Olurotimi Akinosho is one of the most talented Nigerian-American RnB singers. His earlier soundpieces dubbed, The Resume (2011) and While You Wait (2011) helped him develop a vibrant musical personality that pushed him towards public attention. His recent smash single featuring Nigerian-American rapper, Wale, which is dubbed In My Bed, has kept the singer in the ears of many black people, especially Africans.
Tayc (Cameroon & France)
The Cameroonian RnB superstar, Tayc, shook the African music scene, last year, with the release of his avant-garde album dubbed, Fleur Froide, which also translates to ‘Cold Flower’. The 18-track album has been certified Platinum by the French-based SNEP.
MHD (Guinea & France)
Mohamed Sylla has carved a legacy for himself as one of Africa’s most vivacious rappers, under the moniker MHD. The French artiste of Guinean-Senegalese origins is best known for pioneering the Afro-Trap legacy, with his continentally-smashing hits. In France and Africa, MHD continues to power his fame with his hit-laden albums, the most recent being Mansa, which was released mid-July.
AFRIMA 2021 holds at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria from Friday, November 19 - Sunday, November 21, 2021. Preceding the award ceremony is the African Music Business Summit (AMBS), a platform for business networking and interaction among music professionals which will take place on Friday, November 19, 2021at 8.30am.
Sunday, November 21, 2021 comes with glitz from Africa’s music superstars, celebrities, and international personalities at AFRIMA awards ceremony with Red Carpet at 4.30pm and main awards at 7.30pm. Voting and ticket sales are ongoing on AFRIMA website www.afrima.org .
AFRIMA has been regarded as the ultimate celebration and recognition of African talents and creatives globally since 2014.
