Cyrus Kabiru is a visual artist from Kenya, besides being one of the most original and quirky characters to ever hit the screen - he’s also amazingly talented. Mainly known for his signature work on “C-Stunners” - swag wearable eyewear - Cyrus’ portfolio focuses on an entire range of immaculate recycled art. Afripedia visited Cyrus Kabiru’s studio in Nairobi, to give you a close-up look at his innovative and humorous art work.
At an early age Angolan MC Sacerdote knew he wanted to make music. Later, that dream drove him to build his own studio and execute his talent in his own right. Meet Angola’s all round-renaissance man as he takes us to his studio and introduces us to his sanctuary.
With such a wide selection of top notch kuduristas climbing the charts in Angola on a daily basis, it gives great comfort to meet the man who breaths the phenomenon. Hochi Fu is the major manager and producer of the genre and takes us to the backbone of kuduro - to the ghetto and it's talents and muses about the visual aesthetics behind his music videos. Power House is the name of the label in which he has collected the greatest lineup of kuduro artists the country has to offer.
It is difficult to ignore Jojo Abot’s infectious spirit. The Ghanaian singer and designer is using her brand to bring something new to Ghana’s creative scene. In this video, she welcomes us into her vintage shop, Gold Coast Art House in Accra and discusses her love of all things vintage.
Described as ‘Africa's Super-Nerdy Electronic Music/Art Collective’ - Just A Band is the brainchild of three creative Kenyans navigating the contemporary afro-futuristic music scene. But there’s more to the trio than you think. In this video, we meet the members of the ensemble as they guide us through their music and visual artistry - their far-reaching visions and their unstoppable DIY ethic.
Khoudia Touré dances as a way of connecting with the world. Her oeuvre, ever-evolving since childhood, spans styles - classical, hip-hop, jazz. In this video, Touré takes us to the site of Dakar’s premiere breakdancing location where dancers from throughout the city come to cypher. Touré’s talent cannot be doubted and she is using her skill to cultivate a dynamic community of dancers poised to bring something new to the global hip-hop scene.
Self-taught animator, filmmaker, and afro-futurism enthusiast Muchiri Njenga has a passion for storytelling as his 2011 poetic short ‘Kichwatel” about a young boy who wanders into Nairobi’s cityscape clearly demonstrates. As Muchiri’s protagonist wanders throughout the city, he passes through the grit of the urban built-environment only to discover that he wants to make a change. In this video. Muchiri shares his thoughts on his work and the determination of a Kenyan creative.
In 2011, Titica was crowned Best Kuduro Artist of the year and has quickly become one of Angola’s most promising musical acts. In this video, Titica gives us a behind the scenes look as she interviews and performs in Luanda. As a transgender artist. Titica is part of a new generation of artists using their art to address matters of equality for and within the LGBT community.
Embodying a true sense of wit and wisdom, Angolan artist and jack of all trades, Nástio Mosquito is known as a performance artist, poet, and all around wordsmith. In his own way, Nástio is an architect of sorts. Named an artist to watch by the Guardian in 2014, this video follows Nástio as he paints a picture of the Angolan capital, fascinating the viewer with his lyrical magic.
The Ivory Coast has a burgeoning hip-hop scene and Fanny Beatz is at the center of this growing community. In this video, we learn more about the woman who many consider to be the country’s only female beatmaker and producer. Fanny talks with us about her journey and career in the industry as we follow her throughout Abidjan, the city she calls home.
Soul singer Anthony Mwangi (aka Anto Neosoul) is one of Kenya’s finest vocalists and the country's biggest musical export. At a young age Anto knew that music was his destiny. His love affair with music has played an essential part in his life and his artistry never fails to wow his listeners. In this video, Anto and the Paragasha band join forces with Afripedia to shoot a flash mob dance video for ‘Qwerty Love’ in the heart of Nairobi.
Selly Raby Kane is a young, Senegalese designer using fashion to craft a myriad of new narratives. In this video, we learn about Selly’s own story and follow her throughout Dakar as she welcomes us into her atelier and discusses the city’s vibrant cultural landscape.
Nairobi-based 3D-animator Andrew Kaggia takes voting seriously. He is so serious about the voting process that he created a futuristic transformer-esque short film titled “Wageuzi” (Swahili for ‘transformers’) about its importance . In this video we dive into a Kaggia’s animated short which portrays a digital war between heavyweight contenders- Kenya’s fierce politicians- as they fight to win the 2012 Kenyan presidential election.
Afrogallonism is a conceptual performance art piece created by Serge Attukwei Clottey. Trained as a painter, Clottey conceived of the performance work as a means to discuss environmental issues as they affect his home in Ghana. In this video, Clottey shares why public access to art is vital to his mission and why we must all pay attention to the social, cultural, and environmental consequences of foreign development in Africa.
Wiyaala is an Afro-pop singer taking the world by storm. Her music is a feminist declaration of empowerment and independence as she blends musical traditions from her native Ghana and elsewhere. In this video, Wiyaala talks with us about her childhood in Northern Ghana, her decision to sing in Sisaali, and why her mother remains her biggest influence.