Afropop Worldwide

If nothing else, 2017 was a great year for music (and it's possible that it wasn't a great year for anything else). On Afropop Worldwide this week, Georges and Banning talk about their favorite releases this year, which run the gamut from the latest and hottest hip-hop on the continent to a live concert recorded in the '70s. To allow you to stuff your loved ones' stockings easier, and to support these artists who could always use it, we've listed and linked to all the music mentioned below.

Blay Ambolley: Ketan

Sarkodie: Highest

Kayso: Your Type No Dey

Mabiisi: Mabiisi Remixes

Aurelio: Darandi (For more on "the reigning king of Garifuna roots music" check out our review here).

Trio Da Kali, Kronos Quartet: Ladilikan (For more on this meeting of Western classical music and West African traditional music, check out Afropop's own Banning Eyre talking about this album on NPR's All Things Considered).

Various Artists, including Franco and Le TPOK Jazz: Zaire ’74: The African Artists

Fela Kuti: Vinyl Box Set 4: Compiled by Erykah Badu

Rayce: Afrobeats Hot Hits

Davido: If (Davido just won "Best African Artist" at the Music of Black Origin Awards, over his rival WizKid, who countered by winning the MOBO for "Best International Artist". We have written about both artists a lot here, and are very into their rivalry). 

Fally Ipupa: Tokooos (Check out this thorough and helpfully-context-giving review by Nkumu Isaac Katalay Diallo).

Jupiter & Okwess: Kin Sonic

Les Filles de Illighadad: Eghass Malan

Anewal: Osas It’s Time

Leila Gobi: 2017

Songhoy Blues: Résistance

Vieux Farka Toure: Samba

Mamadou Kelly: Politiki

Awa Poulo: Poulo Warali

Tamikrest: Taksera

Ilú Keké: Transmisión en la Eritá Meta (Luis Bran explained the origins of this recording project in an interview as part of our show on Afro-folkloric traditions in Matanzas, Cuba).

Daymé Arocena: Cubafonía

Eddie Palmieri: Sabiduría

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: So It Is

Ranky Tanky: Ranky Tanky (Afropop's Akornefa Akyea reviewed their album and wrote a helpful primer on Gullah music and culture). 

Afous d’Afous: Tenere

l’Orchestre Afrisa International: Melanie

Orchestra Baobab: Tribute to Ndiouga Dieng

Orchestre Les Mangalepa: Last Band Standing

Jaja Bashengezi: Ndule

Mokoomba: Luyando (We've been ringing the Mokoomba bell for a while, because they're amazing, and chat 'em up every chance we get, including at the Nuits D'Afrique Festival in Montreal this year).

Toko Telo: Toy Raha Toy

Johnny Clegg: King of Time (Clegg sat down with Banning Eyre for a great interview when he was in New York in October).

Soweto Soul: Soweto Soul

Teddy Afro: Ethiopia 

The Nile Project: Jinja

Aamina Camaari: Sweet As Broken Dates

Betsayda Machado & Parranda El Clavo: Loe Loa

Dona Onete: Banzeiro

Bomba Estereo: Ayo (Reviewed here).

Douyé: Daddy Said So

Eliana Cuevas: Golpes y Flores

Elida Almeida: Kebrada (The Cape Verdean star-on-the-rise spoke with Afropop as part of our show on the island nation's rich musical life).

Ayo: Ayo (Ayo stopped by the office with her adorable baby to chat and even play a little music).

Ladama: Ladama

3Ma: Anarouz

Amadou & Mariam: La Confusion

Boubacar Traoré: Dounia Tabolo

Oumou Sangaré: Mogoya (Take your pick with "Mali's nightingale": We've got a 1997 feature from The Beat magazine, we've reviewed the new album, we've got archives).

Please help us produce our unique work in 2018 by making a tax deductible contribution now: afropop.org/page/donate