Best Afropop Podcasts (2025)

1
Afro-Dominicana: Music from the Other Dominican Republic 59:04

4d ago59:04

59:04

In the 1930s, infamous Dominican dictator Rafael Truillo ordered the burning of the country’s palos drums, hoping to erase the powerful vestiges of African culture in the Dominican Republic. Luckily for us, the breakneck, trance-inducing sound of palos still reverberates at Afro-syncretic religious parties across the Caribbean nation almost a centu…

1
Planet Afropop - Steel Pans and New Trends 46:31

4d ago46:31

46:31

Veteran Afropop producer Marika Partridge takes us to the island of St Lucia for a “beginners” steel pan (steel drum) work shop with maestro Andy Narell. It’s a complete sensory experience, with ambiance, cuisine, and deep history on the only instrument invented in the 20th century. Plus Marika’s journey to steel pan bliss. Then Mukwae catches us u…

1
S22,E03: 05/26/25 (COMEDY! Weird Al Yankovic, Flight of the Conchords, Garfunkel and Oates, Lemon Sisters, Lonely Island, Asylum Street Spankers, Monty Python, Wynonie Harris, Muppets, Bo Burnham, Tim ... 1:04:26

6d ago1:04:26

1:04:26

SEASON 22 EPISODE 3 SPECIAL "COMEDY MUSIC" EPISODE! The Check's in the Mail - "Weird Al" Yankovic Foux Du Fafa - Flight of the Conchords Carol Brown - Flight of the Conchords You Don't Have to Be a Prostitute - Flight of the Conchords Pregnant Women are Smug - Garfunkel and Oates 29 / 31 - Garfunkel and Oates In My Country - The Lemon Sisters Natal…

1
Ten Tunes That Shook Kingston 59:04

10d ago59:04

59:04

The development of the popular Jamaican style is audible in this fun-packed, loosely chronological selection of tunes, moving from a US-style shuffle to ska to rock steady, toasting, dub, and Rastafarian reggae. Programmed by and using the record collection of reggae connoisseur and KPFK radio host Chuck Foster. Produced by Ned Sublette. Consulting…

1
Afro-Lisbon and the Lusophone Atlantic 59:04

16d ago59:04

59:04

A small network of DJs in the suburbs of Lisbon, Portugal has been consistently producing some of the world’s best dance music. The children of African immigrants, these young musicians have combined a hemisphere of musical influences and distilled them down into a single astonishing style. But how did Lisbon start to make such great African music?…

1
Planet Afropop - African Beat-Makers Part 2: Dami TNT 44:20

18d ago44:20

44:20

Behind every Afropop YouTube megahit and dancefloor sensation, there is a producer, a beat-maker striving to imagine the next big thing, basically inventing the future. In part 2 this two-part podcast, we meet Dami TNT, a rising producer in Lagos, Nigeria. And we hear a discussion between Zimbabwean producer Kooldrink, Pierre Kwenders of the Moonsh…

1
Seize the Dance: The BaAka of Central African Republic 59:04

23d ago59:04

59:04

This Hip Deep episode features a remarkable journey among the forest people of the Central African Republic. The polyphonic, hocketing vocal style of this region's forest peoples ("pygmies") is one of the most singularly beautiful musical expressions in Africa, one that has entranced outsiders since the time of the pharaohs. Ethnomusicologist Miche…

1
Hip Deep in Northern Nigeria 59:04

1M ago59:04

59:04

Kano State in northwest Nigeria is a land of paradox. The ancient home of the Hausa people, it has ties back to the oldest civilizations in West Africa. Muslim since around the 12th century, the region remained largely self-administered during the era of British colonialism, and never significantly adopted Christianity or Western culture and values…

1
Planet Afropop - African Beat-Makers Part 1: Kooldrink and Pierre Kwenders 51:32

1M ago51:32

51:32

Behind every Afropop YouTube megahit and dancefloor sensation, there is a producer, a beat-maker striving to imagine the next big thing, basically inventing the future. In part 1 this two-part podcast, we meet Kooldrink, the producer who broke South African superstar Tyla, and Pierre Kwenders of the Moonshine Afro-house collective in Montreal, and …

1
S22,E01: 04/28/25 (Foamboy, Zack Keim, Panda Bear, The Innocence Mission, Dyan, Dean Wareham, cagedancr.) 50:09

1M ago50:09

50:09

Season 22 Episode 2 Edibles - Foamboy Washington DC - Zack Keim Better Days - Zack Keim Praise - Panda Bear Ends Meet - Panda Bear Midwinter Swimmers - The Innocence Mission John Williams - The Innocence Mission Pray to Me - Dyan What Fiction Is For - Dyan You Were the Ones I Had to Betray - Dean Wareham The Cloud is Coming - Dean Wareham Fine Day …

1
Remembering Andy Palacio and Aurelio Martinez 59:04

1M ago59:04

59:04

Andy Palacio (1960-2008) of Belize was a brilliant singer/songwriter/bandleader/activist and one of the greatest champions of Garifuna culture in his time. At the height of his international acclaim, after the release of his 2007 album Watina, Andy died suddenly. This program was produced shortly before that tragic event and captures Andy, his band…

1
African Sounds of the Indian Subcontinent 59:04

1M ago59:04

59:04

In this Hip Deep program, we explore musical connections between Africa and India. First up is the story of the Afro-Indian Sidi community. In the 13th century, Africans arrived in India as soldiers in the armies of Muslim conquerors. Some were able to rise through the ranks to become military leaders and even rulers. Their descendants continue to …

1
Planet Afropop - Somali DJs in America and Songhoy Blues 42:22

2M ago42:22

42:22

In this episode, we meet two women from the Twin Cities - DJ Fawzi and DJ Yasmeenah - who are challenging stereotypes while continuing a tradition of Somali-Minnesotan trailblazing. And we catch up with Songhoy Blues through a short conversation with Oumar Touré, bassist of the acclaimed desert blues group about their groundbreaking new album Herit…

1
S22,E01: 04/07/25 (FINALLY! Hugo Brijs, Twist, Boyscott, Richard Cheese, Chinese American Bear, and Rubblebucket) 51:27

2M ago51:27

51:27

Season 22 Episode 1 Keep Your Light On - Hugo Brijs Youth Fool - Twist Payphone - Twist Arthur Kill - Boyscott Lima - Boyscott Just Like Heaven - Richard Cheese The Greatest - Richard Cheese Kids Go Down (孩子们的时光) - Chinese American Bear Yummy Yummy Yummy (好吃好吃) - Chinese American Bear Rattlesnake - Rubblebucket Morning Glory Blanket - Rubblebucket …

1
Africans in the Arabian Gulf 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

Scholar and author Joseph Braude guides us through the often overlooked popular music of the Persian Gulf, the music known as Khaliji. We learn about the Africans of places like Bahrain and Kuwait - slaves of yore - their free descendents, and more recent waves of African immigrants, notably from Sudan. This episode features spectacular historic re…

1
A Hip Deep Portrait of King Sunny Ade 59:04

2M ago59:04

59:04

King Sunny Ade was, in many ways, the inspiration for what would become Afropop Worldwide. And he was by no means an inspiration only to us! Many fans in America first got hooked on Afropop (and African music in general) through the landmark 1982-83 tour by King Sunny Ade and his African Beats: The propulsive polyrhythms of traditional drums mixed …

1
Planet Afropop: Celebrating Toumani Diabate 1:02:46

2M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

An intimate look at Toumani Diabaté through 30 years of Afropop Worldwide conversations. From his home in Bamako to concert halls worldwide, Toumani revolutionized the kora and brought West African music to new heights – winning Grammys and collaborating with everyone from Ali Farka Touré to the London Symphony Orchestra.Join us as his longtime fri…

1
Planet Afropop - Tcehlla & Dotti Carve Their Own Lane 53:29

2M ago53:29

53:29

In this episode of Planet Afropop, FayFay spotlights two standout artists, Tchella, an R&B vocalist, and Dotti the Deity, a Nigerian folk musician. Both friends and reality show winners, they’ve taken unique paths in a music scene dominated by lo-fi Alté vibes. From Port Harcourt to Lagos, and Badagry to Ibadan, they’ve stayed true to their sound, …

1
Women’s History Month: Reconstructing Somalia - Women’s Voices 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

In this episode we take a rare look at Somalia’s formative, pre-civil war years (1960-90), which saw the birth of soomaalinimo - Somali patriotism. This national mood inspired people to put aside the clan identities so heavily manipulated by the colonial powers and dedicate themselves to the creation of a new, culturally authentic, but also modern,…

1
Planet Afropop - Simpa Sonics: Neo-traditional dance music from Northern Ghana 57:02

3M ago57:02

57:02

From late night sessions of frenetic drumming, singing and trumpets and teenagers shaking their "waists" by the light of the moon, to hard-driving studio simpa tracks with drum machines, vst synths and auto-tuned vocals, simpa is an evolving neo-traditional popular music of the Dagomba people of Northern Ghana that is rarely heard outside of the re…

1
Women's History Month: Four Women of the West 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

In West Africa, women are on the cutting edge of musical and cultural progress. This program looks at four singer/composers with roots in tradition and unique ideas about how to keep them current in the fast-changing milieu of today’s African music. Mali’s Fatoumata Diawara keeps her focus on messages, mixing traditional sounds and rock idioms to r…

1
Women's History Month: Fairuz, A Woman for all Seasons 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

Fairuz is the most popular living singer throughout the Arabic-speaking world and an artist with no real counterpart in Europe or the Americas. Since the ‘50s, she has appealed across boundaries of age, gender, class, religion, nationality, regional dialect, and political persuasion. Creating music as serious and engaged as it is popular, Fairuz—al…

1
Planet Afropop - AfroPopup in Malawi, Rising Stars from the Warm Heart of Africa 44:06

3M ago44:06

44:06

In December 2024, Planet Afropop co-host Mukwae Wabei Siyolwe produced the first AfroPopup in at the Uka Café in Lilongwe, Malawi. Despite torrential rain and power outages, the show went on with three fanstastic young Malawian stars, Praise Umali, Chikondi Wiseman and Maggie Kadrum. This podcast tells the story of grass roots cultural activism in …

1
Kirtan for Strength & Peace with Rosemary Pritzker and Fernando Subirats 1:17:10

3M ago1:17:10

1:17:10

Having a hard time with the state of the world? Listen to this powerful Kirtan (traditional Indian call-and-response mantra chanting) led by host, life coach and singer Rosemary Pritzker, with tabla (drum) player and vocalist Fernando Subirats. Rosemary, deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhism since childhood (her mother is an ordained Lama), brings this…

1
Black History Month: Kriolu in New England, The Cape Verdean-American Story 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

Of all contemporary Cape Verdeans, Cesaria Evora, "the Queen of the Morna" made the biggest impression internationally. However the first Cape Verdean to grace the American imagination was the harpooner Dagoo in Herman Melville's Moby Dick (1851). Cape Verdeans first arrived in United States as whalers in the late 1700's and have been coming ever s…

1
Black History Month: A Brief History of Funk 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

Funk is the personal favorite of many music lovers. In this panoramic history of the grooviest of genres, we hear track after track of absolute boogie-down classics. Everything from Sly and the Family Stone to James Brown, with a few stops to hear legends like the Meters, Kool and the Gang, and Parliament. We’ll also hear the great Bobby Byrd expla…

1
Women's History Month: Afropop's Tribute to Cesaria Evora 59:04

4M ago59:04

59:04

The beloved, Grammy Award winning singer Cesaria Evora from Cape Verde passed away in 2011 at the age of 70. We celebrate Cesaria's life and art with an encore of our 1995 recording of her magnificent New York City debut at the Bottom Line. Cesaria, known as the "Queen of the morna" is backed by her classy group featuring piano, acoustic bass guita…

1
Black History Month: Shake it Fo Ya Hood, The History of New Orleans Bounce 59:04

4M ago59:04

59:04

New Orleans, Louisiana is home to some of America's greatest musical traditions, and plays an outsized influence on the evolution of everything from jazz through to r&b, rock and funk. Today, the city is still legendary for its second line brass bands and brightly costumed Mardi Gras Indians. But if you've rolled through New Orleans on pretty much …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Afropop Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen