Contemporary African Music is not getting the credit it deserves (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago by raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world to c/music@lemmy.world

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I am on a binge, listening to tons of Nigerian, Ugandan and Kenian music, and I am absolutely loving it. Why is this not playing on our (Western European) radio stations regularly?

Instead I have to regularly change stations because someone is trying to torture my ears with Ed Sheeran or similar BS. :(

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[-] Owljfien@lemm.ee 2 points 5 months ago

Tbh it's not just African music, I find it's anything not Western. So many cool instruments that just aren't used that commonly in the mainstream. I've been really enjoying a metal band called Bloodywood as they incorporate traditional Indian instruments and I've not heard anything like it before

[-] raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

I do occasionally hear Indian or Arabic or Chinese / Japanese music around... It's just that until recently I hadn't ever heard the present-day (central?) African pop songs that I stumbled upon and enjoyed. But yes, the western music world is too western-centric, but at the current state of the world, that's not our biggest problem by far :/

[-] UndercoverUlrikHD@programming.dev 1 points 5 months ago

Looked up Bloodywood (thanks for the recommendation!) and after a few songs got recommended this Māori thrash metal band, figured you might be interested too.

[-] Owljfien@lemm.ee 2 points 5 months ago

Thanks for reco, actually heard about Alien Weaponry first due to close proximity (I am Australian). A YouTuber called Steve Terreberry did a video reviewing a heap of culturally diverse bands that I should rewatch (it's where I found Bloodywood) just be aware his persona is pretty grating and cringe and I can only tolerate in doses. https://youtu.be/USCB3pucSJU

[-] UndercoverUlrikHD@programming.dev 1 points 5 months ago

I remember seeing that video recommended, though I generally ignore videos that have exaggerated expressions in their thumbnail. I guess I'll give the video a watch, though the obvious answer is Sweden, which I say begrudgingly as a Norwegian.