Music Time in Africa - VOA Africa

The first half of the hour spins songs from across Africa, including current hits from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, and more curated by Bill Odidi. At the back half of the hour Drop the Needle brings on American University student Ruby Burg-Naughton followed by Word on the Tweets. Bill Odidi features the unique soundtrack of fashion footwear brand Tombo shoes in an interview with Edem Jimbo from Kenya. Heather recounts the results of 2024 Grammy’s Best African Music Performance category, talking to multiple figures within the industry.

Maxwell’s 30-minute playlist includes current tunes from Morocco(Oualid & Norel), Kenya (Nyashinski), South Africa (Tyle), Nigeria (Shallipopopi), Togo (Santrinos Raphael), Senegal Jahman X-press) plus a classic soukous from the DRC (Pharaon N Shoraa). Drop the Needle kicks off the back half of the hour with American University student Nicolai Tochilin, and Word on the Tweets brings up-to-the minute American entertainment news in 90 seconds. Heather speaks with the youngest generation of Nigerian Afrobeat royalty Made Kuti about his headlining at the Sauti za Busara Festival in Zanzibar, East Africa and much more, including samples of his music from the Legacy + album.

The 30-minute playlist features music from Kenya (Trio Mio & Bensoul), Liberia (Teddy Ride), Ethiopia (Rahel Getu), Senegal (Jeeba), Zambia (Natasha Chansa) and Zimbabwe (Tuku). At the bottom of the hour Drop the Needle puts VOA Afrique’s Ginny Niwa to the test. Word on the tweets with Lady DJ brings the latest American entertainment news from X (formerly Twitter). Heather chats with VOA Africa’s Jackson Mvunganyi about top African acts coming to the US this spring and with VOA Africa’s Muqbil Yaborow from Abidjan about AFCON’s biggest music anthem “Coup de Marteau”, and she features live music by Cyrille Brotto (France) and Ablaye Cissoko (Senegal).

The playlist features fresh amapiano from South Africa and Nigeria, Edo afrobeats, Mbalax pop, desert blues, Egyptian pop, Tanzanian Afropop and one song that defies category. Drop the Needle listening quiz puts Anthony LaBruto in the hot seat and Heather’s feature artist today is Dumi Right. The Zimbabwean-American songwriter, rapper and hip hop ambassador and his crew mate, singer Troy Edler join her to perform live, talk about Dumi’s creative journey, and listen to some of his recordings including the premier of his soon-to-be released single “Life is What you Make it”.

Maxwell’s 30-minute playlist includes current tunes from Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Belgium (Morocco), Tunisia and South Africa. Drop the Needle marks the bottom of the hour with Nana Kwesi Asare, and Word on the Tweets brings up-to-the minute American entertainment news in 90 seconds. Enjoy unedited conversation and music listening with two of Africa’s finest music journalists Bill Odidi (Kenya) and Prince Benjamin (Ghana). Bill shares his musical discoveries from Botswana and Prince speaks with Heather by phone out of Accra, to talk about trending music in that capital city of Ghana.

Heather Maxwell spins 30 minutes of selected current Afrobeats, Amapiano, jazz, maharaganat, and reggae. Drop the Needle welcomes Mr. John Kagaruki to try his hand at the African music listening quiz. VOA’s Lady DJ highlights this week's U.S. entertainment news in Word On The Tweets, and senior entertainment producer and presenter for Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, King Milan, joins Heather in studio to talk about the country's current hits and top artists.

Heather Maxwell welcomes you into the New Year with her selection of top 10 songs from Africa that rocked 2023. Word on the Tweets with VOA’s Lady DJ brings entertainment news from the US, and a mashup of MTIA top interviews of 2023 features Rocky Dawuni, Koffi Olomide, Sho Madjozi, and many more. Heather's feature spotlights Kenyan rapper and cultural entrpreneur Muthoni Drummer Queen. The two sat down together in Nairobi just after King Charle's and Queen Camilla's visit there.

African Christmas music and a few American seasonal hits spin this week's playlist. Drop the Needle challenges VOA's Salem Solomon and the last half of the hour zooms in on Christmas music favorites in Uganda with VOA's Pheonah Nandudu.

Heather brings the world of opera and classical music to center stage with 33-year old rising star Justin Austin. The American singer joins her in studio to talk about Opera’s relevance to the world and the life lessons it’s practice carries. Drop the needle quizzes A&R Rep Jacob Edgar, Zahara’s death is honored with her song “Loliwe” and the playlist features top hits from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Benin and more.

Heather Maxwell brings you on a listening journey of trending, current, and classic hits from Zimbabwe, Morocco, Cameroon, Angola, Mali, D.R.C, and Nigeria. Drop the Needle brings on Dr. Michael Vercelli from West Virginia University in the United States to try his hand at the segment. The feature story highlights an interview with award-winning artist, Nikita Kering, and her amazing rise to fame. Finally, Heather is joined by VOA’s Schuyler Van Tassel, to talk about a couple of 2023 wrap ups, including the soaring success of Tyla and this year’s Spotify Wrapped.