Mayowa Oyewale

2 months ago | grammy.com | Mayowa Oyewale

WizkidPhoto: Per Ole Hagen/Redferns/Getty ImagesThese songs defined a turning point for Afrobeats in 2015. Now, they remain essential to the genre’s global rise. |GRAMMYs/Feb 21, 2025 - 11:56 pmA decade ago, Afrobeats was on the verge of global recognition. By 2015, the genre had grown beyond its West African roots, fueled by infectious club anthems, high-profile collaborations, and an evolving sound that blended local influences with global trends. That year proved to be a turning point.

Sep 20, 2024 | minorityafrica.org | Mayowa Oyewale

Image Description: A surreal depiction of a screaming person in dark purple against a gray background with orange-tinted edges. In front of this person are a set of bent prison bars colored pink and marked with religious symbols in orange. Ibadan, Nigeria  — At eight, Peter Ade gave his life to Christ in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), one of the largest churches in Nigeria. Raised by pastors of the RCCG, Peter’s family attended church services from morning till evening every Sunday.

Jun 11, 2024 | grammy.com | Mayowa Oyewale

Mdou MoctarExplore the vibrant history of Afrorock, featuring artists BLO, War-Head Constriction, The Lijadu Sisters, and more that trace Africa's rich musical evolution from the '60s to today. |GRAMMYs/Jun 11, 2024 - 01:21 pmMusic is a cosmopolitan darling. In a world that speaks the language of travel and tourism, generations of sounds meet, influencing each other in a continuous exchange.

Nov 21, 2023 | okayafrica.com | Mayowa Oyewale

Maïmouna Elle has always loved creating videos, whether class videos when she was in high school, a stint of YouTube series while she was enrolled in medical school after graduating from Howard University, or wedding videos for her family. After completing a year as a categorical surgeon at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and questioning her future career in medicine, she decided to take a break and live with her family in Senegal.

Aug 31, 2023 | okayafrica.com | Mayowa Oyewale

Poetry has long held a special place among African people. From the umusizi w’Umwami court poets of Rwanda, to the Kwadwumfo poets of the Akan tribe in Ghana, to oriki poetry among the Yoruba, to Izibongo among the Zulu and Xhosa people, to the Nzakara poets of Sudan, poetry has been used for functional, occasional, and political reasons. Largely oral and passed down from one generation to another through word of mouth, traditional African poetry has survived centuries.