Sean Barlow

New York, United States

Founder and Executive Producer at Afropop Worldwide

Featured in: Favicon

afropop.org Favicon

nature.com Favicon

allafrica.com Favicon

poststar.com Favicon

rsc.org

pubs.rsc.org

Articles

Africa: Novalima Leads the Dance With Ramón Perez Prieto

1 day ago | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

Since its official founding in 2001, the band Novalima has championed a driving, tuneful electronic and, at times, hard-rocking expression of Afro-Peruvian music. After the release of their third album, Coba Coba in 2008, they began touring the world, winning awards and accolades at home and abroad. Along the way, they became one of the most engaging and joyful live acts on the circuit.
Tanzania: Afropop Worldwide in Tanzania - Week Two

2 months ago | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

Dispatch #2: Inside the 2025 Sauti za Busara Music Festival with Afropop in Stone Town, ZanzibarOur Afropop music travelers were treated to the 2025 edition of the superb Sauti za Busara music festival, set on the jewel-like island of Zanzibar.
Tanzania: Afropop Worldwide in Tanzania - Week One

2 months ago | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

Our Afropop travelers have arrived in Tanzania, kicking off an unforgettable journey in Dar es Salaam, the country's bustling cultural and financial hub. With a week full of live music, spontaneous dance floors, and local camaraderie, here are the highlights from our time in Bongo, as the locals affectionately call their city. Swahili Rhumba: A Battle of the BandsOur first night in Dar set the tone with a Swahili rhumba showdown.
Africa: Afro-Cuban Royalty in Holyoke, Massachusetts

Jun 19, 2024 | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

This year, southern New England once again experienced a series of intimate encounters with some of the most accomplished Afro-Cuban musicians in the United States. Lazaro Galarraga is co-musical director for the Maestros del Son and PAWS Afro-Cuban Folklore Ensemble in Los Angeles. Roman Diaz is a noted scholar of Cuban religious and folkloric music as well as a composer and performer of contemporary Afro-Cuban music and Jazz.
Africa: How Beyoncé Reclaims Country Music's Roots for Black Artists

Mar 18, 2024 | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

You have no doubt heard that global music diva and 32-time Grammy Award winner Beyoncé dropped a pair of hit country songs--"Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages"--in her performance at the Super Bowl in February. Both songs will be featured on her album Act II, which comes out on March 29th. "Texas Hold 'Em" is in heavy rotation at Afropop Worldwide. Beyonce's playful and joyous performance features tasty banjo playing by fellow Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens.
Tanzania: Afropop in Tanzania 2024 - Dar es Salaam

Feb 9, 2024 | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

We're enjoying being back in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this time with a group of 24 intrepid Afroopop travelers for our music and culture visit to Tanzania and Zanzibar. Our first night of music featured a battle of Swahili rumba bands--Mlimani Park and Msondo Ngoma both 12- or so piece orchestras featuring multiple intertwining guitars, blaring trumpet and saxes, and killer, four-man vocal front lines. Both venues we visited were packed.
Africa: Afropop Celebrates 35 Years At Sob's in New York, Congo-Style!

Nov 14, 2023 | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

Congo's Samba Mapangala and the Soukous Stars animated a high-spirited Afropop Dance Party at the legendary New York nighclub SOB's on Friday, Novemver 10th. The event was to honor of Afropop Worldwide's 35th anniversary and SOB's 40th. Samba brought a full-on soukous big band of ten U.S. based African musicians and dancers including Jaja Bashengezi on lead guitar, Ngouma Lokito on bass, Nkumu Katalay on congas and Freddy Nyembwe and Chekedar es Salam on backing vocals.
Nigeria: A Personal Tribute to Nigeria's King Sunny Ade As He Passes the Baton for Longest-Charting African Album On Billboard (Jùjú I Music, 1982, Island Records)

Aug 25, 2023 | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

In the midst of celebrating Afropop Worldwide's 35th anniversary, Nigerian jùjú maestro King Sunny Ade fans and those new to him will appreciate a new landmark. Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Rema, has broken a four-decade-old record held by King Sunny Ade.
Africa: Instagram Message From Bonnie Raitt to Afropop Worldwide

Aug 7, 2023 | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

Three days ago Bonnie Raitt sent her fans a heartwarming message about her experience traveling to Mali in 2000 with Afropop Wordlwide. Check it out!Bonnie was thrilled to be a part of a remarkable musical safari to Mali, West Africa, in January of 2000. Led by her friends at @afropopworldwide, she and a group of avid fans got to experience some of their favorite artists playing live in both towns and local clubs from Bamako to Timbuktu.
Africa: Sobs Celebrates 40 Years

Jul 31, 2023 | allafrica.com | Sean Barlow

Sean participated this week in the party hearty celebration of the 40th anniversary of SOB's (Sounds of Brazil), the legendary nightclub in New York City founded by Larry Gold. Back in the day at SOB's, we recorded for broadcast Papa Wemba, Loketo (encoring in August), David Rudder, Thomas Mapfumo, Bembeya Jazz, João Bosco, Oscar de Leone, Marce et Tumpak, and others.