John ClewleyRecent compilations on popular music genres in Africa have revealed an astonishing range of local styles across the continent. Popular music from West Africa, South Africa and Central Africa featured in the first compilations, along with North Africa. Vinyl is very hard to find in Zambia as the original pressings in the country were done in very small numbers. Many African countries developed potent popular music during independence (from the 1950s to 1970s) when hopes were high and music production boomed. Zambian music pioneer Ililonga is little known outside of his native country, where he remains a big star.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 24, 2020 00:00 UTC