This Is Africa

Yilim is the younger sister of one of the biggest names in music in the Ivory Coast, Didi B. Following in the footsteps of a superstar can be a blessing or a curse, especially if you are trying to build your own career as an artist, but Yilim focuses on the many positive opportunities her brother’s success has brought her. They have collaborated on several popular songs, as well as performing together at a sold out show in Paris’s Zenith arena.But Yilim is her own woman and a talent in her own right, as songs such as Si Tu Veux Partir demonstrate. It was her first hit, securing her place in Ivory Coast’s music scene. The lyrics also typify her authentic, frank storytelling which is often based on her own experience. In Si Tu Veux Partir, she sings "if you don’t love me anymore, love can’t be forced, there’s nothing I can do, if you want to leave my life, you are free to go, the door is open…"Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows Reporter: Sasha Gankin Translator and voiceover: Yvette Twagiramariya

There are thousands of girls with beautiful voices in Nigeria, and hundreds who sing covers of afrobeats hits and post them on social media. But there are not many who get spotted by Davido. As she tells DJ Edu, Morravey was dumbstruck when Davido reached out to her, having seen her cover of Bandana by Fireboy DML and Asake. It didn’t take long for her to abandon her studies, pack up her bags and leave Port Harcourt for Lagos. That was in 2023, and now Morravey, still only 22, is signed to Davido’s label, has performed with him and features on his song In the Garden. Davido also appears on her own title, Magician. Morravey has a string of popular tracks including Ifineme, Condo and You. She tells DJ Edu she has had no singing lessons, but has been watching and learning from other artists, imitating their vocal techniques, since she was 15. Beyonce and Zara Larsson are especially big influences.When it comes to her storytelling, Morravey’s sources are wide ranging, but she likes to watch movies and imagine herself in the shoes of the characters on screen. DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklisting:Ngiyaphuza Ngijabula - Way Kay & Piano Ya Africa (Botswana) Vera reka - Lion Hill, Ljo & Ceasar (Madagascar) Nutu - Mapia One Dictionary (South Sudan) Kasi Lam - Nkosazana Daughter & Focalistic ft Da Muziqal Chef & Mlooda (South Africa) Celebration - Vibron (Cameroon) Mai Maria - Nutty O & Gemma Griffiths (Zimbabwe) SAFF - Asidik (Gambia) Frangō - Kweku Flick (Ghana) Look At Me - Naeomi (Nigeria) TAYINI - David 6D (Mali) Presenter - DJ Edu Producer - Catherine Fellows

Moliy is a superstar, thanks to her viral hit Shake It to the Max which charted in countries all around the world. She’s a bubbly, chatty, confident Ghanaian-American 24-year-old woman, happy to post about her life and twerk in unlikely places. But as she tells DJ Edu in this episode, she’s also a real girl who has had to overcome anxiety and the impact of body shaming.Moliy first started getting noticed around the world in 2021 when she featured on Sad Girlz Luv Money with fellow Ghanaian Amaarae, a female empowerment song with a hypnotic fusion of Afropop and RnB. She’s just released a 12-track mixtape called Baddies Love Moliy, featuring South Africa’s Grammy-winning Tyla, Jamaica’s dancehall sensation Shenseea and fellow Ghanaian Sarkodie.In this free-wheeling conversation, Moliy shares the impressive thinking that got her through tough times, as well as her musical journey, her inspirations and her aspirations.DJ Edu’s 10in10 tracklisting:XIXANMIN - NIKANOR (Benin) Bezaf - Salim Cravata & Tawsen (Morocco) Woman - Ginius (Ghana) Dangerous - Ayra Starr (Nigeria) NGENA (PHUMA) - Bmunii, ShortAndTall, Mzilikaziboy & 263GSD (Zimbabwe) Yoyo - Abigail Chams (Tanzania) Bhanoyi - ft DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, Angekebabuye mc & Mluusician (South Africa) Sukari - Keemlyf & Tommy Flavour (Ken) Makusudi - Awilo Longomba (Democratice Republic of Congo) • فيك حاجة - Donia Wael (Egypt) Presenter: DJ Edu Producers: Catherine Fellows and Penny Dale

In the TIA house this week with DJ Edu the Afroboss is Ms Gideon, a rising star from Namibia. She was only 18 when she shared a New York City stage with afrobeats greats like Adekunle Gold and Patoranking, after winning the prestigious New Narrative Africa competition in 2024. Two years on, and she’s signed with Sony Music Africa, the first Namibian artist to join the global label.Ms Gideon tells DJ Edu that it was her covers of some of her favourite songs that first got her noticed in Namibia. She was then surprised and delighted when her own song, Home, became the first Namibian track to notch up a million views on YouTube in a country of just over three million people. Ms Gideon also talks about the differences between making music alone and with the support of a label, and shares her dream to collaborate with Tiwa Savage, whose music she adores.Presenter: DJ Edu Producers: Penny Dale & Catherine FellowsDJ Edu's 10in10 tracklist:Show Me - Hadaya Eliana & Genes1s (Kenya) Sama Xool - Mia Guisse & VJ (Senegal) Black Girl Magic - Worldcharming (Nigeria) By The Time I Wake Up - Lusanda (South Africa) Dayra Samta - Ibtissam Tiskat (Morocco) 95 Bounce - Novaa 256 (Uganda) Gossip - LeMmy BiZzy (South Sudan) Nideke - Alicios ft Ninita (Democratic Republic of Congo) ABEBI - Crisba (Benin) Feelings - Ezra Neethings (Botswana)

Phillbill from Cameroon is a talented producer and artist who is succeeding despite the odds. He comes from Buea, in Cameroon’s south-west region; it's part of the anglophone territory which has experienced awful violence since 2017, following a separatist uprising. Phillbill has had to relocate to Douala and, as he tells DJ Edu, navigate the complex social landscape of his country. His songs are sung in a mixture of French and pidgin English, and he also draws on the numerous African languages of Cameroon as well as the musical traditions of various ethnic groups including the Doula, Beti and Bamileke peoples.Phillbill has produced songs for a long list of other artists, including Kocee, Daphne and Blanche Bailly from Cameroon, and Roseline Layo from Ivory Coast. He produced Paris Fever, a collaboration between Senegal’s Wally Seck and Chris Brown from the US, and he’s had hits with his former band Ridimz.But now he’s focusing on his own music and his passion for promoting the rich culture of Cameroon, making music which celebrates the positive and brings divided people together as well as bringing them solace. He calls his sound Afro-moderne, and he’s also coined a new term – Bikossa - because he blends Makossa, Bikutsi and other Cameroonian popular musical forms with urban genres like afrobeats, hip hop and afro house. He’s already a big star at home, but he’s determined to bring his music to a global audience.DJ Edu's 10in10 Tracklisting:Lolendo - Yuma Yeyo & Héritier Wata (Democratic Republic of Congo) Uhakika (Remix) - Ibraah ft Zuchu (Tanzania) Feel Am - Magixx (Nigeria) Lisboa - Nelson Freitas ft Agatchu (Cabo Verde) Iholele - Drama T (Burundi) What Do I Know - Joshua Baraka (Uganda) You Know (Ah Ah Aah) - One Blood Namibia (Namibia) No Games - Drizilik & Isat (Sierra Leone) SORRY MOYO WANGU - ExQ (Zimbabwe) Popopo - Pheno Ambro (Togo) Presented by DJ Edu Produced by Catherine Fellows

Davido sits down with DJ Edu to celebrate his 15-year career, and a new album, Oriadé, which he says is all about going back to his roots.Davido has been a huge player in taking Afrobeats to the next level, and in particular gaining visibility in the US and globally. He has sold out London’s O2 and New York’s Madison Square Garden, he is five-times Grammy nominated, and his 2019 hit Fall had the longest run for a Nigerian song in Billboard chart history. However, in this interview, Davido reminds us that he has always made a point of touring Africa, and believes African artists are now too obsessed with success in the US and the wider world, forgetting that there are a billion-plus music lovers in Africa.He expresses his concern about the anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, as well as his enthusiasm for South Africa’s 3-step Afro house subgenre.Davido also talks about the toll touring takes on him, his huge wedding in Miami, spending time with his wife and two-year-old twins, and working in his new state-of-the-art home studio.Presented by DJ Edu Produced by Catherine FellowsDJ Edu's 10 in 10 tracklist:Maria - Rita Wangui (Kenya) Pépélé - Fally Ipupa & Guy2Bezbar (DRCongo) Yoyo - Will Flash ft Nahj (Liberia) Nu Ten - Lisandro Cuxi (Cabo Verde) Voz da Multidão - Deejay Telio (Angola) Dima ديما – Inez ft KeBlack (Morocco) Seydou Daouda & Aïcha - Shiloh.MMG & Zikiri Sourakata Kone (Mali) BON MOOD - Døpelym (Ivory Coast) BENIN - Bobo Wê (Benin) Borrow - Magasco (Cameroon)

From thief to music star whose greatest wish is to make money to help the poor – that’s the inspiring story of Gabon’s L’Oiseau Rare, DJ Edu’s featured artist this week.L’Oiseau Rare is now one of Gabon’s most successful artists. His numerous hits include Kati-K and Niamatos, as well as collaborations with Didi B from Ivory Coast and Shatta Wale from Ghana.As he tells TIA, L’Oiseau Rare originally wanted to be an architect, then a pilot, but fell into a life of crime and ended up spending time in prison for theft.While he was behind bars, he discovered his musical talent. Thanks to the encouragement of the other inmates, he was determined to turn his life around and make a career in music once he had served his time.He says his experience has made him very focused and hard working and he is now a devout Muslim. He takes pleasure in inspiring others to quit crime as he did, and he wants to become a big philanthropist.Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows Interviewer and translator: Ata Ahli Ahebla Voiceover: Hygin NdjoliDJ Edu’s 10in10 tracklistingPerfect Timing - Yeezir (Namibia) My Life - Ozaguin (Central African Republic) Luz Apagada - Mungoz & Deny Beat ft Okenio M (Angola) Ndokudai NeMoyo - Jnr Spragga (Zimbabwe) Shake That – Patoranking ft Ruger (Nigeria) Peace ar twa - O'bra (Mauritius) 3ROOS ALBA7AR - SayaX (Libya) I Need You - Nelson Freitas ft Anderson Mário (Cabo Verde) Middle - Vinka (Uganda) Dance Samawaah! - Collo Blue & NDOVU KUU (Kenya)

Gemma Griffiths has become a much-loved star in her native Zimbabwe, and has collaborated with many of the country’s most successful artists, including reggae dancehall musician Winky D. She grabbed the attention of music fans with her soulful cover of his song Musarova, leading to their collaboration on Mu Garden, which broke Zimbabwean records by reaching 1 million views on YouTube in just 13 days. A formally trained jazz musician, Gemma Griffiths draws on a wide variety of influences to inform her Afro-fusion sound. She released her debut album, Gemma, in 2025. It was ten years in the making. In this interview DJ Edu and Gemma discuss how being a white musician in Zimbabwe has affected her career, trade favourite songs, and have fun with the Shona language.DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklisting:Mil Ano - Tarrafal & Ruben Teixeira (Cabo Verde) Pass Katouts (Anguii) - Helix Dynasty, Bombo & So'Fresh (Mauritius) Mamá Epet - Fistong Boy (Equatorial Guinea) Mad Over Me - Lali X Lola & Rappidd (Ghana) Mi Corazon ft. Alva, King Luca & Yvuti - Elisha k X JZyNo (Cameroon) My Sweetie - Salone Cool J (Sierra Leone) WARDA ft. Manal - Inkonnu (Morocco) YBTM - Joeboy (Nigeria) !Nō - Kalux (Namibia) Bendeka ft. Nutty O & Saint Realest - Onesimus (Malawi) Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows

DJ Edu catches up with the biggest names in music from across Africa, and meets the stars of afrobeats, amapiano, afrohouse and more. Tyla and Black Coffee from South Africa, Davido, Burna Boy, Rema and Tems from Nigeria, Sarkodie from Ghana and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania are now international superstars selling out at major venues around the world. One of the most respected club DJs from Africa, Edu has been there from the beginning of the afrobeats journey, bringing Africa's music to the world. This is Africa podcast brings you unmissable interviews and reveals the personalities behind the music, as well as the resilience, determination - and sometimes luck – they need for success. It is about all of Africa: artists from francophone and lusophone Africa, from Somalia to Sao Tome, from Niger to Namibia, making music in genres ranging from kizomba to genge, afro soul and afro pop to hip hop and electro, through to coupe de cale, rumba, soukous and afro dancehall. And every episode DJ Edu brings his “10 in 10” playlist, mashing up ten hot new tracks from ten different countries in Africa. You can contact the show via WhatsApp +44 8000 321721 or on the socials @iamdjedu, #BBCthisisafrica You can also listen to a music rich version of This Is Africa on BBC World Service radio. Broadcast times for your corner of the world can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct72fbPrevious guests on This Is Africa include Bien, Nasty C, Lojay, Inez, Guchi, Fuse ODG, Emma’a, Miss Jobizz, Theodora, Milton Kizzy, Lydia Jazmine, Oxlade, Dystinct, Wendy Shay, Jay Cash, Yo Maps, Ruger, Gyakie, Rophnan, Ckay, DJ Maphorisa, Magic System, BNXN, Tiwa Savage, Black Sherif, Ayra Starr, Sauti Sol, Joshua Baraka, Sampa the Great, Awilo Longomba, Santrinos Raphael, Moliy, Moonchild Sanelly, Victoria Kimani, Joe Boy, Qing Madi, John Frog, Stonebwoy, Shasha, Adekunle Gold, Simi, Libianca, Onesimus, Angelique Kidjo, Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Fally Ipupa, Dizzy Dros, Mr Eazi…