Rolling Stone Africa

Last updated
Rolling Stone Africa
Rolling Stone logo.svg
Rolling Stone Africa 1st Issue August 2024.png
The cover of the 1st edition of Rolling Stone Africa, August, 2024
Editor-in-ChiefKrysta Billong
Staff writersTakudzwa Nyambi
Ify Obi
Krystie Lee Yandoli
Lemi Ghariokwu
Victoria Goldiee
Rahel Aklilu
Kalia Richardson
Chiderah Sunny
Caroline Akinyele
Christine Ochefu [1]
CategoriesMusic magazine
PublisherMwankom Group
First issueJuly 2024
Country NG, SA, GH, ZW
Based in Lagos
Website rollingstoneafrica.com

Rolling Stone Africa is the African edition of the United States' Rolling Stone magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture, published monthly. [2] The African version of Rolling Stone was published under the license of Penske Media Corporation. [3] [4]

Contents

History

The African version of Rolling Stone launched in July 2024. It is currently based in Lagos, Nigeria. [5] Gus Wenner, the chief executive officer of Rolling Stone announced the launch initially to 'expand its presence in Africa'. In partnership with Mwankom Group, Rolling Stone Africa is headed by D.R Bellegarde-Smerald. [6] In August 2024, Fela Kuti was featured on the first Rolling Stone Africa cover. [7] [8] Rolling Stone Africa was published monthly, devoted to music, politics, and popular culture, with a few local articles supplementing the major features from the parent magazine with editors from various countries in Africa like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana etc. [9] [10] Including branches from the Middle East North Africa (MENA). [4] In 2011, a South African edition was active but was shut down later on. [11] [12] The current board of editors include Toyosi Etim-Effiong, Usher Nyambi, Ify Obi, Caroline Akinyele among others. [13] [14]

Covers

The first cover for the magazine was crafted by Rolling Stone Africa's contributor, Lemi Ghariokwu featuring musician and activist, Fela Kuti as an introduction to the launch of the magazine in Africa, followed by covers of Laolu Senbanjo and Kehinde Lijadu. [15] In January 2025, Portuguese professional footballer and left winger, Rafael Leão was featured as the cover of Rolling Stone Africa. [16] The first three issues featured, in order of appearance:

  1. Fela Kuti
  2. Laolu Senbanjo [17]
  3. Kehinde Lijadu [18]

Notable contributors

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afrobeat</span> West African music genre, distinct from Afrobeats

Afrobeat is a West African music genre, fusing influences from Nigerian and Ghanaian music, with American funk, jazz, and soul influences. With a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms, and percussion, the style was pioneered in the 1960s by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who popularised it both within and outside Nigeria. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fela Kuti</span> Nigerian musician and activist (1938–1997)

Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì was a Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers". AllMusic described him as "a musical and sociopolitical voice" of international significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Allen (musician)</span> Nigerian musician (1940–2020)

Tony Oladipo Allen was a Nigerian and French drummer, composer, and songwriter who lived and worked in Paris, France. Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the founders of the Afrobeat genre. Fela once stated that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat". He was described by Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived". Later in life, Allen collaborated with Damon Albarn on several projects, including Gorillaz, the Good, the Bad & the Queen and Rocket Juice & the Moon.

Kalakuta Republic was the name musician and political activist Fela Kuti gave to the communal compound that housed his family, band members, and recording studio. Located at 14 Agege Motor Road, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria, it had a free health clinic, and recording facility. Fela declared it independent from the state ruled by the military junta after he returned from the United States in 1970. The compound burned to the ground on February 18, 1977 after an assault by a thousand armed soldiers.

<i>Expensive Shit</i> 1975 studio album by Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70

Expensive Shit is the twelfth full-length album by pioneering Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti and his Africa '70 band, released in 1975. It was reissued in 2000 by MCA Records, packaged with Kuti's He Miss Road (1975) on the same CD.

<i>Zombie</i> (album) 1977 album by Fela Kuti

Zombie is a studio album by Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti. It was released in Nigeria by Coconut Records in 1976, and in the United Kingdom by Creole Records in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti</span> Nigerian activist (1900–1978)

Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, MON ; born Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Olufela Folorunso Thomas; 25 October 1900 – 13 April 1978), also known as Funmilayo Aníkúlápó-Kuti, was a Nigerian educator, political campaigner, suffragist, and women's rights activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seun Kuti</span> Nigerian Afrobeat saxophonist and singer (born 1983)

Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, singer and the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father's former band Egypt 80.

Kehinde Lijadu and Taiwo Lijadu were identical twin sisters from Nigeria who performed as the Lijadu Sisters from the mid-1960s to the 1980s. They achieved success in Nigeria, and also had a more modest success in the United States and Europe. Described as an influential dynamic who mixed Afrobeat sounds with jazz and disco, the sisters retired from the music scene in the late 1980s, reforming and performing sporadically during the 2010s up until Kehinde's death in 2019. They were the cousins of the popular Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemi Ghariokwu</span> Nigerian artist (born 1955)

Lemi Ghariokwu, also known simply as Lemi, is a Nigerian painter, illustrator and designer who is most renowned for providing many of the original cover images for the recordings of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.

<i>Finding Fela</i> 2014 documentary film directed by Alex Gibney

Finding Fela is a 2014 American documentary film directed by Alex Gibney, portraying and analysing the life of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burna Boy</span> Nigerian singer-songwriter (born 1991)

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu , known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, performer and record producer. He gained recognition in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and its parent company Warner Music Group. His third studio album Outside, which also serves as his major label debut, was released in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolanle Austen-Peters</span> Nigerian movie director (born 1969)

Bolanle Austen-Peters, is a lawyer, a multiple award-winning movie director/producer, theater director/producer and cultural entrepreneur. She is the founder and artistic director of BAP Productions and the arts and culture center Terra Kulture in Lagos. She has been described by the CNN as the "woman pioneering theater in Nigeria", named one of the most influential women in Africa by Forbes Afrique and been recognised with several awards for her contribution to the arts.

Newen Afrobeat is an Afrobeat band that started in 2009 in Chile. Newen Afrobeat revisits Fela Kuti's musical heritage. The word Newén means 'strength' in the Mapuche language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laolu Senbanjo</span>

Laolu (Olaolu) Senbanjo, also known as "Laolu NYC", is a Nigerian visual artist, musician, singer/songwriter and former human rights attorney.

<i>Moral Instruction</i> 2019 studio album by Falz

Moral Instruction is the fourth studio album by Nigerian rapper Falz. It was released on January 15, 2019, by Bahd Guys Entertainment. The album was recorded in Nigerian Pidgin and samples musical recordings from Fela Kuti. Its production was primarily handled by Sess, with additional production from TMXO, Willis, and Chillz. Moral Instruction features collaborations with Demmie Vee, Chillz and Sess. The album's release was preceded by "Talk", a socio-conscious song that addresses critical events. Moral Instruction won Best Rap Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2019.

Blo was a Nigerian psychedelic funk ensemble formed in Lagos and active between 1972 and 1982. The main trio consisted of Laolu "Akins" Akintobi (drums), Berkely "Ike" Jones (guitar), and Mike "Gbenga" Odumosu (bass). The group fused the Afrobeat rhythms of Nigeria with funk and psychedelia derived from '60s Western rock music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Etim Effiong</span> Nigerian actor, scriptwriter and film director

Daniel Etim Effiong, also Daniel Etim-Effiong is a Nigerian Nollywood actor and film director.

<i>Army Arrangement</i> 1985 studio album by Fela Kuti

Army Arrangement is a 1985 studio album by Fela Kuti.

<i>Beasts of No Nation</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Fela Kuti

Beasts of No Nation is an album by the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. It was released in 1989. Kuti is credited with his band Egypt 80.

References

  1. "Rolling Stone Africa Staff". Rolling Stone Africa.
  2. Staff, Editorial (28 June 2024). "ROLLING STONE launches ROLLING STONE Africa". Rolling Stone Germany . Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  3. "Rolling Stone Launches Rolling Stone Africa Partnering with MWANKOM Group". Penske Media Corporation . 16 July 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Rolling Stone to expand MENA footprint with new collaboration". Arab News . 25 March 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  5. Arthur, Erica (2 July 2024). "Rolling Stone Africa Launches in Nigeria with headquarters in Lagos". Aftown . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  6. Muleya, Khumbulani (22 September 2024). "Nyambi in key appointment at Rolling Stone Africa". The Standard . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  7. Obioha, Vanessa (1 August 2024). "RollingStone Features Fela on Cover, Officially Launched in Africa". This Day . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  8. Hansen, Gabriel (2 August 2024). "Fela Kuti featured on first Rolling Stone Africa cover". Music In Africa. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  9. 1 2 Medeme, Ovwe (6 July 2024). "Toyosi Etim-Effiong Announces Arrival Of Rolling Stone Africa". Independent . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  10. Muleya, Khumbulani (22 September 2024). "Nyambi in key appointment at Rolling Stone Africa". NewsDay . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  11. Olivares, Bambina Wise (6 December 2011). "Rolling Stone Launches in South Africa". Women's Wear Daily . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  12. Van Wyk, Lisa (30 November 2011). "Rolling Stone: International standards with a local twist". Mail & Guardian . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  13. Ukonu, Ivory (8 July 2024). "Toyosi Etim-Effiong Joins Board of Rolling Stone Africa". The Will . Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  14. Muzivoreva, Leo (13 September 2024). "Usher Nyambi Joins Rolling Stone Africa as Contributing Editor". South African Times. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  15. Ghariokwu, Lemi (2 August 2024). "Art As Rebellion: Lemi Ghariokwu on Fela, Revolution, and the Power of Music". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  16. Stone, Rolling (7 January 2025). "The Double Face of Rafael Leão". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  17. 1 2 Asinugo, Nicole (1 August 2024). "Laolu Senbanjo: The World Is Your Canvas". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  18. 1 2 Conteh, Mankaprr (7 July 2024). "How the Inseparable Lijadu Sisters Fought for Afropop as We Know It". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  19. Dickinson, Tim (22 July 2024). "'DEI,' 'Colored,' 'Jezebel': MAGA Attacks on Kamala Harris Are Getting Ugly". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  20. Sepinwall, Alan (3 July 2024). "Why Are the Emmys Categories So Damn Confusing?". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 18 January 2025.