Editor-in-Chief | Krysta Billong |
---|---|
Staff writers | Takudzwa Nyambi Ify Obi Krystie Lee Yandoli Lemi Ghariokwu Victoria Goldiee Rahel Aklilu Kalia Richardson Chiderah Sunny Caroline Akinyele Christine Ochefu [1] |
Categories | Music magazine |
Publisher | Mwankom Group |
First issue | July 2024 |
Country | NG, SA, GH, ZW |
Based in | Lagos |
Website | rollingstoneafrica |
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]
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]
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:
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Laolu (Olaolu) Senbanjo, also known as "Laolu NYC", is a Nigerian visual artist, musician, singer/songwriter and former human rights attorney.
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.
Daniel Etim Effiong, also Daniel Etim-Effiong is a Nigerian Nollywood actor and film director.
Army Arrangement is a 1985 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.