Here’s a rich selection of new videos. Not all of these will appear on our Top Videos playlist as some are restricted from playlists. But you can see them all here, and they’re well worth it. From the streets of Blantyre, Malawi, to those of Dakar, Lagos and L.A., and even blues in the Malian countryside, and a hometown celebration in Colombia, the universal spirit of Africa carries through all of them.
Check out the full Afropop Top Videos playlist for all our recent selections. And remember, if you have suggestions of videos our fans would love, send them to info@afropop.org with the subject line “Top Videos 2025.” Enjoy!
Amadou & Mariam: “L'amour à la folie”
Love and folly, indeed! Mali’s Afro-rocking blind couple is no more since the death of Amadou Bagayoko on April 4, 2025. But there is a posthumous album, and this is the title track. The video is a rich, visual tour through A&M’s remarkable global career. And Mariam and the band will make a few select performances before the year is out, including November 18 at Sony Hall in New York.
Bomba Estéreo, Carlos Vives: “La Samaria”
You might detect a hint of Afrobeats, with its clave core and spare soundscape, in this joyful track, but there’s no taking the Colombia out of Bomba Estéreo creations. From the colors, dress, food and gaita (flute) music in this video, you can’t miss the country’s unique stamp. This song celebrates the 500th anniversary of Santa Marta, Colombia’s oldest city nestled in the storied foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. That city is also the birthplace of Bomba’s lead singer Li Saumet and also Colombian singer and actor Carlos Vives, and you feel the elation in their performances.
Cheikh Ibra Fam: “Gnou Mbollo”
Senegal’s Cheikh Ibra Fam has had a busy year. This is the third single from his upcoming album Adouna, out next February. Fam is a Baye Fall and a veteran of Orchestra Baobab and he gives us an upbeat tour of Dakar here. But the message is bigger, unity across the African diaspora. The beat is pumping, Latin-tinged Afropop, and Fam’s vocal ranges from easy conversation to passionate heights. This is a vibrant new voice from Senegal.
Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko – “Special Rider Blues (Skip James cover)”
It’s hard to go wrong with blues legend Skip James. French singer/songwriter Faccini does a fine job of summoning the weary grit this song deserves. His frequent collaborator Sissoko comments gingerly on kora in this duo performance shot in what looks like Malian terrain. Sissoko says he hears northern Mali in blues like this, and the connection feels entirely natural here.
Africa Express: “Motherland ft. Bootie Brown, M.anifest & Tom Excell”
More collaborative music from the Mexican Bahidorá festival and recording sessions. This disco-flavored hip-hop number features the excellent Ghanaian rapper M.anifest. The jungle-like setting for the recording adds almost paradoxical atmosphere to a decidedly urban beat.
Blacksmith: “Last Days (feat. Westside Boogie)”
Bristol, UK, rapper Blacksmith teams up with Compton rapper Westside Boogie for a song and video about perseverance and self-worth in the universal urban struggle. Filmed in L.A, it’s a soul-tinged slow burn with both artists rapping in English backed by a melodious female chorus.
Patoranking: “No Jones”
Patoranking is a leader in Afro-dancehall, and dancehall being a key influence on Afrobeats, that makes him an African star. Here he celebrates the life of the Lagos street hustle with levity, color and bounce. He draws on his signature style of music called Galala, born in the central Lagos neighborhood of Ajegunle where the artist grew up. This track is a tease for his fifth studio album. Have a look and you will likely want more.
Démosle con Música: Doctor Nativo
Guatemalan troubadour Doctor Nativo is a bona fide Central American superstar. On the heels of his massive YouTube hit “Caminantes,” the good Doctor is at it again, piling up 1.3 million views in just three weeks for this 15-minute live set. From buoyant cumbia to rollicking ska, the energy is electric.
The Kasambwe Brothers From Malawi to MASS MOCA
Malawi street bands are having a moment this year. The newest entry is this trio of brothers. With help from Malawi's Jacaranda Foundation (the foundation’s Luc Deschamps is an old colleague of ours from the NYC live music scene), the group came to Massachusetts to record a debut album produced by Mass MOCA. This video tells the remarkable story with music you can’t help but love.
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