Afropop Worldwide

Features - August 27, 2012
4 Track: Thomas Mapfumo
Blog - September 19, 2022
Lancelot Mapfumo Has Left Us
April 11, 2024
Thomas Mapfumo 1: The War Years
Part 1 of Afropop Worldwide's HIp Deep audio biography of Thomas Mapfumo focuses on his upbringing, musical education and the bands that lead up to the Blacks Unlimited. These are the war years, when Zimbabwe was fighting to throw off the burden of the racist Southern Rhodesian regime. This episode documents the birth of "chimurenga" music in the voices of those who made that history, many of whom have now joined the ancestors. Produced by Banning Eyre.
December 14, 2017
Thomas Mapfumo 2: The Mugabe Years
In recognition of the end of Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule in Zimbabwe, we are rebroadcasting our program on the career of Thomas Mapfumo during the Mugabe years.
Videos - April 8, 2013
Thomas Mapfumo: The Path to Exile
Blog - July 2, 2020
Celebrate Thomas Mapfumo's 75th Birthday Today!
Blog - February 12, 2013
Mapfumo 2: Mugabe Years--Producer's notes
Blog - January 24, 2013
Discography: Thomas Mapfumo: The War Years
June 19, 2018
Thomas Mapfumo: The Enigma of Return
Blog - June 1, 2015
Beyond Mapfumo: Five Tracks From Zimbabwe
Blog - October 17, 2012
Thomas Mapfumo at Carnegie hall TICKET GIVEAWAY
April 18, 2024
Thomas Mapfumo Live in NYC at SOB's
A special recording from the Afropop archives finds Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited playing at SOB's in New York City back in 1991.
May 28, 2015
Thomas Mapfumo: Live at S.O.B.'s
Blog - June 11, 2014
Afropop Exclusive: Thomas Mapfumo Releases New Electronic Singles
July 17, 2025
Planet Afropop: Chimurenga Legacy: Thomas Mapfumo and Mary Anibal
Banning Eyre meets Thomas Mapfumo at home and introduces Mary Anibal.
Best of The Beat - December 17, 2017
Best of The Beat on Afropop: Thomas Mapfumo 1984
Blog - September 22, 2016
Mapfumo and Mawarire Chant Down Mugabe at the U.N.
Reviews - February 7, 2013
Mhoze Chikowero: A Historian's Take on Thomas Mapfumo and Robert Mugabe
Best of The Beat - June 21, 2018
Best of The Beat on Afropop: On the Road With Thomas Mapfumo
Blog - March 16, 2015
Danger Zone: Thomas Mapfumo Urges Zimbabwe Public to Steal Pirated Copies of New CD
Blog - May 30, 2012
Simon Bright and Thomas Mapfumo in NYC for Debut of Bright's film "Robert Mugabe... What Happened?"
Blog - May 15, 2012
Thomas Mapfumo in NYC to speak at debut of Simon Bright film: "Robert Mugabe... What Happened?"
Reviews - January 24, 2013
Thomas Turino
Blog - June 16, 2015
Banning Eyre on PRI's "The World"
Blog - August 26, 2016
#ThisFlag Movement Signals Changes for Zimbabwe
Blog - September 17, 2016
Zimbabwe Solidarity at U.N. Gathering
Blog - November 22, 2017
And Just Like That, Mugabe Disappeared
April 25, 2019
Zimbabwe After Mugabe
Hear the sound of Zimbabwe--Zim-dancehall, gospel trad and lots of mbira--as the country moves out of the 37-year shadow cast by Robert Mugabe.
Reviews - May 26, 2015
Danger Zone
November 9, 2023
African Legends: Remembering Oliver Mtukudzi
This program looks back on the life and music of Zimbabwe’s Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi, with interviews dating back to 1988.
Features - September 24, 2019
Chartwell Dutiro: 1957-2019
June 20, 2012
Afropop Summer Serenade
May 12, 2016
Afropop Live Highlights
June 14, 2018
The Nature of Trance
In this program, we explore the phenomenon of trance through a survey of musical and spiritual traditions, discover how different cultural and spiritual ideas are expressed musically, how the mathematical complexity of mbira dzavuzimu music may lead to Shona spirit possession, and how experiments in neural imaging give us insight into how the brain works in a state of trance.
Blog - December 10, 2014
25 Years of Real World Records!
Blog - February 6, 2015
The International Bob Marley
Features - December 3, 2015
Stocking Stuffers 2015
Blog - April 6, 2016
Field Report: Three Takes on Southern African Music
Best of The Beat - June 8, 2016
Best of The Beat on Afropop: Southern Exposure--A Journey in Southern Africa
Blog - May 8, 2018
Gala Greetings In Absentia
Blog - June 21, 2018
Mbira Goes Metal: Zimbabwe's Nascent Rock Scene
July 15, 2021
Live from the Archive 1: S.O.Bs Edition
Live Afropop Worldwide recordings of Papa Wemba, Marcé et Tumpak, Chaba Fadela and Cheb Sahraoui and Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens at S.O.Bs nightclub in New York City.
Reviews - November 9, 2021
Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles: “Soweto”
June 22, 2023
The Zim Dancehall Story
The Zim Dancehall Story
Interview - May 16, 2023
Bantu Spaceship Remakes Zimbabwean Roots Pop
Blog - July 28, 2023
SOB´s Celebrates Forty Years
Reviews - August 24, 2023
Mokoomba: Tusona (Tracings In The Sand)
October 17, 2023
Planet Afropop: Bombino And Bobi Wine
In this episode of Planet Afropop, Banning, Georges, and Mukwae explore the role of African musicians in the midst of political turmoil.
December 14, 2023
The Soul of Mbira
This program explores Shona mbira music from Zimbabwe through a historic 1999 U.S. tour by the Mbira Masters of Zimbabwe, organized by Paul Berliner.
June 25, 2024
Planet Afropop: Season Finale with Noise Cans and the Swanky Kitchen Band
Planet Afropop wraps up Season 1 with Noise Cans, The Swanky Kitchen Band and top picks in new releases
Blog - September 10, 2024
Planet Afropop: Season 2 Releases
October 8, 2024
Planet Afropop: Mokoomba in the House
Zimbabwe's Mokoomba creates a song to be remixed as Afro-House.
Interview - July 8, 2025
Preserving the Mbira Tradition of Zimbabwe's Ndau Community
December 3, 2014
Stocking Stuffers 2014
December 3, 2015
Stocking Stuffers 2015
Reviews - November 30, 2011
The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
Reviews - December 19, 2010
Africa: 50 Years of Music
Reviews - November 8, 2011
Tamba
Reviews - June 16, 2010
Dendere Ngoma
Reviews - January 10, 2010
Zimbabwe Today
Reviews - March 23, 2011
Habib Koite, Afel Bocoum and Oliver Mtukudzi - 2011
Contests - July 23, 2012
Win 2 Tickets to Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits w/ Special Guest Timbila
Reviews - August 6, 2012
Rising Tide
Features - August 2, 2012
Afropop Worldwide Awarded National Endowment for The Humanities (NEH) Grant for 2012-2013 Hip Deep Season
Blog - October 3, 2012
Chief Boima Drops Chimurenga Renaissance Mix
Blog - October 19, 2012
STAFF BENDA BILILI- LIVE IN NYC
Features - October 24, 2012
Afro-Montreal
Blog - February 14, 2013
Win a trip to Miami to party with Afropop!
Contests - May 22, 2013
LAST WEEK! Win a trip for two to NYC to celebrate Afropop's 25th anniversary at SummerStage--Central Park
Blog - June 26, 2013
Join Afropop Host Georges Collinet at Central Park SummerStage 7.21, for Afropop's 25th Anniversary Celebration
Blog - August 12, 2013
Afropop Worldwide 25th Anniversary Gala Concert Press Release
Blog - September 20, 2013
Afropop's 25th Anniversary Gala: One for the History Books!
Features - April 3, 2014
Beneath the Music: Featured Artists
Reviews - April 23, 2014
Pasichigare: Mystic Music of Zimbabwe
Blog - December 4, 2014
Stocking Stuffers Complete List
Blog - April 16, 2015
Afropop Worldwide Wins Peabody Institutional Award
Blog - August 20, 2015
Mbira Maestro Chartwell Dutiro in New York For A Month
Reviews - September 24, 2015
Lágbájá Talks Career, New Music, and the Nigerian Scene
Blog - March 25, 2016
Mokoomba: 2016 North American Tour
Videos - April 21, 2016
Africa Now! 2016 Rocks the Apollo Theater in Harlem: Video Feature
Best of The Beat - June 11, 2016
Best of The Beat on Afropop: Africa 101--A Tour of African Music
Blog - March 9, 2017
Listen: Timbila's New Mbira-Led Singles
Reviews - March 10, 2017
Luyando
Reviews - March 16, 2017
Beautiful Nubia, Troubadour of Nigerian Conscience
Blog - April 26, 2017
Your Chance to See Mokoomba with Afropop!
Reviews - April 28, 2017
Sadza With the Head of A Mouse
Blog - July 6, 2017
Announcing: Afropop Closeup Season Two
Reviews - July 20, 2017
Mokoomba at Nuits d'Afrique, Montreal
October 13, 2017
Banning Eyre
Reviews - November 3, 2017
Afrobeats Hot Hits: New Urban Dance Grooves From Africa
Blog - December 7, 2017
Field Report: Visa For Music 2017
December 28, 2017
30th Anniversary Gala & Hall of Fame
Features - January 19, 2018
New York's globalFEST 2018: Photo Essay
Reviews - March 8, 2018
Back It Up
Blog - March 23, 2018
Afropop Worldwide's 30th Anniversary Gala and Hall of Fame
Blog - April 13, 2018
Afropop Hall of Fame: A History
Blog - April 20, 2018
The Ghosts of Afropop Galas Past
Blog - May 10, 2018
Photo Essay: Afropop's 30th Anniversary Gala
May 25, 2018
Afropop Closeup: Season 3
Interview - June 8, 2018
Angelique Kidjo Tackles Talking Heads' Remain in Light
June 25, 2018
Geoffrey Oryema (1953-2018)
Blog - August 21, 2018
Crossfire Passings: Aretha and Vidia
August 15, 2019
Afropop Worldwide: The Origin Story
Sean Barlow, Banning Eyre and Georges Collinet look back on 30 years of Afropop Worldwide on public radio. \n
November 29, 2018
The Best of Afropop Closeup Season 3
Blog - January 2, 2019
In Remembrance of Jumbo Vanrenen
Blog - January 23, 2019
UPDATED: Oliver Mtukudzi Dies at 66
Blog - January 24, 2019
Remembering Oliver Mtukudzi
Reviews - February 26, 2019
Rocky Dawuni: Another Dimension of Diaspora Music
Reviews - March 7, 2019
Razia on The Road
Features - April 18, 2019
In Memoriam: Masuka, Simaro, Nketia and the New Ancestors
Reviews - June 12, 2019
Interview with Steel Pulse's David Hinds
Blog - June 19, 2019
Afropop to Honor Salif Keita at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival: July 13
Blog - June 28, 2019
Oliver Mtukudzi in Photos
Blog - August 22, 2019
Oran Etkin's Timbalooloo Comes to Zimbabwe
Blog - October 17, 2019
Hear Zona Libre's Pan-African Bliss Mix: The Continent Vol. One
Reviews - March 20, 2020
Linos Wengara Magaya: Carrying the Torch for Zimbabwe’s Mbira Pop
Fresh Eyre - June 4, 2020
This Time...
Reviews - June 25, 2020
Damon Albarn on Tony Allen
Fresh Eyre - August 14, 2020
Summer Lockdown Listening
Fresh Eyre - December 12, 2020
Stella Chiweshe to Build Culture Center in Zimbabwe
Reviews - March 4, 2021
“Notes from Africa: A Musical Journey with Youssou N’Dour” By Jenny Cathcart
Reviews - April 23, 2021
Shungudzo: From Harare to LA
Blog - August 4, 2021
Weigh In on Afropop's Future!
And enjoy an exclusive concert from the archives!
Interview - December 22, 2021
Jake Blount on Black String Band Tradition
Fresh Eyre - March 29, 2022
Club D'Elf and Afro-Zen Allstars Let the Instruments Do the Talking
Features - November 11, 2022
Soukous Superstar Koffi Olomide Inducted Into the Afropop Hall of Fame
Blog - August 24, 2023
A Tribute to Nigeria's King Sunny Ade as He Passes the Baton for Longest-Charting African Album on Billboard
November 2, 2023
Celebrate Afropop's 35th Anniversary!
Field Report - November 13, 2023
Afropop Marks 35 Years with Congo-Style Gala at New York's SOB's
Features - February 22, 2024
Afropop in Tanzania 2024: Sauti Za Busara
Interview - May 14, 2024
Leif Totusek: African Guitar Par Excellence!
Interview - November 11, 2024
Thandiswa Returns with Sankofa
Interview - November 20, 2024
WaCharie: In the Footsteps of Tuku
Interview - December 19, 2024
Rikki Stein's Gonzo Journey as an African Music Manager
Blog - August 4, 2025
Afropop Worldwide: The First Intern in the Hot Summer of 1989
Interview - August 25, 2025
The Mahotella Queens are Back! A Talk With Hilda Tloubatla