The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.
Bobby Carter | March 10, 2021 Over the years, African musicians have elevated expectations at the Tiny Desk. The distinctive vibrations left by artists like Burna Boy, KOKOKO! and the Soweto Gospel Choir have lead to some of the most unforgettable moments in our rich history. This (home) concert feels like the culmination of all of those moments.
To celebrate the new compilation Rhythms of Zamunda: Music Inspired By Coming 2 America, six artists representing four countries in Africa perform a megamix of selections from the project. Each performance from the pan-African project bridges the distance between the countries and cultures, and gets more exhilarating by the minute.
South Africa's Nasty C — who's arguably the biggest rapper on the continent — opens the set and trades verses with Tiny Desk alumni Ari Lennox on "Black and White." He then sends us over to Cameroon for some Afrobeats flavor, courtesy of Locko and his stripped-down version of "Magnet." We then circle back around to South Africa to hear from R&B newcomer Ricky Tyler. From there, we head north to Nigeria to do the "Jiggy Bop" with Alpha P before we take one last trip to South Africa for award-winning dance DJ and producer Prince Kaybee's "Fetch Your Life," featuring Msaki. Finally, Togo duo Toofan dares us not to dance to "Yé Mama."
In addition to the sweeping range of the showings, the look of each set is stunning: vibrant, opulent colors; meticulous Tiny Desk shelf recreations; gorgeous African artifacts; and a few nuggets dedicated to King Akeem of Coming 2 America. This cultural clash is the biggest amplification of African voices we've ever had the pleasure of presenting.
SET LIST Nasty C (feat. Ari Lennox): "Black and White" Locko: "Magnet" Ricky Tyler: "Everything" Alpha P: "Jiggy Bop" Prince Kaybee (feat. Msaki): "Fetch Your Life" Toofan: "Ye Mama"
MUSICIANS "Black and White" Nasty C: vocals Ari Lennox: vocals Fundile "FD" Dlamini: drums Christer Kobedi: keys Vaughan Fourie: keys
"Magnet" Locko: vocals Joel Parfait Ondigui: bass Benjamin Mouangue Bossamo: guitar Brice Essomba: keys Marc Nzana: drums Martien Oyono: violin
"Everything" Ricky Tyler: vocals Zādok: keys Tino "Beatboy" Damba: drums Tendai "Shoxx" Shoko: bass Innocent Mzizi: guitar
"Jiggy Bop" Alpha P: vocals David Osang: vocals Agu Chinyere Gift: vocals Tosin "SDK" Tade: vocals Femi Jacobs: vocals Olabiyi Julius: keys Ayodele Agbabiaka Oluwasegun: bass Best Amakhian: guitar Ebenezer Olayinka: drums
"Fetch Your Life" Msaki: vocals Prince Kaybee: DJ Zādok: guitar Katleho Motlatla: bass Fundile "FD" Dlamini: keys
"Ye Mama" Barabas: vocals Masta Just: vocals Paul Akakpo: keys Therence Egue: drums Martin Lawson: bass Lionel Adjovi: guitar Sylvie Akpedjo: vocals Lamabara Paul: vocals
CREDITS Nasty C and Ari, Ricky Tyler and Prince Kaybee Video: Molotovcocktail.tv, Nic Roux, Daniel Tshimowa, Tumelo Mofokeng, Brain Bvumbe, Kyana White, Tyshawn 'Creedlife' Smith, Tony Nava, Jonathan Lora, Emmanuel Nkolo, Tommy4K, Josh Binyard Audio: Ebenezer Maxwell, Itumeleng Maponyane, Robin Kohl (Jazzworx), Cliff Machingaifa, Caleb James
Locko Video: Director Chuzih Audio: One Style One Nation Films
Alpha P Video: Adetola Films, Mario Vera-Cruz, Clout, Femi Aribisala, Pheabian Miller Audio: Laughter Oyemada
Toofan Video: Director Barabas Audio: Masta Just
TINY DESK TEAM Producer: Bobby Carter Video Producer: Maia Stern Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Morgan Noelle Smith Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
#tinydesk #coming2america #nprmusic #nastyc #arilennox #locko #alphap #rickytyler #princekaybee #msaki #toofan
