How Cairo’s Live Music Experiences Soar During Ramadan As the holy month concludes, OkayAfrica looks back at the various ways Cairenes enjoyed the communal and sacred experience of sound this Ramadan. music Amuna Wagner
Tinariwen’s New Album ‘Hoggar’ Reunites the Tuareg Community to Preserve Its Resistance The Grammy-Award-winning band’s tenth studio album sees them return to basics in collaboration with several younger musicians, as politically outspoken and thoughtful as ever. music
Nazli Reda is Passionate About Sound, the Forgotten Field of Music The Egyptian sound engineer owns her own brand, mentors young talent, and is building herself a steady career of ever-growing concerts. music
Meet Chaama, the Person Behind the Anonymous Moroccan Voice The Moroccan singer reimagines old Arabic songs in hopes of preserving her heritage and spirituality in the face of changing music tastes and an increasingly divided world. music Amuna Wagner
Should North African Musicians Aspire to Global Fame? Bad Bunny’s global success has sparked conversations in the region, with some saying that Arabic music is the next Latin music, while others don’t believe the two can or should be compared. music Amuna Wagner
The Best North African Songs Right Now In February, North African artists used their platforms to critique patriarchy, Zionism, and how the neglect of infrastructure makes it impossible for youth to build promising futures. music Amuna Wagner
Aghani El Banat: The Soundtrack to an Ancient Nubian Rite of Passage Despite Sudan’s ongoing war, weddings have resumed and are preserving millennia-old traditions while giving many women a lifeline for entrepreneurship. music Amuna Wagner
The Most Anticipated Ramadan Series in 2026 Every year, a number of Ramadan shows compete for audiences digesting their iftar on the sofa, impressing with the region’s best actors and boldest storylines. film tv Amuna Wagner
Some Love Songs are More Than Just Romance For decades, North African musicians have used romantic love as a symbol for expressing love for culture, identity, and a whole people. music Amuna Wagner
What It’s Like To … Run a Library and Community Center in a Sahrawi Refugee Camp Sahrawi women’s rights and climate activist Najla Mohamed-Lamin has built a haven for women and children, despite the unbearable conditions of the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria. news Amuna Wagner
The Best North African Songs Right Now With Ramadan fast approaching, North African artists were eager to start the year off strong, giving listeners a wealth of new music from R&B to rap to electronic music and desert blues. music Amuna Wagner
What Does IShowSpeed’s Africa Tour Say About the State of Streaming? Riddled with high and low cultural moments, fanfare, and virality, IShowSpeed’s Africa Tour encompassed the thrill and limits of streaming on the African continent. news Amuna Wagner Nelson C.J.
Who Benefits From a Divided Africa? Moroccans Reflect on Hosting AFCON Five citizens respond to the aftermath of the Africa Cup of Nations final, discussing criticisms, cultural nuances, and their relationships with the rest of the continent. news Amuna Wagner
Yennayer: A Playlist for the Amazigh New Year The indigenous inhabitants of North Africa and the Sahara celebrate the New Year on January 12. music Amuna Wagner
11 Things to Leave Behind in 2025 for a Better 2026 Stop acknowledging crises only as hashtags or trending topics. Take the time to learn the context behind struggles in Sudan, Congo, Palestine, Haiti, and elsewhere. news Amuna Wagner
Sudanese Lessons in Optimism and Endurance Amid the War In 2025, the Sudanese people, suffering in what is widely considered to be Africa’s worst war, show powerful lessons on preserving hope, faith, kindness, and humor. news Amuna Wagner
When Your Older Sibling Is the Spark for Your Music Career Egyptian songstress Felukah, Sudanese rapper Montiyago, and Palestinian pop diva Amira Jazeera have one common superpower: their older sibling. In interviews with OkayAfrica, they discuss their siblings’ influence on their art and the difficulties that come with having a creative family business. music Amuna Wagner
Suzannah Mirghani’s Debut Film 'Cotton Queen’ is a Powerful Reflection on Sudan’s Colonial Past and Future The Sudanese Russian director tells OkayAfrica about the difficulties and rewards of tracing this story on cotton farming, British colonization, and the trauma that comes with Sudanese womanhood. film tv Amuna Wagner
