Nigerian singer Simi will perform live on Youtube this Saturday as part of the "Stay Home... #With Me" festival.
YouTube's Online African Music Festival, 'Stay Home... #WithMe,' Resumes This Weekend
Watch M.anifest, Simi, Manu WorldStar and other African artists perform live this weekend as part of YouTube's online music festival, 'Stay Home #WithMe'.
The second weekend of Youtube's"#Stay Home... #WithMe" online African music festival takes place this weekend, Saturday April 4th and Sunday April 5th with performers like M.anifest, Simi and Manu WorldStar on the schedule alongside many more. Keep reading for the full lineup.
Last week, the free online festival hosted livestream performances from several South African, Nigerian and Ghanaian artists including Reekado Banks, Gigi Lamayne, Asa, Skales, Nadia Nakai and many others. Some chose to bring in backing instruments, most went solo to go with the theme while others had technical difficulties and were pushed back.
While the world reels from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, artists in particular have been hard hit by social distancing measures. OkayAfrica caught up with several artists to speak about the personal impact of the outbreak on their scheduled performances, studio time and most importantly, their pockets.
At least 46 African countries have confirmed cases of coronavirus. The total number of coronavirus cases on the continent now stands at over 2400 with at least 60 reported deaths. As a result, many governments have put in place strict travel restrictions, border closures as well as lockdowns of varying severity. Read our updated coverage of coronavirus presence in Africa here.
The music industry also suffered a mighty blow last week with the passing of Cameroonian jazz legend Manu Dibango. Dibango died in a hospital just outside of Paris, France after having tested positive for the coronavirus.
And so with millions of people having to spend an indefinite amount of time indoors, YouTube's "Stay Home #WithMe" festival is the perfect way for fans to reconnect with their favourite artists while providing a much-needed moment of relief to keep the inevitable blues away.
View the full list of artists who are set to perform and their set times below.
The "Stay Home... #WithMe" Festival Schedule April 3-4 edition
Sarz
Last year we said that the ubiquitous Nigerian super-producer Sarz "has powered a generation of Nigerian music." It's still true. He's also become the in-demand guy for international artists trying and capture some of the Naija flavour in their music. We wrote on OkayAfrica:
"With Afrobeats' global ambitions taking off, Sarz's production is playing crucial roles in celebrated cross-cultural projects. He's helmed Drake's "One Dance," unlocked the chemistry between Wizkid and Skepta on "Energy (Stay Far Away)," and added composition on Beyoncé's Lion King: The Giftalbum."
Sarz also did an exclusive artist playlist for us. Some of the picks might surprise you. This Saturday you have the chance to seam him live.
Where?
Watch Sarz perform live on his Youtube channel.
When?
Saturday April 4, 2020
9:00 AM WAT
M.anifest
In 2019 we wrote on OkayAfrica:
"Over a decade strong in the industry, the West African artist, who began his career in the United States, wields a discography that could go toe-to-toe with some of the brightest MCs in the world. Arguably the most creative rapper in the Ghanaian music space, M.anifest has never pulled any punches when it comes to his art, steadily delivering music filled with relevant and conscious themes—whether he's playing the lover-boy role or boasting about his mic skills he's always thorough, technical, and deliberate with his craft."
M.anifest tells us that for his performance this weekend fans can expect "Refreshing renditions of some fan favorites in my catalogue. A stripped down jam session to uplift us in these uncertain times."
Where?
Watch M.anifest perform live on his Youtube channel.
When?
Saturday April 4, 2020
4:30 PM WAT
Seyi Shay
In 2017 Shay told OkayAfrica that her preferred approach to songwriting is to go with "feel" first: "The melodies that you freestyle come from the soul, much more than when you think about the lyrics." Since then she's put out a lot of positive vibes into the world in the forms of feel-good Afrobeats songs and a lot of collaborations with artists from all over including this favorite with Teyana Taylor.
Where?
Watch Seyi Shay perform live on her Youtube channel.
When?
Saturday April 4, 2020
5:00 pm WAT
Simi
In 2018 Simi made OkayAfrica's 100 Women list honoring exceptional African women. We wrote about her:
"Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye, or simply Simi, knows sound. The Nigeria-born singer and songwriter is also a self-taught sound engineer who has mixed and mastered her own music. Simi's self-sufficiency got her ahead of the curve and into a class by herself. But her artistry was never typical; she has always been thoughtful about developing her style. That experimentation can be heard on her first album, 2008's gospel driven independent release Ogaju. The mixture of hip-hop, R&B and African inflections was one not heard before, but she continued to strive for the sound she has today."
Where?
Watch Simi perform live on her Youtube channel
When?
Saturday April 4, 2020
7:00 PM WAT
Bongeziwe Mabandla
The South African singer-songwriter is one of our favourites. Mabandla's voice is both resonant and quivering—just as capable holding your attention acapella, accompanied by folk guitar or mixing it up with electronic sounds. Singing mostly in Xhosa, he's a treat to see live.
Where?
When?
Sunday April 5, 2020
2 PM WAT
Prince Kaybee
South African house music stalwart Prince Kaybee. If you're looking for what to expect, look no further than this dream collaboration he recently released alongside fellow SA heavyweights Shimza and Black Motion.
Where?
Prince Kaybee will be performing on his Youtube channel here.
When?
6PM WAT / 7PM SAST / 8PM EAT
Matthew Mole
Where?
Watch Matthew Mole perform live on his Youtube channel
When?
Sunday April 5, 2020
5 PM WAT
The "Stay Home... #WithMe" Festival Schedule March 28-29 edition
Alpha P
Watch the live show on Alpha P's Youtube channel
In his King of Wolves EP, the 17 year-old singer and songwriter from Benin City, Nigeria born Princewill Emmanuel mixes many of the current sounds in Nigerian music—mid-tempo Afrobeats bangers reminiscent of Wizkid and Burna Boy—with trap-influences. The track "More" sounds like it could fit in a playlist of SoundCloud rappers.
Oluwadamilola
Watch the live show on Oluwadamilola's Youtube channel
The Nigerian newcomer Oluwadamilola Tella was the winner of the first Talent HQ—a talent showcase for musicians and comedians in Lagos. She's released music two videos; Hello and Sunny Day produced by OluMix.
Jeff Akoh
Watch the livestream show on Jeff Akoh's Youtube channel
The Abuja-born singer Jeff Akoh makes romantic music with videos to match. His big break came in 2015 during season 8 of Project Fame West Africa which he won at the age of 18. In 2018 he released the EP "I Do." Its lead single, also "I Do" has more than 2 million views on Youtube. Although we're kind of hoping he plays his 2017 "Maroon 5-esque" hit Shokolokobangoshe.
Official Broda Shaggi
Watch official Official Broda Shaggi livestream performance on his Youtube channel
Animashaun Samuel is a Nigerian comedian, actor and singer who has become wildly popular online for the hilarious characters he plays in his social media skits. The most popular character, Official Broda Shaggi, Nigeria's number 1 fine boy also has a music career. Check out this song from February with DJ Neptune: Yo-Yo
Skales
Watch Skales perform live on his Youtube channel
Skales is a Nigerian music industry veteran and star with a roster of hits and collaborations with Banky W and Davido. An OkayAfrica favorite, he'll be playing the third to last Saturday slot of the "Stay Home #WithMe Festival."
Reekado Banks
Watch the livestream of the show on Reekado Banks' Youtube page
The music of Reekado Banks is a regular addition to OkayAfrica's Songs You Need to Hear This Week playlists. The Nigerian singer, born Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon, is one of Nigeria's biggest stars.
Cina Soul
Watch Cina Soul's livestream performance on her Youtube page
One of the only Ghanaians on the festival schedule, Cina Soul has a throwback sound but a huge presence. OkayAfrica called her one of our Ghanaian artists to watch for 2019 and called her song 'Killi Mi'—about the scourge of domestic violence—"a soul-stirring song that is making many stop and think."
Gigi La Mayne
Watch Gigi LaMayne perform live on her Youtube channel
In 2016 OkayAfrica interviewed Gigi La Mayne about Fees Must Fall. Since then, she might be the artist we've covered the most—putting her down as one of the reasons "2018 Was the Year Women Won In (South African) Hip-Hop." Watch one of the most dynamic voices in South African hip hop perform this Sunday.
Nadia Nakai
Watch Nadia Nakai perform live on her Youtube channel
Nadia Nakai won the AFRIMA award last year for Best Female Artist—Southern Africa Region but as far as South African rappers go she's one of South Africa's best, period. Last year we wrote:
"For her debut album, titled Nadia Naked, Nadia Nakai gives her listener more than just bravado in the form of chest-punching raps. In some songs, the South African/Zimbabwean rapper tells the story of the person behind the feisty and intimidating character that is Nadia Nakai as we all know her."
Timi Dakolo
Checkout Timi Dakolo's Youtube channel here
With his deep texture voice, Nigeria's "King of Soul" won Idols West Africa in 2007 and has been a favorite for songs like "The Vow" and "Iyawo Mi" ever since.
Bez Idakula
Watch the livestream of Bez Idakula's performance on his Youtube channel
Bez Idakula's song "Far Away" made our list of best Nigerian songs of August 2019. We wrote:
"The song's connecting tissue of American soul and afropop is captured in its lyric: "hope say I dey make a little bit of sense," as in the seamless combination of genres which blends an electric guitar with heaving conga drums and back-up vocals typical on Fela's Afrobeat."
Asa
Watch the livestream of Asa's show live on her Youtube channel
Five years after her releasing her last album, "Bed of Stone," Asa came out last year with a new album, "Lucid," to rave reviews. Upon premiering her video "The Beginning" a year ago Okayplayer wrote:
"Whether its borders or genres, Asa's music knows no bounds. The Paris-born, Lagos-bred Nigerian singer-songwriter and multi-platinum selling recording artist fuses indie pop, jazz, and soft-soul, incorporating inspirations from Sade, Fela Kuti, Billie Holliday, Miriam Makeba, King Sunny Adé, The Beatles, and Lenny Kravitz.
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