This week, The Times ran a profile of Thames, a 28-year-old Nigerian singer-songwriter who recently became the first African artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, appeared on BeyoncĂ©’s album “Renaissance” and was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” She is set to release her debut album next month.
For me, there’s an honesty to Thames’ music, which fuses R&B and Afrobeat. Her tone is earthy, her lyrics direct, and often not particularly showy. But her hooks are the best. They’re made to be hummed around the house or shouted through speakers. These elements combine to create Feeling — whether it’s heartbreak (“Damages”), rebellion (“Crazy Tings”) or piety (“Me & U”).
So it’s no surprise to learn about her vibe-driven songwriting process on this record: “I just have feelings, I just have signals,” she told Times reporter Reggie Ugwu. “I’m just a vessel, and it just comes out of my mouth.”
Thames is one of several artists from African countries who have joined the Western mainstream. Burna Boy sold out New York’s Citi Field last year, and in February the first Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance went to South African singer Tyra for “Water.” Western artists, including BeyoncĂ©, Drake, Usher, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, are also featuring African artists on their songs or remixes of already popular songs.
Last year, for “Old World, Young Africa,” a Times project about Africa’s youth population boom, I spoke with Nigerian artist Mr. Eazi. He said one benefit of African music’s growing popularity is that it gives Africans some control over the narrative about their continent. “People are discovering Africa first through the lens of music, not through the lens of CNN or the New York Times,” he said.
There are many reasons for this global interest – talented artists, the border-melting power of the internet, collaborations with Western stars – but as a Brit, I can personally speak to the role of the diaspora.
My involvement with African music began with my father, who often played highlife, a genre sung in Igbo, a Nigerian language, with shimmering, sharp guitar riffs that have aged well (see an example here). As my peers grew older, they developed an appreciation for African music independently of their parents. Artists like D’banj, Wizkid, and Burna Boy were frequently played at house parties.
There’s a vibrant cultural exchange between the African continent and its diaspora. Young Africans in the diaspora attend concerts and music festivals like Afro Nation, and many travel to Nigeria and Ghana to party during the holiday season affectionately known as “Deti December.” Eazi told me that the diaspora, including the UK, has played a role in popularizing African music globally. “They’re the ones who defined what cool was and embraced Africanness,” he said.
Here’s a playlist perfect for your holiday weekend BBQ. It features some of the biggest names on the African continent, as well as some international artists. It also features Amapiano, a house genre that originated in South Africa, and “1er Gaou,” an Ivory Coast track that’s a staple at African hall parties. Enjoy!
Related: Hip hop is dominating the French music industry, injecting new words and phrases from Africa into France’s suburbs and cities.
Culture Week
Film and TV
Other big news
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Countries attending the World Health Assembly were unable to agree on a treaty on how to deal with future pandemics, including how to ensure equitable access to vaccines.
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Family members of victims of the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting are suing gun maker and “Call of Duty” publisher Instagram for “cultivating” a teenage shooter.
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A gang attack in Haiti has left three members of an Oklahoma-based missionary group dead.
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According to a New York Times analysis, Donald Trump has preemptively questioned the fairness of the 2024 election on average once a day since he began his campaign, a significant increase from 2020 and 2016.
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Studies have found that the drugs Ozempic and Wegovi reduce the risk of complications, heart disease and death in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Cultural Calendar
🎬 “Hitman” (currently in theaters): It’s been the year (or years?) of Glen Powell. After his breakout success in Top Gun: Maverick, he starred opposite Sydney Sweeney in the romantic comedy Anyone But You, and then he played a philosophy professor with an exciting side hustle in The Hitman, which film critic Alissa Wilkinson called “romantic and sexy, funny and satisfying, with a real star at heart.” The film, directed by Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Before trilogy), hits Netflix in June, but Alissa says it’s “worth seeing in theaters if you can.”
Lemon and mint potato salad
If you’re planning a picnic or barbecue this weekend, potato salad might come to mind. I love the old-fashioned, mayonnaise-drenched version, but rising temperatures can sometimes backfire, especially if you plan on feasting all day. Don’t worry, I have the perfect alternative: an herby, olive oil-based potato salad seasoned with lemon and mint. This salad is also loaded with spring onions, which add a crunchy texture and a pleasant zing, and a sprinkling of chilli for a zing. And leaving it outside for hours is fine, as long as it’s not eaten up.
real estate
hunting: A French-born, Canadian-based fashion brand owner wanted to live the American dream in the Hamptons. Which house would she choose? Join our game.
For $1.6 million you get: A Queen Anne Revival home in Durham, North Carolina, a two-bedroom condo in Palm Beach, Florida, or Barrington, Rhode Island
Your next home: Following the publication of our latest Rent vs. Buy Calculator, The Times would like to hear from readers who have recently made the choice between renting and buying. Tell us your experience here.
Instagram Pan: A few years ago, direct-to-consumer cookware became all the rage on the internet, and now you can probably find it for free.
Dance like it’s the 80s: TikTok users may skew Gen Z, but some of the most popular videos right now feature Gen X parents in action.
Method: Your guide to becoming a vegetarian or simply incorporating more vegetables into your diet.
Professional: Meet the woman who runs the candy factory.
Advice from WIRECUTTER
How to pack better
There’s one packing essential that Wirecutter travel expert Kit Dillon recommends for everyone: packing cubes. Is the idea of ​​zipping a smaller bag inside a larger bag a little silly? Maybe. But it’s actually pretty useful. The expert suggests imagining your suitcase as a dresser and the cubes as individual drawers. Just like you’d organize a drawer (in my case, swimsuits and underwear in one, shirts in another, pants in a third), take out only the cubes you need. This makes packing and traveling a breeze. — Sofia Sokolov
Monaco Grand Prix, F1: There’s a big disconnect between the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix and the race itself. Monaco is the centrepiece of the F1 season and arguably the sport’s most famous event. But as Ian Parkes explains in The Times, the race has become more predictable every year as F1 cars get bigger and it becomes harder to pass other racers on the tiny country’s narrow, winding roads. Of course, for many spectators, the race is less about the race itself and more about the spectacle of futuristic cars gliding past posh yacht parties.
Pro Tip: Even more exciting than the Grand Prix are the Qualifying Events, where drivers run alone around the track, trying to set the fastest lap. Their times will determine the starting order for the race, which may affect final standings. Qualifying will air today at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2, with the race airing tomorrow at 9 a.m. on ABC.