Mozambique’s Laylizzy featured on CNN Africa

CNN's African Voices programme highlights the continent's trendsetters in areas such as travel, fashion, art, music, technology and architecture.

In the programme, the hip-hop star explains his upbringing, challenges and how his music relates to his culture. The Maputo-based hip-hop artist began rapping when he was 14.

"We are teachers to our target audience and others; we are mirrors to them," said Laylizzy.

Following the successful release of 'Hello', a music video that features one of South Africa's top rappers AKA, Laylizzy has become one of the most talked-about rappers on the hip-hop scene.

Having scooped an award for the Best Hip-Hop Song at the Mozambique Music Awards in 2015, Laylizzy's music career continues to rise. The award prompted Geobek Records to officially release the video under their stable.

Laylizzy, real name Edson Abel Jeremias Tchamo, was the first Mozambican artist to get verified on Instagram and on Facebook, a day after release of 'Hello'. A week after its release, the song was number one on the iTunes All Genres Chart in Mozambique. It was also second on the iTunes hip-hop chart in South Africa.

Meanwhile, African Voices also featured Lekan Babalola, Nigeria's two-time Grammy Award winner, who discussed the influence of jazz in his life and his views on African culture. 

You can watch the whole programme here.