5 music hubs in Africa

In other words, for non-locals—and this might be useful even for residents—where are the music hubs in cities across the continent? We have provided some for some of Africa’s main cities. Please let us know if there are any spots you visit for your own music fix.

Lagos

Freedom Park: Formerly a prison, Freedom Park has become a culture hub drawing a wide array of artists in the city to its Lagos Island location. Until recently, it was venue for the popular concert series Afropolitan Vibes. It remains one of several locations where the annual celebration of Afrobeat maestro Fela Kuti Felabration takes place.

Freedom Park also gives folk musicians and a selection of live acts a platform to hone and display their musical gifts. Its regular artists include reggae act Captain Blazee, and the folk acts Aduke and Edaoto.

Though the Lagos state government has allowed Freedom Park flourish as a venue for live music and other cultural events, Nigeria’s music industry, as with other cultural industries in the country, has mostly developed without the interference of the government. This is despite the existence of a cultural policy formulated decades ago. “[G]aping loopholes exist which hinder the promotion of culture as documented in the cultural policy,” states a paper discussing the inadequate implementation of Nigeria’s cultural policy.

Nairobi

Go Down Gig: A former car repair warehouse was converted to a spot for young artists in Kenya’s capital. It hosts several events, ranging from festivals to visual art exhibitions. For the music enthusiast, Go Down Gig gives opportunities to unestablished acts.

With the times changing, Go Down Gig has been said to cater to acts with some following already. But the venue remains important to artists seeking an audience. Other hubs include Alliance Francaise and the defunct Thursday Night Live event.

While Nairobi has few venues for live music, the country’s musicians have complained about the preferential treatment given to foreign music. According to a 2012 document by the Ministry of State for National and Cultural Development, “Lack of an explicit coherent and codified music policy has led to music being marginalised in the national development agenda.”

In 2015, several Kenyan artists protested the dominance of foreign music on Kenyan radio.

Dakar

Just 4 U: This bar and restaurant regular hosts live events in Senegal’s capital city. It is a place where at once visitors can get a mouthful and an earful of Senegalese culture. Music played at Just 4 U is in a variety of genres, including reggae, traditional music, hiphop and jazz.

As Senegal’s first president, Leopold Senghor shaped his country’s cultural policy to enhance the drive to nation-hood. Senghor’s two decade-reign saw the creation of Senegal’s Traditional Instrumental Ensemble as part of the National Theatre. The ideology behind Senghor’s cultural policy may have survived: Senegalese artists are among a group of musicians not complaining about foreign music’s pre-eminence.

Accra

+233 Jazz and Grill: The popular Accra restaurant is home to some of the most enjoyable live concerts in the country. There is a live band playing most nights, and the venue attracts residents as well as foreigners.

Located in North Ridge, Accra, the venue is likely to host established acts like the singer Efya and the veteran Gyedu-Blay Ambolley as it does up and coming acts.

Although there are claims of non-implementation, the Cultural Policy of Ghana from 2004 devotes a section to Ghanaian music. “The practice, creation and promotion of all forms of Ghanaian Music shall be encouraged by the State,” it states. “Production of Musical instruments shall be encouraged, so that all schools and communities can own their own instruments. 32 The State shall encourage private entrepreneurs to establish production plants and support activities to document, preserve, protect, publish and promote Ghanaian Music.”

Johannesburg