Africa: Afropop Top Videos, April 2025, Voices of Protest

March was a great month for Afropop videos. We have 12 new releases. Three of them boldly address the world's issues in 2025. Protest is in the air! But there are also peaceful moments from Haiti to Morocco.

Check out our full Afropop Top Videos playlist for all selections. If you have video suggestions, email us at [email protected] with "Top Videos 2025" in the subject line. Enjoy!

**Gyedu-Blay Ambolley: "Wake Up Afrika"**
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley delivers tough talk. He blends highlife and jazz as a pioneer of Afro-funk. This Ghanaian veteran bandleader warns about Africa's failures without fear. The groove is cool, but the message hits hard. A must-watch!

**Kin Gongolo Kiniata: "Toko Lemba te"**
Kin Gongolo Kiniata breaks Congolese music rules. They don't play traditional rumba but fierce urban grooves instead. Their self-made instruments are impressive and unique. This anti-war, anti-corruption song addresses Congolese politics directly. They name political figures like Mobutu and Kabila, which is rare.

**The Congos: "Warning (feat. Lidiop)"**
Roots reggae icons The Congos return with a strong message: "Warning! Babylon falling..." Faces of old and young emerge from darkness in the video, adding depth to their message. The group looks worn but wise, with deep grooves reminiscent of their 1970s beginnings.

**Paul Beaubrun ft. Naïka: "Fèy"**
Paul Beaubrun carries on Haitian racine music traditions as a son of Boukman Eksperyans founders Lolo and Mimerose Beaubrun. He performs with Boukman and leads his own New York-based band too. In this video, he presents a gentle acoustic ballad harmonized beautifully by Naïka under a tree, intercut with vodun ritual scenes featuring women in white.

**Dicko Fils: "Laban"**
This trad-pop trailblazer from Burkina Faso spends time in Montreal. We met him at the Nuits D'Afrique festival in 2023. His new track comes from the album *La Route*. The video features black-and-white clips of workers digging sand pits at his home studio in Burkina Faso. The music showcases Fils's beautiful vocals and kamele ngoni skills.

**El Leon Pardo: "Viaje Sideral"**
This video features the title track from El Leon Pardo's intriguing new album. The visuals combine archival images and landscapes with psychedelic effects while he performs by candlelight in what appears to be a cave.

**Aïta Mon Amour: "L'Hedawiyet"**
Aïta Mon Amour updates traditional Moroccan music known as aïta or rural blues sung by Chikhates since the 12th century. This video celebrates freedom and sisterhood inspired by rebel singer Kharboucha's story. The North African sound builds up to punk rock intensity, enhanced by Widad Mjama's powerful vocals.

**Yasmine Hamdan: Shmaali**
Lebanese-born Yasmine Hamdan gained fame with experimental pop band Soap Kills in the late '90s. She has since become an innovative solo artist as well. This darkly alluring track features archival scenes of traditional life and dabke dancing from Lebanon’s happier past.

**Jacco Müller & Victor Ghannam: "Alhambra by Night"**
The Alhambra in Granada dates back to medieval Spain’s glory days, captivating many artists like this guitar and oud duo accompanied by doumbek hand drum here. Their soaring music combines flamenco flavors with North African influences, celebrating one of Europe's most beautiful buildings visually.

**Lo'Jo: "Viens" Remix by Souleance**
Lo'Jo was instrumental behind early editions of Mali's Festival in the Desert; their remix video reflects that history well! It consists entirely of street scenes shot through a fisheye lens while driving through Bamako (we’ve been there!). This version features reggaeton beats alongside ambient electronics complemented by Denis Péan’s signature half-spoken growl set against their female chorus backdrop.