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 Beyoncé's album “Renaissance” and was nominated for an Academy Award for co-writing the song “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 and her lyrics are honest, paired with music that isn't particularly flashy. But her hooks are the best; they seem made to be hummed around the house or shouted through the speakers. These elements combine to vividly capture emotions like heartbreak (“Damages”), rebellion (“Crazy Tings”) and 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 Beyoncé, 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 taking the French music industry by storm, infiltrating new words and phrases from Africa into French suburbs and cities.
Culture Week
Film and TV
Other big news
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.
Family members of the victims of the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting are suing gun maker and “Call of Duty” publisher Instagram for “cultivating” a teenage shooter.
A gang attack in Haiti has left three members of an Oklahoma-based missionary group dead.
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.
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
🎬 The Hitman (Now Showing): It's been the year (or how many?) of Glen Powell. After a breakout role in Top Gun: Maverick, he starred with Sydney Sweeney in the romantic comedy Anyone But You, and in The Hitman, he plays a philosophy professor with an exciting side hustle, which film critic Alissa Wilkinson calls “romantic and sexy, funny and satisfying, with a genuine star at the core.” Directed by Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Before trilogy), the film 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 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 also has lots of spring onions, which add a crunchy texture and a pleasant zing, and a sprinkling of chilli for a zing. And if you leave it outside for hours and can't finish it, it won't be too bitter.
real estate
The Hunt: A French-born, Canadian-based fashion brand owner wanted to find her American dream in the Hamptons. Which house would she choose? Join our game.
What $1.6 million gets you: A Queen Anne Revival-style home in Durham, North Carolina, a two-bedroom condo in Palm Beach, Florida, or a modern farmhouse in Barrington, Rhode Island.
Your Next Home: Following the publication of our latest rent vs. buy calculator, The Times wants to hear from readers who have recently made the choice between renting and buying. Tell us your experience here.
Instagram Frying Pans: 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 dancing.
How to: A guide to becoming a vegetarian, or simply incorporating more vegetables into your diet.
About the Job: 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 recommends imagining your suitcase as a dresser and the cubes as individual drawers. Pack each cube the same way you'd organize a drawer (in my case, swimsuits and underwear in one, shirts in another, pants in a third), and only take out the cubes you need. This makes packing and traveling easier. — Sofia Sokolove
Monaco Grand Prix, F1: There's a big gap 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 viewers, the race is less about the spectacle of futuristic cars gliding past posh yacht parties.
Pro Tip: Even more exciting than the Grand Prix is the qualifying event, where drivers run solo around the track, trying to set the fastest lap. Their times will determine the starting order for the race and may affect final placings. Qualifying will air on ESPN2 at 10am ET today, and the race will air on ABC at 9am tomorrow.