Coming 2 America — Sounds of Zamunda: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Bobby Carter | March 10, 2021
Over the years, African musicians have elevated expectations at the Tiny Desk. The distinctive vibrations left by artists like Burna Boy, KOKOKO! and the Soweto Gospel Choir have lead to some of the most unforgettable moments in our rich history. This (home) concert feels like the culmination of all of those moments.

To celebrate the new compilation Rhythms of Zamunda: Music Inspired By Coming 2 America, six artists representing four countries in Africa perform a megamix of selections from the project. Each performance from the pan-African project bridges the distance between the countries and cultures, and gets more exhilarating by the minute.

South Africa's Nasty C — who's arguably the biggest rapper on the continent — opens the set and trades verses with Tiny Desk alumni Ari Lennox on "Black and White." He then sends us over to Cameroon for some Afrobeats flavor, courtesy of Locko and his stripped-down version of "Magnet." We then circle back around to South Africa to hear from R&B newcomer Ricky Tyler. From there, we head north to Nigeria to do the "Jiggy Bop" with Alpha P before we take one last trip to South Africa for award-winning dance DJ and producer Prince Kaybee's "Fetch Your Life," featuring Msaki. Finally, Togo duo Toofan dares us not to dance to "Yé Mama."

In addition to the sweeping range of the showings, the look of each set is stunning: vibrant, opulent colors; meticulous Tiny Desk shelf recreations; gorgeous African artifacts; and a few nuggets dedicated to King Akeem of Coming 2 America. This cultural clash is the biggest amplification of African voices we've ever had the pleasure of presenting.

SET LIST
Nasty C (feat. Ari Lennox): "Black and White"
Locko: "Magnet"
Ricky Tyler: "Everything"
Alpha P: "Jiggy Bop"
Prince Kaybee (feat. Msaki): "Fetch Your Life"
Toofan: "Ye Mama"

MUSICIANS
"Black and White"
Nasty C: vocals
Ari Lennox: vocals
Fundile "FD" Dlamini: drums
Christer Kobedi: keys
Vaughan Fourie: keys

"Magnet"
Locko: vocals
Joel Parfait Ondigui: bass
Benjamin Mouangue Bossamo: guitar
Brice Essomba: keys
Marc Nzana: drums
Martien Oyono: violin

"Everything"
Ricky Tyler: vocals
Zādok: keys
Tino "Beatboy" Damba: drums
Tendai "Shoxx" Shoko: bass
Innocent Mzizi: guitar

"Jiggy Bop"
Alpha P: vocals
David Osang: vocals
Agu Chinyere Gift: vocals
Tosin "SDK" Tade: vocals
Femi Jacobs: vocals
Olabiyi Julius: keys
Ayodele Agbabiaka Oluwasegun: bass
Best Amakhian: guitar
Ebenezer Olayinka: drums

"Fetch Your Life"
Msaki: vocals
Prince Kaybee: DJ
Zādok: guitar
Katleho Motlatla: bass
Fundile "FD" Dlamini: keys

"Ye Mama"
Barabas: vocals
Masta Just: vocals
Paul Akakpo: keys
Therence Egue: drums
Martin Lawson: bass
Lionel Adjovi: guitar
Sylvie Akpedjo: vocals
Lamabara Paul: vocals

CREDITS
Nasty C and Ari, Ricky Tyler and Prince Kaybee
Video: Molotovcocktail.tv, Nic Roux, Daniel Tshimowa, Tumelo Mofokeng, Brain Bvumbe, Kyana White, Tyshawn 'Creedlife' Smith, Tony Nava, Jonathan Lora, Emmanuel Nkolo, Tommy4K, Josh Binyard
Audio: Ebenezer Maxwell, Itumeleng Maponyane, Robin Kohl (Jazzworx), Cliff Machingaifa, Caleb James

Locko
Video: Director Chuzih
Audio: One Style One Nation Films

Alpha P
Video: Adetola Films, Mario Vera-Cruz, Clout, Femi Aribisala, Pheabian Miller
Audio: Laughter Oyemada

Toofan
Video: Director Barabas
Audio: Masta Just

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Video Producer: Maia Stern
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Morgan Noelle Smith
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#tinydesk #coming2america #nprmusic #nastyc #arilennox #locko #alphap #rickytyler #princekaybee #msaki #toofan