Gemma Griffiths

Fola is one of a new generation of Nigerian artists who are taking the sound in a fresh direction. Along with the likes of Taves and Llona, Fola is creating a smoother, slower, more soulful Afro RnB vibe. His debut album, Catharsis, was released in 2025 and has achieved extraordinary success, with over a billion streams at the time of writing. His stand-out songs include Alone, Who Does That, Lost and Paparazzi. His list of collaborators includes BNXN, Bella Schmurda, Zlatan and Kizz Daniel, and he’s a protégé of Davido. This summer, he released Treat You Right with Ayra Starr and Attention. In this interview, Fola reflects on his success and shares his excitement about his second album, 9, which dropped on October 9th. DJ Edu’s 10in10 Tracklisting: Pegou - Black Spygo, 3 Finer & Black Vision ft T-Djay (Angola) Mamy - Ljo (Madagascar) Passada - Garry (Cabo Verde) Basara - Zuba Ray (Rwanda) PM - Willy Paul & Otile Brown (Kenya) Bironica - Veronica Adane & Rayvanny (Ethiopia/Tanzania) Number 1 - Mus B (Sierra Leone) See Thru - KiDi (Ghana) Komsa - SIJI. (Burundi) No Limi - Yvuti (Cameroon) Presenter – DJ Edu Producer – Catherine Fellows

Harmonize is one of Tanzania’s biggest stars. He has millions of fans in Tanzania and across East and Central Africa, and he’s determined that his name will be known worldwide. He has collaborated with Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Stonebwoy, Ya Levis and many others, and he’s been in London recently to promote his latest album 31, which is topping charts in East Africa. Harmonize is no stranger to controversy. The video for his song Kudos was banned by Tanzania’s censors and he was fined, as well as being prevented from performing in the country. On the other hand, Harmonize has faced criticism for being too close to the government. He has lent his support to president Samia and even wrote an album of songs in her honour. He has not distanced himself from her after the country’s recent elections, when protests were violently suppressed. DJ Edu’s 10in10 Tracklist Nor Touch Am - Salone Cool J (Sierra Leone) Somakalan Den - Lima Stonne ft Boubacar Samake (Mali) Isondeze - Harmonize & Qing Madi (Tanzania/Nigeria) 40 Ng'ombe - 76 Drums ft Chanda na Kay & SHANGA love (Zambia) Hallelujah - Kwesi Dain & Medikal (Ghana) Inshallah - The Ben (Rwanda) Mufa$aa - ELKEY (Equatorial Guinea) Hold Somebody - Young Jonn (Nigeria) Karaté - Anatal (Madagascar) Kondoko - Gaz Mawete, Chily, Werrason & Suintement (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Under the TIA spotlight this episode are two fresh talents from Chad. Kadeux and Kaezy are both winning young fans by singing to them in Chadian Arabic as well as French, and talking in their songs about everyday experiences young Chadians can relate to. It all started when Kadeux used a popular Chadian Arabic expression – Ayéhan – in his song of the same name. Ayéhan means yes, or yeah, and it’s something young Chadians say all the time, and Kadeux thinks his use of this word was one of the reasons the song became a hit. DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklisting: Love You - Criss Calisto & 3 Finer (Angola) Umurundi - Big Fizzo (Burundi) Ntaribi - Juno Kizigenza (Rwanda) Comfort - Mr Eazi ft Moliy (Nigeria) Money - Tina Selemani & B Quan Phamaika (Zambia) Mebho - King Alfa aka Kadiki (Zimbabwe) Mwamuona - Shano Index (Malawi) Bi Lima - KODONGKLAN (Kenya) Gangster Lover - Lady Kola ft Jzyno (South Sudan) Presenter - DJ Edu Producer - Catherine Fellows Reporter - Sasha Gankin Voiceovers - Hygin Ndjoli & Kieran Mensah

Illbliss - who is also known as the Oga Boss - is one of Nigeria’s most influential rappers. He first made a name for himself back in 2008 and pioneered the use of indigenous languages in hip-hop, which led to the birth of the so-called Eastern-Igbo Boy Movement. Illbliss has collaborated with global stars such as WizKid on Many Men, Odumodublvck on Full Chest, and Runtown on Alhaji (Can’t Hear you) - which is one of his most streamed songs ever. In this episode, he shares his insights with old-time friend DJ Edu on the state of Nigeria’s music industry – including whether the streaming numbers add up to financial security for artists, the role of social media and how he’s kept relevant in the ever-changing Afrobeats scene. Illbliss also talks about the influence of his wife and his daughters on his song-writing, and gives a shout to DJ Edu for the role he played in helping bring to life the song that changed the course of his career: OMG with Mr Eazi and Reekado Banks. DJ Edu’s 10in10 tracklist: Angelina - Masauti (Kenya) Ndanzwa Mhere - Nisha Ts ft Daruler HKD (Zimbabwe) Uleke - Driemo (Malawi) B4 B4 - Davido, FOLA & Mayorkun (Nigeria) Tayari - Xouh & Barnaba (Tanzania) Katchoupiano - Pheno Ambro (Togo) Mpinzira - Natacha Burundi (Burundi) Yo Aweh - DJ Spuzza (Namibia) Phusha iPhupho - Nicole Elocin & Shino Kikai ft Amahle Gasa (South Africa) Some Tem - DRAMA 07 (Sierra Leone) Presenter: DJ Edu Producers: Penny Dale & Catherine Fellows

DJ Edu is joined by two of Zambia’s most groundbreaking musicians, Sampa the Great and Emmanuel Jagari Chanda. Sampa the Great’s career took off in Australia, where she was a student. Heavily hip-hop influenced, her first body of work, The Great Mixtape, introduced a bold, distinctive, politically engaged voice, proudly feminist and proudly African, with a rich and inventive sound. Birds and the Bee9, dropped in 2017, brought Sampa critical acclaim and fans around the globe. It was followed by The Return in 2019, and As Above So Below in 2022. Sampa has performed at Glastonbury, Coachella and the Sydney Opera House, and has collaborated with the likes of Angelique Kidjo, Tricky and Ezra Collective. Her song Never Forget featured prominently in the promotional material for the Marvel movie Black Panther – Wakanda Forever. Sampa’s latest album Nu Zamrock is, as the title suggests, deeply influenced by Zamrock, a musical genre that shook up Zambia in the 1970s. Jagari Chanda is the lead singer of Zamrock band Witch, which stands for We Intend to Cause Havoc. Fired up by western musicians including Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, Witch shook up conservative Zambia with their wild performances, which were mobbed by fans. Thanks to US record label Now-Again, and the re-release of their music, WITCH has been enjoying a revival, and, for the first time, global fame. DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklisting: Nta Liya - أنت ليا - Inez ft Najm (Morocco) Ja Maru Negn Ke Dessie - JA MARU (Ethiopia) Bernay - Markafish (Sierra Leone) PENSULO - Driemo (Malawi) Nous aussi - Delpega (Gabon) Too Much - Nutty O & Fido (Zimbawe & Nigeria) Pejy Araiky - Rim-Ka & Fokawa (Madagascar) Face Card ft C.I.C - Stunn (Liberia) Ala Bekee - Yemi Alade & Don Jazzy (Nigeria) Red Dress - KiDi (Ghana) Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows