On October 11th, in Ouagadougou, the trial for the assasination of the man who baptised his country with the name Burkina Faso, opens. His name was Thomas Sankara, and his example, which continues to inspire new generations, has also inspired a number of songs.

On October 15, 1987, Burkina Faso’s President Thomas Sankara was assassinated in Ouagadougou. His political legacy is immense. A man of ideas, a man of action, he was also a man of music.

PAM spoke with Yamê about the rapper-singer-melodist’s meteoric rise and his knack for lofty melodies and heartfelt punchlines.

This week, PAM welcomes South African Afro-house heavyweight Mobi Dixon, delivering an elegant set, and a real antidote to the winter blues.

While Black History Month is all year round for us at PAM, we’re going to celebrate this February and publish a number of special articles. Here we have an annotated playlist made up of 5 songs from 5 historic African leaders.

The Fra Fra man with the two strings talks about his movements from his home in Ghana to Brighton, passing by Fela Kuti, a new generation of musical youth, and a benevolent new album. 

From awkward presidential entrances to prize winning soundtracks, music has scored the iconic film festival that brings together filmmakers from across the continent and diaspora since its inception in 1969.

Journey to the heart of the Wave Arising project with the techno figure 69dB and the dancer Kynsie for a zero gravity sound that is off the beaten track, sitting somewhere between live act and DJ set.