This week’s episode features a conversation with Amanda Black, a South African Women’s Day Special, Africa Rising and LootLove’s ‘Favourite Track of the Week’!

Tune in to Africa Now Radio with LootLove this Sunday, August 8 at 2PM Lagos/London / 3PM Johannesburg/Paris / 6AM LA / 9AM NYC on Apple Music 1

Photo: Courtesy of Apple Music

Cover Star Interview

South African singer-songwriter Amanda Black joins LootLove via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about her latest track, ‘Ungayeki’ (featuring Berita). She also discusses the inspiration behind her latest album, ‘Mnyama’, bringing politics into her art, and how she’s not afraid to make her voice heard outside of music.

The Big 5

In a special nod to South African Women’s Day, celebrated on August 9, LootLove shares the 5 of the hottest new tracks from South African women. This week’s selection includes tracks from Makhadzi featuring Prince Benza, Elaine, Shekhinah featuring Bey T, Lady Du & DBN Gogo featuring Mr JazziQ, Seekay & Busta929; and DBN Gogo, Blaqnick and MasterBlaq featuring Mpura, AmaAvenger & MJ.

Africa Rising

South African R&B singer-songwriter Mo$hpit Cindy is the latest artist featured from the Africa Rising playlist, a campaign which shines a light on the next generation of African superstars, and this week’s show features her singles ‘Indifferent’ and ’21st Century Luv’.

Loot Loves

Each week, LootLove chooses her favourite track, taken from one of Apple Music’s African playlists. This week, she shines a spotlight on South African dance singer-songwriter TDK Macassette and her single ‘My Queens’, from Apple Music’s ‘Who Runs the World’ playlist. Listen to the record via this link (and find a roundup of all LootLove’s selections on Apple Music’s LootLoves playlist).

Amanda Black on being told to stick to the music

People are like, “Oh, you’re a public figure. You are a celebrity. You should only worry about music.” People are telling me just focus on music. I’m like, “Do you understand my music is political? My music is to make people feel. My music is to make people see themselves. My music is for self-awareness. That is what I do.” Then, it’s not any different when I’m not singing it and I’m saying it with my words. I feel that is that disconnect that people are not putting together in that understanding that my music is about the things that I speak out on.

Amanda Black on her conflicting feelings towards Women’s Day in South Africa

I’m like, “I don’t know.” I’m not excited about Women’s Day. I want to be excited. Then you try and sort of like, “Okay, fine.” Yes, this is happening, but we need to still try and empower and celebrate ourselves because we should never stop doing that. We don’t need one day to do that. But at the same time, I’m like, “Yo, what are we celebrating when there’s so much injustice towards women?”

Amanda Black on how her breakup inspired the album ‘MNYAMA’

When lockdown hit, a week before we were told we were locking down, I literally broke up with my ex. So I was going through a breakup. And then the world was ending. I was like, “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on.” So I kind of went through that crazy “I don’t know what to do stage”, and those moments of despair and uncertainty gave birth to my conversations in this album.