This year, Central Africa’s finest: Kiff No Beat (Ivory Coast), Shado Chris (Ivory Coast), Locko (Cameroon) and Ozane (Togo) will make their debut on Africa’s biggest music show: Coke Studio Africa. This comes alongside news that Coke Studio has this year merged Coke Studio Africa and Coke Studio South Africa to make one, bigger and better show—the ultimate melting pot of African music and cultural exchange with this year’s edition simply dubbed ‘Coke Studio Africa – 2017’.
On the show, Locko will be collaborating with Tresor, a Congolese artist based in South Africa. The super stars will be produced by top Malawian music producer from South Africa: Gemini Major. Locko is also set to feature in a special Coke Studio episode themed ‘Global Fusion Edition’ alongside the show’s international guest star – American R&B/pop icon – Jason Derulo alongside other 10 African stars.
Speaking on his debut on the show, Locko said, “It is an incredible experience. I have met many people that are so talented. The song I recorded and performed with Tresor is going to be a surprise!” adding, “Coke Studio is a bridge that is taking music from different parts of Africa and putting them together to songs that can flourish even after the Coke Studio experience.”
The Ivorian group signed to Universal Music Africa and declared as the top 30 under 30 in French-speaking Africa by Forbes in 2015—Kiff No Beat—will be collaborating with Wawa Salegy (Madagascar/Mauritius) and Freeda (Namibia) on the show and produced by Nigerian music producer Gospel On De Beatz.
Another Ivorian artist Shado Chris will also be making his debut on the show this year as one of the show’s music producers. He will be producing the artist pairings of Rayvanny (Tanzania) and Dji Tafhina (Angola), Avril (Kenya) and Izzo Bizness (Tanzania), and Nasty C (South Africa) and Runtown (Nigeria). Other Coke Studio Africa – 2017 producers will include Nahreel (Tanzania), Sketchy Bongo (South Africa), Gemini Major (Malawi), Gospel on the Beatz (Nigeria), Killbeatz (Ghana), Legendary Beatz (Nigeria), Masterkraft (Nigeria) and DJ Maphorisa (South Africa).
For second year in a row, Coke Studio Africa is this year giving a chance to fast rising, up and coming, artists to feature on the show on the Big Break segment where they get to collaborate with industry greats. Togo’s Big Break act on the show this year will be Ozane, paired alongside Nigerian dancehall King Patoranking and Tanzania’s Alikiba in music fusions produced by Nigerian producer Masterkraft. Ozane spoke on his debut on the show: “Being on Coke Studio Africa is good experience for me! I am quite happy and honored to be part! As a reggae and Dancehall artist and a great fan of Patoranking and we shared a common interest so it was good working with him and Alikiba too who has good vibes!”
Being back for a fifth time this year and including more African countries and super stars representing different regions, Coke Studio Africa is set to take over households with mega live performances and exclusive behind the scenes documentation of how hit songs are created. From September 2017, the show will premiere across more than 30 countries across Africa.