Phillbill from Cameroon is a talented producer and artist who is succeeding despite the odds. He comes from Buea, in Cameroon’s south-west region; it's part of the anglophone territory which has experienced awful violence since 2017, following a separatist uprising.

Phillbill has had to relocate to Douala and, as he tells DJ Edu, navigate the complex social landscape of his country. His songs are sung in a mixture of French and pidgin English, and he also draws on the numerous African languages of Cameroon as well as the musical traditions of various ethnic groups including the Doula, Beti and Bamileke peoples.

Phillbill has produced songs for a long list of other artists, including Kocee, Daphne and Blanche Bailly from Cameroon, and Roseline Layo from Ivory Coast. He produced Paris Fever, a collaboration between Senegal’s Wally Seck and Chris Brown from the US, and he’s had hits with his former band Ridimz.

But now he’s focusing on his own music and his passion for promoting the rich culture of Cameroon, making music which celebrates the positive and brings divided people together as well as bringing them solace. He calls his sound Afro-moderne, and he’s also coined a new term – Bikossa - because he blends Makossa, Bikutsi and other Cameroonian popular musical forms with urban genres like afrobeats, hip hop and afro house.

He’s already a big star at home, but he’s determined to bring his music to a global audience.

DJ Edu's 10in10 Tracklisting:

Lolendo - Yuma Yeyo & Héritier Wata (Democratic Republic of Congo) Uhakika (Remix) - Ibraah ft Zuchu (Tanzania) Feel Am - Magixx (Nigeria) Lisboa - Nelson Freitas ft Agatchu (Cabo Verde) Iholele - Drama T (Burundi) What Do I Know - Joshua Baraka (Uganda) You Know (Ah Ah Aah) - One Blood Namibia (Namibia) No Games - Drizilik & Isat (Sierra Leone) SORRY MOYO WANGU - ExQ (Zimbabwe) Popopo - Pheno Ambro (Togo)

Presented by DJ Edu Produced by Catherine Fellows

In the TIA house this week with DJ Edu the Afroboss is Ms Gideon, a rising star from Namibia. She was only 18 when she shared a New York City stage with afrobeats greats like Adekunle Gold and Patoranking, after winning the prestigious New Narrative Africa competition in 2024. Two years on, and she’s signed with Sony Music Africa, the first Namibian artist to join the global label.

Ms Gideon tells DJ Edu that it was her covers of some of her favourite songs that first got her noticed in Namibia. She was then surprised and delighted when her own song, Home, became the first Namibian track to notch up a million views on YouTube in a country of just over three million people.

Ms Gideon also talks about the differences between making music alone and with the support of a label, and shares her dream to collaborate with Tiwa Savage, whose music she adores.

Presenter: DJ Edu Producers: Penny Dale & Catherine Fellows

DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklist:

Show Me - Hadaya Eliana & Genes1s (Kenya) Sama Xool - Mia Guisse & VJ (Senegal) Black Girl Magic - Worldcharming (Nigeria) By The Time I Wake Up - Lusanda (South Africa) Dayra Samta - Ibtissam Tiskat (Morocco) 95 Bounce - Novaa 256 (Uganda) Gossip - LeMmy BiZzy (South Sudan) Nideke - Alicios ft Ninita (Democratic Republic of Congo) ABEBI - Crisba (Benin) Feelings - Ezra Neethings (Botswana)

From thief to music star whose greatest wish is to make money to help the poor – that’s the inspiring story of Gabon’s L’Oiseau Rare, DJ Edu’s featured artist this week.

L’Oiseau Rare is now one of Gabon’s most successful artists. His numerous hits include Kati-K and Niamatos, as well as collaborations with Didi B from Ivory Coast and Shatta Wale from Ghana.

As he tells TIA, L’Oiseau Rare originally wanted to be an architect, then a pilot, but fell into a life of crime and ended up spending time in prison for theft.

While he was behind bars, he discovered his musical talent. Thanks to the encouragement of the other inmates, he was determined to turn his life around and make a career in music once he had served his time.

He says his experience has made him very focused and hard working and he is now a devout Muslim. He takes pleasure in inspiring others to quit crime as he did, and he wants to become a big philanthropist.

Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows Interviewer and translator: Ata Ahli Ahebla Voiceover: Hygin Ndjoli

DJ Edu’s 10in10 tracklisting

Perfect Timing - Yeezir (Namibia) My Life - Ozaguin (Central African Republic) Luz Apagada - Mungoz & Deny Beat ft Okenio M (Angola) Ndokudai NeMoyo - Jnr Spragga (Zimbabwe) Shake That – Patoranking ft Ruger (Nigeria) Peace ar twa - O'bra (Mauritius) 3ROOS ALBA7AR - SayaX (Libya) I Need You - Nelson Freitas ft Anderson Mário (Cabo Verde) Middle - Vinka (Uganda) Dance Samawaah! - Collo Blue & NDOVU KUU (Kenya)