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)

Davido sits down with DJ Edu to celebrate his 15-year career, and a new album, Oriadé, which he says is all about going back to his roots.

Davido has been a huge player in taking Afrobeats to the next level, and in particular gaining visibility in the US and globally. He has sold out London’s O2 and New York’s Madison Square Garden, he is five-times Grammy nominated, and his 2019 hit Fall had the longest run for a Nigerian song in Billboard chart history.

However, in this interview, Davido reminds us that he has always made a point of touring Africa, and believes African artists are now too obsessed with success in the US and the wider world, forgetting that there are a billion-plus music lovers in Africa.

He expresses his concern about the anti-immigrant violence in South Africa, as well as his enthusiasm for South Africa’s 3-step Afro house subgenre.

Davido also talks about the toll touring takes on him, his huge wedding in Miami, spending time with his wife and two-year-old twins, and working in his new state-of-the-art home studio.

Presented by DJ Edu Produced by Catherine Fellows

DJ Edu's 10 in 10 tracklist:

Maria - Rita Wangui (Kenya) Pépélé - Fally Ipupa & Guy2Bezbar (DRCongo) Yoyo - Will Flash ft Nahj (Liberia) Nu Ten - Lisandro Cuxi (Cabo Verde) Voz da Multidão - Deejay Telio (Angola) Dima ديما – Inez ft KeBlack (Morocco) Seydou Daouda & Aïcha - Shiloh.MMG & Zikiri Sourakata Kone (Mali) BON MOOD - Døpelym (Ivory Coast) BENIN - Bobo Wê (Benin) Borrow - Magasco (Cameroon)

Odumodublvck is one of the most exciting talents to come out of Nigeria in recent years. He is also one of the most controversial ones. He has been involved in several music industry bust-ups - and his lyrics have prompted accusations of misogyny. He broke through to the Nigerian mainstream in 2022 with his hit Picanto, and went viral globally with his hit Declan Rice, a tribute to the Arsenal and England footballer. His Okporoko rhythm blends grime, drill and Afrobeat and on his 2025 album Industry Machine he collaborated with Davido, WizKid and Stormzy. In this revealing conversation with DJ Edu, Odumodublvck discusses what makes him tick, his motivation for doing music and his determination not to fall in with the crowd. DJ Edu’s 10in10 Tracklist: Jeba Jeba - Meek1one (Ethiopia) Hossanna - El Drez (Liberia) Sheikh Abdallah - Misso Misondo ft Chino Kidd & Dully Sykes (Tanzania) One Big Party - Winky D (Zimbabwe) Slick - Victony (Nigeria) Stopit – Olivetheboy ft Medikal (Ghana) Silino - I'm Loiso (Malawi) Kumnandi – Djeddie ft Mzamo Ngcobo & Da Moon (Botswana) Hello - Yo Maps (Zambia) Teki Manxi - Soraia Tavares (Cabo Verde) Presented by DJ Edu Produced by Penny Dale and Catherine Fellows

Stonebwoy is a legend in Ghana and beyond. He is a king of Afro dancehall, combining Jamaican and African vibes to the delight of thousands of loyal fans.

Stonebwoy won the BET award for best international act, Africa in 2015, and since then the accolades have kept coming, including Billboard plaques and Grammy nominations.

What is not so well known is that Stonebwoy has achieved these heights after overcoming a life-changing car accident. As a 13-year-old, Stonebwoy’s leg was so badly damaged that for years he had to use a crutch to get around and it was only relatively recently that he got major reconstructive surgery to allow him to bend his knee. Despite the pain and the logistical challenges, Stonebwoy climbed stairs to radio stations to perform his first clashes and went on to be a highly entertaining performer on stage, and to go on grueling world tours.

Stonebwoy explains to DJ Edu his belief that enduring the injury has made him into the artist he now is, able to communicate in ways that resonate with his fans. His most recent album, Torcher II, exemplifies this, says Stonebwoy: The songs are intended to be motivating and uplifting, shining a torch to light the way ahead.

Go n Look - Bisa Kdei ft Medikal (Ghana) Jaque Mate - Gran Matias (Equatorial Guinea) Eh eh eh ii - VERBB, RAF DON & Minz (Nigeria) Gratter (Anniversary Edition) - Sifoor & Locko (Cameroon) Dama na Fassi Fama - Mc Tchabaco ft We Dem Boyz (Guinea) Maintenant ça va - Blacky Lamelo ft Didi B (Burkina Faso) Pilé (Gospel) - Mauvais Djo (Democratic Republic of Congo Sai Sai - VJ (Senegal) Praise the Lord - Toofan (Togo) Idolatrada (Agorinha Mesmo) - Delma Silva, Mozany Bué de Ahh & D'benilson

Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows

Gemma Griffiths has become a much-loved star in her native Zimbabwe, and has collaborated with many of the country’s most successful artists, including reggae dancehall musician Winky D. She grabbed the attention of music fans with her soulful cover of his song Musarova, leading to their collaboration on Mu Garden, which broke Zimbabwean records by reaching 1 million views on YouTube in just 13 days.

A formally trained jazz musician, Gemma Griffiths draws on a wide variety of influences to inform her Afro-fusion sound. She released her debut album, Gemma, in 2025. It was ten years in the making.

In this interview DJ Edu and Gemma discuss how being a white musician in Zimbabwe has affected her career, trade favourite songs, and have fun with the Shona language.

DJ Edu's 10in10 tracklisting:

Mil Ano - Tarrafal & Ruben Teixeira (Cabo Verde) Pass Katouts (Anguii) - Helix Dynasty, Bombo & So'Fresh (Mauritius) Mamá Epet - Fistong Boy (Equatorial Guinea) Mad Over Me - Lali X Lola & Rappidd (Ghana) Mi Corazon ft. Alva, King Luca & Yvuti - Elisha k X JZyNo (Cameroon) My Sweetie - Salone Cool J (Sierra Leone) WARDA ft. Manal - Inkonnu (Morocco) YBTM - Joeboy (Nigeria) !Nō - Kalux (Namibia) Bendeka ft. Nutty O & Saint Realest - Onesimus (Malawi)

Presenter: DJ Edu Producer: Catherine Fellows

DJ Edu catches up with the biggest names in music from across Africa, and meets the stars of afrobeats, amapiano, afrohouse and more.

Tyla and Black Coffee from South Africa, Davido, Burna Boy, Rema and Tems from Nigeria, Sarkodie from Ghana and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania are now international superstars selling out at major venues around the world.

One of the most respected club DJs from Africa, Edu has been there from the beginning of the afrobeats journey, bringing Africa's music to the world.

This is Africa podcast brings you unmissable interviews and reveals the personalities behind the music, as well as the resilience, determination - and sometimes luck – they need for success.

It is about all of Africa: artists from francophone and lusophone Africa, from Somalia to Sao Tome, from Niger to Namibia, making music in genres ranging from kizomba to genge, afro soul and afro pop to hip hop and electro, through to coupe de cale, rumba, soukous and afro dancehall.

And every episode DJ Edu brings his “10 in 10” playlist, mashing up ten hot new tracks from ten different countries in Africa.

You can contact the show via WhatsApp +44 8000 321721 or on the socials @iamdjedu, #BBCthisisafrica

You can also listen to a music rich version of This Is Africa on BBC World Service radio. Broadcast times for your corner of the world can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct72fb

Previous guests on This Is Africa include Bien, Nasty C, Lojay, Inez, Guchi, Fuse ODG, Emma’a, Miss Jobizz, Theodora, Milton Kizzy, Lydia Jazmine, Oxlade, Dystinct, Wendy Shay, Jay Cash, Yo Maps, Ruger, Gyakie, Rophnan, Ckay, DJ Maphorisa, Magic System, BNXN, Tiwa Savage, Black Sherif, Ayra Starr, Sauti Sol, Joshua Baraka, Sampa the Great, Awilo Longomba, Santrinos Raphael, Moliy, Moonchild Sanelly, Victoria Kimani, Joe Boy, Qing Madi, John Frog, Stonebwoy, Shasha, Adekunle Gold, Simi, Libianca, Onesimus, Angelique Kidjo, Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Fally Ipupa, Dizzy Dros, Mr Eazi…