YouTube's Online African Music Festival, 'Stay Home... #WithMe,' Resumes This Weekend

The second weekend of Youtube's"#Stay Home... #WithMe" online African music festival takes place this weekend, Saturday April 4th and Sunday April 5th with performers like M.anifest, Simi and Manu WorldStar on the schedule alongside many more. Keep reading for the full lineup.

Last week, the free online festival hosted livestream performances from several South African, Nigerian and Ghanaian artists including Reekado Banks, Gigi Lamayne, Asa, Skales, Nadia Nakai and many others. Some chose to bring in backing instruments, most went solo to go with the theme while others had technical difficulties and were pushed back.

While the world reels from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, artists in particular have been hard hit by social distancing measures. OkayAfrica caught up with several artists to speak about the personal impact of the outbreak on their scheduled performances, studio time and most importantly, their pockets.

At least 46 African countries have confirmed cases of coronavirus. The total number of coronavirus cases on the continent now stands at over 2400 with at least 60 reported deaths. As a result, many governments have put in place strict travel restrictions, border closures as well as lockdowns of varying severity. Read our updated coverage of coronavirus presence in Africa here.

The music industry also suffered a mighty blow last week with the passing of Cameroonian jazz legend Manu Dibango. Dibango died in a hospital just outside of Paris, France after having tested positive for the coronavirus.

And so with millions of people having to spend an indefinite amount of time indoors, YouTube's "Stay Home #WithMe" festival is the perfect way for fans to reconnect with their favourite artists while providing a much-needed moment of relief to keep the inevitable blues away.

View the full list of artists who are set to perform and their set times below.

The "Stay Home... #WithMe" Festival Schedule April 3-4 edition

The "Stay Home... #WithMe" Festival Schedule March 28-29 edition

Alpha P

Watch the live show on Alpha P's Youtube channel

In his King of Wolves EP, the 17 year-old singer and songwriter from Benin City, Nigeria born Princewill Emmanuel mixes many of the current sounds in Nigerian music—mid-tempo Afrobeats bangers reminiscent of Wizkid and Burna Boy—with trap-influences. The track "More" sounds like it could fit in a playlist of SoundCloud rappers.

Oluwadamilola

Watch the live show on Oluwadamilola's Youtube channel

The Nigerian newcomer Oluwadamilola Tella was the winner of the first Talent HQ—a talent showcase for musicians and comedians in Lagos. She's released music two videos; Hello and Sunny Day produced by OluMix.

Jeff Akoh

Watch the livestream show on Jeff Akoh's Youtube channel

The Abuja-born singer Jeff Akoh makes romantic music with videos to match. His big break came in 2015 during season 8 of Project Fame West Africa which he won at the age of 18. In 2018 he released the EP "I Do." Its lead single, also "I Do" has more than 2 million views on Youtube. Although we're kind of hoping he plays his 2017 "Maroon 5-esque" hit Shokolokobangoshe.

Official Broda Shaggi

Watch official Official Broda Shaggi livestream performance on his Youtube channel

Animashaun Samuel is a Nigerian comedian, actor and singer who has become wildly popular online for the hilarious characters he plays in his social media skits. The most popular character, Official Broda Shaggi, Nigeria's number 1 fine boy also has a music career. Check out this song from February with DJ Neptune: Yo-Yo

Skales

Watch Skales perform live on his Youtube channel

Skales is a Nigerian music industry veteran and star with a roster of hits and collaborations with Banky W and Davido. An OkayAfrica favorite, he'll be playing the third to last Saturday slot of the "Stay Home #WithMe Festival."

Reekado Banks

Watch the livestream of the show on Reekado Banks' Youtube page

The music of Reekado Banks is a regular addition to OkayAfrica's Songs You Need to Hear This Week playlists. The Nigerian singer, born Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon, is one of Nigeria's biggest stars.

Cina Soul

Watch Cina Soul's livestream performance on her Youtube page

One of the only Ghanaians on the festival schedule, Cina Soul has a throwback sound but a huge presence. OkayAfrica called her one of our Ghanaian artists to watch for 2019 and called her song 'Killi Mi'—about the scourge of domestic violence—"a soul-stirring song that is making many stop and think."

Gigi La Mayne

Watch Gigi LaMayne perform live on her Youtube channel

In 2016 OkayAfrica interviewed Gigi La Mayne about Fees Must Fall. Since then, she might be the artist we've covered the most—putting her down as one of the reasons "2018 Was the Year Women Won In (South African) Hip-Hop." Watch one of the most dynamic voices in South African hip hop perform this Sunday.

Nadia Nakai

Watch Nadia Nakai perform live on her Youtube channel

Nadia Nakai won the AFRIMA award last year for Best Female Artist—Southern Africa Region but as far as South African rappers go she's one of South Africa's best, period. Last year we wrote:

"For her debut album, titled Nadia Naked, Nadia Nakai gives her listener more than just bravado in the form of chest-punching raps. In some songs, the South African/Zimbabwean rapper tells the story of the person behind the feisty and intimidating character that is Nadia Nakai as we all know her."

Timi Dakolo

Checkout Timi Dakolo's Youtube channel here

Part 2

With his deep texture voice, Nigeria's "King of Soul" won Idols West Africa in 2007 and has been a favorite for songs like "The Vow" and "Iyawo Mi" ever since.

Bez Idakula

Watch the livestream of Bez Idakula's performance on his Youtube channel

Bez Idakula's song "Far Away" made our list of best Nigerian songs of August 2019. We wrote:

"The song's connecting tissue of American soul and afropop is captured in its lyric: "hope say I dey make a little bit of sense," as in the seamless combination of genres which blends an electric guitar with heaving conga drums and back-up vocals typical on Fela's Afrobeat."

Asa

Watch the livestream of Asa's show live on her Youtube channel

Five years after her releasing her last album, "Bed of Stone," Asa came out last year with a new album, "Lucid," to rave reviews. Upon premiering her video "The Beginning" a year ago Okayplayer wrote:

"Whether its borders or genres, Asa's music knows no bounds. The Paris-born, Lagos-bred Nigerian singer-songwriter and multi-platinum selling recording artist fuses indie pop, jazz, and soft-soul, incorporating inspirations from Sade, Fela Kuti, Billie Holliday, Miriam Makeba, King Sunny Adé, The Beatles, and Lenny Kravitz.