Globally acclaimed music phenomenon Africa Express is back with a brand new studio album titled ‘Africa Express presents… Bahidorá’, recorded in Mexico and set for release on 11 July 2025 via BMG. The first two singles ‘Mi Lado’ (ft. Alansito Vega, Poté & Mare Advertencia) and ‘Kuduro’ (ft. Fatoumata Diawara, Moonchild Sanelly & Tom Excell) are out now, listen to both HERE!
Africa Express went to the Americas for the first time in 2024 to headline the Mexican festival Bahidorá, a trip which saw an extraordinary group of musicians, singers and DJs from around the world come together to rehearse, perform and write new music ahead of an epic 5-hour show on the banks of the ancient springs of Bahidorá. Afterwards, they stayed on to record together in field studios, tents and hotel rooms. The result is this remarkable collection of 21 tracks – the project’s sixth album and first since 2019’s ‘Africa Express presents…Egoli’, which was recorded in Johannesburg.
An album like no other, ‘Africa Express presents… Bahidorá’ is a joyful and mind-blowing sonic trip which distills the joy of a musical adventure in Mexico into 21 extraordinary songs that are perfect for our times. Featuring artists from four continents but with roots firmly planted in Mexico, it entwines rich musical traditions ranging from cumbia, hip-hop and kuduro through to soul, salsa and the sweetest pop.
First track ‘Mi Lado’ is the catchiest of Latin pop with soulful vocals over a reggaeton beat. It features quickfire Mexican rapper Mare Advertencia – a feminist activist whose lyrics often explore issues such as misogyny and gang violence – alongside St Lucia-born electro artist Poté and LA-based producer Alansito Vega. Listen HERE! WATCH VIDEO HERE!
‘Kuduro’ is the fast and furious second track in which two of the most distinctive African female voices – Mali’s Fatoumata Diawara and South Africa’s Moonchild Sanelly – swap vocals over a pounding beat laid down by Tom Excell of Onipa. ‘Men come and go’ sings Moonchild resignedly. ‘They come back crying as if it was not them.’ Listen HERE! Watch VIDEO HERE!
Africa Express is an adventure and a journey, always evolving and exploring fresh musical boundaries. It is based on respect and seeks to promote a simple concept: that human beings are stronger when we collaborate, when we communicate openly and when we accept that we all have something to say. It is about breaking down barriers with artists from different nations, genders, generations and musical genres, joining forces in a display of unity. The idea is perfectly expressed by the eclecticism, spirit and sounds of ‘Africa Express presents… Bahidorá.’
Africa Express will hit the road this summer for a run of dates across Europe, including Roskilde Festival on 6 July and Barcelona’s Cruïlla Festival on 11 July.
The tracklisting for ‘Africa Express presents… Bahidorá’ is:
1. Soledad ft. Damon Albarn, Luisa Almaguer, Nick Zinner, Seye Adelekan, Joan As
Police Woman, Mexican Institute of Sound
2. Otim Hop ft. Otim Alpha, Bootie Brown, K.O.G., Tom Excell
3. Mi Lado ft. Alansito Vega, Poté, Mare Advertencia
4. Seya ft. Onipa, Fatoumata Diawara, Abou Diarra, Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié
5. Tayhana ft. Tayhana, Otim Alpha, La Bruja de Texcoco
6. Kuduro ft. Fatoumata Diawara, Moonchild Sanelly, Tom Excell
7. Defiant Ones ft. Son Rompe Pera, M.anifest, Ophélia Hié, Mélissa Hié, Mexican
Institute of Sound
8. Raise A Glass ft Django Django, Mare Advertencia, Seye Adelekan
9. Ofrenda de Sangre ft. Luisa Almaguer, Mare Advertencia, Alansito Vega
10. Chucha ft. Son Rompe Pera, Joan As Police Woman, Otim Alpha, Abou Diarra, Ophélia
Hié, Mélissa Hié, Mexican Institute of Sound
11. Quisiera ft. Luisa Almaguer, Alansito Vega, Nick Zinner, Joan As Police Woman
12. The Sky Above You ft. Seye Adelekan, Luisa Almaguer, Joan As Police Woman, Nick
Zinner, Imarhan, Damon Albarn
13. Dorhan Oullhin (What The Heart Desires) ft. Imarhan, Damon Albarn
14. El Niño ft. Eme Malafe, Los Pream, Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié, Joan As Police Woman,
Marco Carrion, Alansito Vega
15. Invocation ft. Onipa, Jupiter Bokondji, Otim Alpha, Damon Albarn, Joan As Police
Woman
16. Hacernos Así ft. Luisa Almaguer, Damon Albarn, Seye Adelekan, Nick Zinner, Joan As
Police Woman, Mexican Institute of Sound
17. Frenemies ft. Hak Baker, Bonobo, Damon Albarn, Otim Alpha, Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié
18. Kelegusta ft. Tayhana, Otim Alpha, La Bruja de Texcoco
19. El Diablo y La Bruja ft. La Bruja de Texcoco, Los Pream
20. Pánico (Cuelga al DJ) ft. Mexican Institue of Sound, Damon Albarn, Los Pream, Nick
Zinner, Montana Kinunu Ntunu
21. Adios Amigos ft. Baba Sissoko, Luisa Almaguer, Joan As Police Woman, Abou Diarra,
Mélissa Hié, Ophélia Hié, Yendé Balamba
‘Africa Express Presents… Bahidorá’ will be available in the following formats: Digital; Double CD; and Double Gatefold Vinyl LP.
Order / save ‘Africa Express Presents… Bahidorá’ HERE.
Festival Tour Dates 2025:
5 July 2025 Roskilde Festival, DENMARK
6 July 2025 Müpa, BUDAPEST
8 July 2025 Huxleys, BERLIN
9 July 2025 Elbphilharmonie, HAMBURG
11 July 2025 Cruïlla Festival, BARCELONA
Abou Diarra – Alansito Vega – Baba Sissoko – Bonobo – Bootie Brown – Damon Albarn – Django Django – Eme MalaFe – Fatoumata Diawara – Hak Baker – Imarhan – Joan As Police Woman – Jupiter & Okwess – K.O.G. – La Bruja de Texcoco – Los Pream – Luisa Almaguer – M.anifest – Mare Advertencia – Mélissa Hié – Mexican Institute of Sound – Moonchild Sanelly – Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) – Onipa – Ophélia Hié – Otim Alpha – Poté – Seye Adelekan – Son Rompe Pera – Tayhana – Tom Excell