Johannesburg, 28 January 2022: Apple Music’s new campaign, First Gen, is a celebration of the African Diaspora, spotlighting the unique talent and creative edge of first generation Africans.
The campaign features artists from The Americas, Europe and Asia who are either Africans born abroad, or children of Africans who were born and live outside of Africa. It’s this unique combination of their ancestral experiences coupled with their new surroundings that has created a new league of artists with a totally fresh perspective on their dual heritage.
The Weeknd (Ethiopia), Doja Cat (South Africa), Skepta (Nigeria), Stormzy (Ghana), are all first generation artists taking part in this celebration, with Skepta and Stormzy having created hit singles with African superstars WizKid (“Energy”) and Burna Boy (“Real Life”), respectively.
First Gen will also feature exclusive artwork designed by Uzo Njoku, a Nigerian-born, New York-based artist who received a BA in Studio Art from the University of Virginia and is currently an MFA Candidate at the New York Academy of Art.
“As an artist growing up in America with Nigerian roots, it really has been an experience watching Music in the African diaspora transcend to new levels. I felt that I could embody and infuse the Apple Music First Gen project with that exciting growth using bold patterns and contemporary figures,” Uzo tells Apple Music.
Uzo works in oil paint, acrylic, and collage to create bold and colourful paintings that depict melanin figures in different forms, while incorporating her beautiful patterns to create contrast and depth. She also utilises her striking patterns in her apparel production in the wide range of products that she creates.
A dedicated section within Apple Music will host a flagship First Gen playlist and essential albums, as well as exclusive playlists from artists in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, UK and the USA.
There will also be a First Gen radio special on The Dotty Show featuring Nigerian-born USA-based singer Mannywellz, British-Ghanian artist and producer Juls and Darkoo.
About Apple Music
Apple loves music. Apple revolutionized the music experience with iPod and iTunes. Today, Apple Music celebrates musicians, songwriters, producers, and fans with a catalog of over 90 million songs, expertly curated playlists, and the best artist interviews, conversations, and global premieres with the award-winning Apple Music Radio. With original content from the most respected and beloved people in music, autoplay, time-sync lyrics, Lossless Audio, and immersive sound powered by Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, Apple Music offers the world’s best listening experience, helping listeners discover new music and enjoy their favorites while empowering the global artist community. Apple Music is available in over 165 countries and regions on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod mini, CarPlay, and online at music.apple.com, plus popular smart speakers, smart TVs, and Android and Windows devices. Apple Music is ad-free and never shares consumer data with third parties. More information is available at apple.com/apple-music.
