Lami Phillips Calls For Stronger Pan-African Collaborations To Grow African Music

Nigerian singer and songwriter Lami Phillips has called for stronger collaboration among African musicians, saying artistes across the continent should find it easier to work together and build a united music industry.

Speaking on the Big Convo segment of Culture Daily on 3Music TV and Pluzz 89.9 FM, Lami Phillips said initiatives such as the Amplify Her programme were helping to connect emerging and established female artistes through workshops, networking and studio sessions.

She said the experience had reinforced her belief that African artistes should work more closely regardless of their country of origin.

“It shouldn’t be that complicated. We should be very excited to work together, as long as it’s quality and it’s African,” she said.

Lami Phillips said she is currently promoting her forthcoming album, Broken Crayons, while also taking part in the programme, which has brought together artistes and producers from different African countries.

She revealed that several collaborations had already been recorded during the music camp, including songs with Burundian singer Vania Ice, Tanzania’s Fina, Kesa and other African artistes.

According to Lami Phillips, the continent’s creative strength becomes clear when artistes from different countries are brought into the same space.

She also praised the producers involved in the project, including Fox, Master Ghazi, Peter Twin Beats, Manu from Côte d’Ivoire and Zambian producer We2, saying producers deserve greater recognition for shaping African music.

Lami Phillips added that she deliberately chose to build her career first as a Nigerian artiste despite having opportunities abroad because she wanted her African identity to remain central to her music.