Recently, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, created a playlist titled “My Travels,” which features 24 tracks from some of the most famous and beloved African artists in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, and Zambia. The playlist is a careful curation that showcases the rich diversity and beauty of African music.
However, the significance of this playlist goes beyond just celebrating African music. It is a major moment for some of the artists featured on it, such as Kenyan musician Bien, who collaborated with Tanzanian artist Darassa on the hit song “Nobody,” which has sparked its own TikTok dance challenge with over 53,000 videos posted so far.
For the Kenyan entertainment industry, this is a major triumph as one of their own has made it onto the playlist of the second most powerful person in America. Harris has made sure to include a diverse array of African artists on the playlist, from Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae to Tanzanian superstar Harmonize, and many more.
However, Harris’ interest in African music goes beyond just this playlist. She is currently on her first official visit to Africa as Vice President and has already visited Ghana, with stops in Tanzania and Zambia to come. For her, this music represents not just a celebration of African culture, but also a connection to the people and places she is visiting on this historic trip.
