Beyoncé has helped usher in a renaissance for African artists – The Conversation

A performer in a bright pink ruffled dress sings into a microphone on stage, channeling Beyoncé’s renaissance era, with one arm extended and dramatic dark background lighting.

Beyoncé has released her seventh solo studio album, titled Renaissance (2022). The album, an event in global popular culture, is the first of a three-part project by the US artist. Her previous outing, the visual album Black is King (2020), collaborated with a host of African artists. Renaissance pays tribute to black dance music and again features African artists, including Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems, who is having a global moment of her own.

In history, the renaissance era (from the 1400s) was characterised by the rebirth and…