named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Afropop Closeup
Producer-hosted podcast series presenting intimate narratives on music, politics, history, and culture from diverse voices across the African diaspora; consists of eight seasons of 20-30 minute episodes.
Afropop Worldwide
Weekly public radio program distributed by PRX, featuring music and stories from Africa and the African diaspora, hosted by Georges Collinet and reaching over 100 U.S. stations and international outlets.
Planet Afropop
Bi-weekly podcast co-hosted by Georges Collinet, Banning Eyre, and Mukwae Wabei Siyolwe, offering conversational deep-dives into contemporary African music and culture, with 42 episodes planned through 2025.
Special Documentary Programs
In-depth audio features such as "Reissued: African Vinyl in the 21st Century" and "Lagos Roots: Fuji, Juju, and Apala" that explore regional music histories, cultural ownership, and genre evolution.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Podcast and Radio Production 2 activities
- Produce and distribute public radio programs and podcasts on African and diasporic musicProduces and distributes the weekly public radio program Afropop Worldwide, along with podcast series including Planet Afropop and Afropop Closeup, focusing on music from Africa and the African diaspora. The program reaches over 100 radio stations in the U.S., Europe, and Africa via PRX.
- Produce in-depth audio programs on specific African and global music traditionsProduces audio programs exploring cultural themes such as neocolonialism in the African vinyl market, Tarab in Arab music, synthesizers in African music, and regional genres like fuji music and Mara from Lagos. These programs often include historical, political, and artistic context.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Organize and present live public concerts and musical eventsCo-presents and organizes free, public concerts featuring artists from the African diaspora and global music traditions, including events in New York City parks and citywide arts programs, often co-organized with community partners.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Provide online multimedia content and artist resourcesMaintains afropop.org as a multimedia platform offering curated music videos, year-end features, artist profiles, interviews, CD reviews, and photo archives that document and promote global music cultures, particularly from Africa and the diaspora.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$337K
Contributions & grants$301K89%
Program service revenue$35K11%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$325K
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$107K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$122K
Cash$95K
Investments$0
Liabilities$91K
Net assets$32K
Liquid reserves3.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -4.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEAN BARLOW | Executive Dir. | 40 | $21K |
board members · 6
- ANGELIQUE KIDJO — BOARD MEMBER
- BANNING EYRE — Secretary
- KOFI DABANKA — BOARD MEMBER
- RACHID AADNANI — PROGRAM DIR.
- SAMUEL CONNER — BOARD CHAIR
- YOUSSOU N'DOUR — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- A.J. Racy Partner — Collaborates with ethnomusicologist A.J. Racy for expert insights on Tarab in Arab music.
- Afropop Partner — Collaborates on the publication and curation of global music video content.
- Analog Africa Partner — Collaborates in the context of African vinyl reissue industry coverage.
- Angelique Kidjo Partner — Grammy Award-winning artist affiliated with Afropop's advisory or outreach efforts.
- Banning Eyre Partner — Producer of the Lagos Roots audio program.
- Georges Collinet Partner — Host of Afropop Worldwide and prominent broadcast personality.
- LAMC Partner — Collaborates on concert events at SummerStage, including performances by La India and other artists.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Co-presented a musical event at The Dance Floor as part of Summer for the City.
- NPR Partner — Launched Afropop in 1988 as a weekly series.
- PRX Partner — Distributes the Afropop Worldwide radio show to public radio stations.
- PRX, the Public Radio Exchange Partner — Distributes the Afropop Worldwide radio program.
- Sam Backer Partner — Producer of audio programs for WORLD MUSIC PRODUCTIONS
- Sean Barlow Partner — Producer of Afropop Worldwide and President and CEO of World Music Productions.
- Soundway Partner — Collaborates in the context of African vinyl reissue industry coverage.
- Strut Partner — Collaborates in the context of African vinyl reissue industry coverage.
- SummerStage Partner — Co-presents concerts including LAMC 2026 events featuring La India and DJ Tony Touch.
- Youssou N’Dour Partner — Grammy Award-winning artist and former Minister of Culture and Tourism of Senegal, affiliated with Afropop.
- afropop.org Partner — Collaborated on the production and distribution of a special audio episode about Mara music from Nigeria.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Critical Cultural Examination to Challenge Power Structuresmethodology: cultural_critiqueBy using audio programming and research to examine neocolonialism, cultural ownership, and audience dynamics in global music markets, fosters critical public understanding and counters extractive cultural practices, because awareness of systemic inequity enables more ethical engagement.
- Cultural Storytelling as Immersive Educationmethodology: cultural_storytelling_through_scholarship_and_artistryBy combining scholarly insight with artistic legacy and regional context, creates immersive audio experiences that convey the emotional and cultural depth of marginalized musical traditions, because deep contextualization increases public understanding and engagement more than performance alone.
- Equitable Representation and Benefit-Sharing in Cultural Productionmethodology: cultural_equityBy elevating African and African diaspora music in global media, ensures recognition and material benefits return to source communities, because equitable cultural exchange corrects historical imbalances and sustains living traditions.
- Music as a Bridge for Cross-Cultural Narrativesmethodology: culture-as-bridgeBy presenting popular music from Africa and the African diaspora, conveys significant social and historical narratives to global audiences, because music serves as an accessible and emotionally resonant medium for intercultural understanding.