in service of african perspectives

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Musicology, mixmag blackout and new mountains to climb

Greetings friends and fellow climbers,

FIRST, aN update:

Over the past year, I’ve been gradually taking on less editorial and commissioned work as I make more room for my academic work and research. This has been a rewarding shift; the longer I have worked in African music, the more I have found myself wanting to interrogate the histories, structures and ideas that lie beneath the work we do.

The scholarship of Professor Jason Arday has been particularly influential in sharpening that instinct; his work has encouraged me to think more critically about knowledge, representation and the structures through which culture is understood and documented.

This has also brought me to a conviction that I suspect will inform much of what I do from here: African music deserves to be documented and interpreted, yes, but also to be part of the intellectual processes through which music itself, is understood. There is enormous scope for scholarship emerging from the continent, grounded in its histories, experiences, cultural realities and innovations. To be able to contribute to the field of musicology has become an honour, and a great source of happiness for me.

I’m fortunate to have immense support as I pursue this work while deepening my own understanding. There is a lot yet to learn, but increasingly, I’m interested in what becomes possible when professional experience and rigorous research are allowed to speak to one another.

As some of you know, I started Mount Makeda out of necessity. It grew into a platform through which I could write, curate, research, consult and connect people across the African music ecosystem — and I’m incredibly proud of what it has enabled me to do. Now, I want to continue this as a more informed and flexible cultural worker. For me, that means making space to question and research more rigorously.

Going forward, I’ll be keeping my editorial and consulting work deliberately focused, scaling down to just a few longstanding clients. I’m still very much interested in good ideas, interesting people and projects that induce critical thought; I’m simply being more selective about where my time will be spent. I will continue with consultations and short-term projects; however, more intensive work will have to wait.

I’m also very happy to continue considering bios, press releases, end-of-year lists and editorial round-ups, so if you have music, projects, artists or otherwise that you think I might enjoy hearing, crafting or contributing to, please send them my way. Have a look at my contributions for 2025-2026's lists below:

Beatportal 50 Best Tracks of 2025 | mixmag Artists to Watch in 2026 | mixmag The Best Dance floor Bangers of 2025 | mixmag The Top DJs who Defined The Year 2025 | resident advisor The Best Electronic Tracks 2000-25

And now, a little news...

I’m also very pleased to share, ahead of the public announcement, that I’ve taken over the editorship of mixmag Blackout from Kwame "Funk Butcher" Safo.

Kwame has done important work in building the publication and establishing its voice, and I’m grateful to be handed the baton by him. To be entrusted with this responsibility is one I intend to honour thoroughly. We’re currently building quietly in the background and there will be a proper public announcement about the next chapter, soon. In the meantime, if you’re not already familiar with Blackout or Kwame’s work on the platform, I’d encourage you to have a look through the publication and get acquainted below!

That said, for now, we’re no longer taking on additional contributions or pitches for Blackout. Thank you to everyone who has pitched, collaborated, sent music, shared ideas or otherwise helped shape the project so far. Your work is very much appreciated!

More soon.

In the meantime, please keep the music, ideas, introductions and discoveries coming. I may be quieter, but I’m still paying attention, while prioritising IRL over URL as I lean into this mini-sabbatical. My hope is to become more curious with every passing day.

Thank you all, and keep climbing!

Shiba Melissa Mazaza

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