Ketho King is an artist from Clichy-sous-Bois, in Seine-Saint-Denis (93), on the outskirts of Paris. Since the early 2010s, he has patiently crafted a musical universe shaped by the blending of his influences, at the crossroads of his African heritage and his European roots. In 2023, Ketho King already paid a vibrant tribute to Congolese rumba with the eponymous track. Today, the artist unveils the song “Africa”, a heartfelt tribute to his motherland, accompanied by a visually stunning music video.
A songwriter, composer, and performer, the artist fully embodies the cultural cross-pollination that now defines contemporary urban music. While French music in the 1990s maintained particularly strong ties with Canadian Francophone scenes, encouraging numerous exchanges across the Atlantic, today’s dynamics increasingly connect with the Francophone cultures of the Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa. Several major artists have helped build this bridge between territories and influences, including MHD, Lartiste, NEJ, TIF, and more recently Himra, all contributing to reshaping the contours of an increasingly transnational urban music scene.
The vibrant visual for this track was directed by SHARIPHA. Through a powerful and symbolic staging, the video places the rapper face-to-face with his traditions and roots, giving a visual dimension to the identity quest that runs throughout his music.
