Awesome Tapes From Africa is the creative project of Brian Shimkovitz, an American music producer, DJ, and archivist based in the United States. Since 2006, Shimkovitz has been dedicated to sharing and celebrating the diverse musical landscapes of Africa by collecting and distributing cassette tapes he discovered during his travels across the continent. Through his influential blog-turned-record label, Awesome Tapes From Africa has introduced global audiences to rare and compelling sounds from a spectrum of African artists and genres, many of which were previously little-known outside their home countries.

As a DJ, Chosen Shimkovitz blends eclectic selections from his extensive tape archive, crafting DJ sets that fuse traditional rhythms, modern urban beats, electronic hybrids, and obscure gems. His approach emphasizes preservation, cultural respect, and a desire to bridge communities across continents through the universal language of music. Awesome Tapes From Africa continues to play a pivotal role in archive revivalism and the reissue movement, championing African musicians and redefining the world’s understanding of the continent’s musical innovation.