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- ‘Pata Pata’ by Miriam Makeba (South Africa) Released in 1957, ‘Pata Pata’ is a timeless Afro-pop hit by the legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba.
- ‘Sweet Mother’ by Prince Nico Mbarga (Nigeria) This 1976 highlife song by Nigerian artist Prince Nico Mbarga is a celebration of mothers and their unconditional love.
- ‘Ces Petits Riens’ by Angélique Kidjo (Benin) ‘Ces Petits Riens’ is a song by Angélique Kidjo, a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist from Benin, West Africa.
- ‘Soul Makossa’ by Manu Dibango (Cameroon) Released in 1972, ‘Soul Makossa’ by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango is a groundbreaking Afro-funk track that influenced the development of disco and dance music.
- WurlD, ‘Shake’ In a sea of songs about moving nyash (a.k.a. booty), WurlD’s “Shake” has a distinct glow. His sweet singing — coy ploys to big up the dancer he wants — is just one slick and sexy layer to it.
- Aya Nakamura feat. SDM, ‘Daddy’ At the heart of French popular music, Aya Nakamura reigns supreme. “Daddy,” featuring SDM, is a testament to her enduring influence.
- Jungeli feat. Imen Es, Alonzo, Abou Debeing, and Lossa, ‘Petit Génie’ Jungeli’s “Pétit Genie,” featuring Imen Es, Alonzo, Abou Debeing, and Lossa, is a standout viral hit of the year.
- Blaqbonez feat. Jeriq, ‘Nyem Ego’ Blaqbonez has made a name for himself as a Nigerian rapper with a wicked funny bone, but on “Nyem Ego,” he taps into Igbo tradition (and calls on Jeriq, who raps in Igbo) to give an earnest, emotional perspective on the pursuit of success, particularly in his tenuous industry.
Playlist · African Hits 2023 · 85 items · 81K likes.
- Mankaprr Conteh
- Lojay, DJ Maphorisa, and Kabza De Small, ‘Canada’ On his breakout 2021 hit “Monalisa,” Nigerian vocalist Lojay teamed up with acclaimed producer Sarz for an amapiano-influenced soundscape.
- Jovial x Marioo, ‘Mi Amor’ Tanzanian artist Marioo dropped this gem back in February, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The song, which also features Kenyan songbird Jovial, is an ode to all lovers, as the two artists confess their undying affection to their muse.
- 9umba, TOSS, and Mdoovar feat. Sir Trill, Sino Msolo, Lady Du, Young Stunna, and Slade, ‘uMlando’ Viral dance challenges are omnipresent fixtures in amapiano, and the dance to this song, which requires the swinging of the waistline sideways, became a social media phenomenon.
- Nomfundo Moh, ‘Soft Life’ In the South African context, the term “soft life” is sometimes used to refer to an affluent, luxurious, and aesthetically pleasing existence.
- Anglophone West Africa
- Francophone West Africa
- Southern Africa
- East Africa
- Central Africa
- North Africa
Anglophone West Africa continues to lead the continent’s strides globally, with Nigeria leading the charge and Ghana in tow. A number of music industry organisations have reported that Nigerian music fans are listening to more music than any other country. Their sound of choice? Afrobeats, which draws first from indigenous sounds, and expands to em...
This year has been particularly vibrant for the Francophone West Africa music scene. Many French-speaking countries, such as Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, have drawn from their native rhythms to create enjoyable and popular Afropop songs. In addition to winning accolades and nominations at different awards platforms, all of the songs listed be...
South Africa continues to produce some of the continent’s most notable releases, with amapiano still dominating the local music scene. Artists such as Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Young Stunna and Mellow & Sleazy are leading the amapaino movement, while music makers like Master KG, K.O, Makhadzi and 9umba continue to shape the future South African...
This was the year the East African music industry breathed a collective sigh of relief after COVID-19 restrictions were eased across the region. Action returned to both the alternative and popular music scenes, giving fans a chance to engage with their favourite artists in a live setting again. Many mainstream acts in the region continued to rack u...
There is a wide variety of artists and music genres in Central Africa, making it one of the most vibrant African music scenes. There have been several releases from both new and established artists. Fally Ipupa, Innos'B, Locko and Ko-Care among the artists from Central Africa who stood out among the top five. ‘Muselu’ by Innos'B ft. Djizzo (DRC) ‘Q...
The new generation of North African artists has brought previously marginalised genres in the region – like hip hop, pop and electro – to the forefront. Despite the challenges of the past few years, many North African musicians made strides in 2022. They include DJ Snake (Algeria), Soolking (Algeria), Balti (Tunisia), ElGrandeToto and Mohamed Ramad...
Dec 29, 2021 · 2021 is the year music from across Africa has been getting its time in the global space. We count down the top 25 hits from the year.
Dec 14, 2023 · The African music industry saw further growth in popularity in 2023, with South Africa and Nigeria dominating the space, and Afrobeats and amapiano gaining further popularity beyond the two countries’ borders.
