
Teni Tears of the Sun album cover.
Photo Credit: Daniel Obasi
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Teni Tears of the Sun album cover.
Featuring new African music from Teni, Afro B, Joeboy, Asake x H.E.R., and Juliet Ariel.
Every week, we highlight the top Afrobeats and African music releases through our best music column, Songs You Need to Hear.
If you like these African music lists, you can also check out our Best Afrobeats and Best Amapiano of the month columns, plus our Best Songs of the Month columns following Nigerian, Ghanaian, East African and South African music.
Read ahead for our round-up of the best new African music tracks and music videos that came across our desks this week.
Teni is back! The Nigerian star returns with her long-anticipated new full-length album, Tears of the Sun, out via Platoon. The 16-song album builds off the success of previous singles like "Lanke" and "No Days," while adding powerful Afropop anthems like opening track "YBGFA (Young Black Girl From Africa)." “Life is a beautiful journey of ups, downs, highs and lows, however in the midst of all of it, I’m grateful to be a vessel in this world,” Teni mentions. "Tears of the Sun has taught me about life and has brought many blessings. Life is for the living, people come and people go but remember your time around the sun will surely come, and mine is here and here to stay.”
Afro B—the British-Ivorian singer behind the massive tune "Drogba (Joanna)"—has shared the new music video for his latest single "WO Wo Wo (Ebony)," featuring UK rap heavyweight Rimzee and Atlanta rapper Rich the Kid. The sound here is a continuation of Afro B's self-coined "Afrowave" that's sure to play at parties on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nigeria's Joeboy has delivered his new 5-song EP, Body, Soul & Spirit, a darker and moodier project that follows his love-centered album from earlier this year, Body & Soul. “I have been through a rollercoaster of emotions since the release of my album,” Joeboy says. “I have had to really dig deep to keep my sanity intact and put on a brave face to keep up appearances. The songs on the EP embody my journey through this emotionally-draining period.” He shared the EP along the visuals for single "24/7" which follows Joeboy imagining what his life would've been if he'd become a banker.
Congolese-born, Australia-based singer Juliet Ariel comes through with her latest single, "Holiday," a catchy, summertime afrobeats bop tailor-made for your next vacation. The track was produced by Nigeria's SiGNAL, who's helmed tracks for the likes of Khaid and Boy Spyce. "I wanted to write a song that everyone could relate to," says Juliet Ariel. "It may not look like it, but I am always working. I like keeping busy but it sometimes takes a toll on my mental health. I wrote this song to remind me of self-care, margaritas, bikinis and getaways.”
Asake connects with H.E.R., for this striking stripped-down remix to his Work of Art single, "Lonely at the Top." The song, which addressed themes of loneliness, emptiness, and the inherent distrust that accompanies success. is well-suited to a this acoustic and emotional remix. It comes with a new visual directed by Juan Felipe of Blank Square Productions.