The 10 Best Southern African Songs Right Now
Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Zambia are well-represented in this list of ten songs that have been rousing riots across Southern Africa.
As the month of April draws to a close, and as the realization that 2024’s progressing at an even faster pace than by-gone years dawns upon us, it’s important to also acknowledge music’s central role in keeping us rooted, connected to ourselves, and mindful of how we spend whatever time we’ve got left on this third rock from the sun.
Our bag this time around packs scarred raps from Botswana’s charred and arid landscapes, soothing swan songs from Zim’s confounding economy, frolicking riddims from Malawi’s dancehalls, and some fast-paced Bolobedu House from Mzansi.
Read on and get a taste of every item on the menu.
Scar “Big Man” (Botswana)
Nowadays, Scar’s podcasting career tends to overshadow the fact that he is a great emcee. But it’s only a few years ago that he was counted among the best on the continent, an honour he shared with another hometown hero, Zeus. “Big Man,” taken from his Gaborone Son 2 EP, is a catchy, high-energy display of a rapping ability that is rare to come across in this day and age.
Usimamane “Cheque” (South Africa)
Usimamane’s latest song, released mid-March, has been a slow burner. It’s only this month that people seem to be catching up, if its reception at this year’s edition of Cotton Fest is anything to go by. “Cheque” is a song of manifestation, and Usimamane’s got a couple of material things he wants actualised — a cheque, fresh drip, a Benz to pull up in, a nice girl, and a big house for his mom. He’ll achieve all of these, and more, if he keeps revving up on his current momentum.
Driemanskap “Spaza Gods Cypher” (South Africa)
Cape Town Spaza rap torchbearers Driemanskap return to remind us of their greatness every so often. This time around, it’s in the form of a rap cypher packed with the intricate bars and gut-wrenching punchline glory that the average rap fan can’t fathom. And that’s okay; these cats are not for entry-level consumers, but for culture connoisseurs who appreciate what it means to still be at the top of one’s game some two decades or so after making your first waves. Gugulethu stand up!
Eli Njuchi “Simpo” feat. Onesimus (Malawi)
Malawi’s Eli Njuchi is astoundingly talented. A pop magnet and dancehall overlord, he’s able to compose melodies that stay in your head long after the song ends. The addition of fellow artist Onesimus renders the perfect one-two performance plot that transcends genre and region. “Simpo” has all the markings of a continental hit.
Ntatao “Busquets Calm” (Lesotho)
No one comes close to Lesotho-born emcee Ntatao’s sharp lyrical content. A trained student of the stage, his passion for entertainment is most visible in his live performances. He fluidly interacts with an audience while lazer-sharp raps emerge from his mouth. “Busquets Calm” is reminiscent of early UK Grime with its cold and chaotic drum programming, and the pockets Ntatao locates are worthy of an academic thesis for how on-point they are.
Heavy K-x-Mawhoo “Kuwe” feat. MazetSA (South Africa)
Heavy-K entered the scene at a time when South African house music was alive with possibility. He has maintained relevance through his reliable ear, a feat that has entrusted him to the dance floor republic over the years. He returns here with a three-step heater featuring the vocal talents of Mawhoo and MazetSA, and the results are a crossover banger fit for the groove and the white wedding.
Maleh - “Mmoloki” (Lesotho/South Africa)
Maleh has stayed the course and built a strong base in music. What this comes with is a legion of dedicated followers, some who have been present from the start, and others who discovered her along the way. Her songs of praise, hope and redemption connect viscerally with audiences, and it's not uncommon to see people get teary-eyed during her live musical sermons. She is both praise poet and healer on "Mmoloki,"- an Afro-tinged song about finding comfort in knowing that her Creator is always on her side.
Mtswala-x-Shebeshxt “Nfano Ke Mang” feat. Ssmosh, SpokoTDI, Black 2 Zero (South Africa)
Limpopo-based South African rapper Shebeshxt has courted enough controversy to last multiple lifetimes. He's found solace in music, and has been churning burners over the past two years, mostly with Naqua SA, the producer whose presence has been life saving for the emcee whose cult-like status inspires kids and scares their parents in the same breath. “Nfano Ke Mang” locates him at a point where he's gaining nationwide buzz that could determine whether he ranks or tanks in a music industry that discards whomever it deems irrelevant or troublesome. Will his talent sustain him? Yes but there are several elements at play, and time shall be the judge. We have the music for now, and this Bolobedu House link-up with Mtswala serves as another reminder that when it comes to dedicating time to his music, Shebeshxt will always have plenty.
Young Gemini “Ngatidzokerane” (Zimbabwe)
Popular wisdom in these cold dating streets is of the view that there’s nothing out there, and that if you’ve got someone in your life, both of you have to find a way to make it work. Zimbabwe’s Young Gemini seems to subscribe to this mandate, and her song “Ngatidzokerane” (literally, let’s get back together) suggests as much. It’s a modern R&B take on the age-old tale of romantic partners admitting that their decision may have been made in haste, and that loneliness is making them regret having done so in the first place.
Aqualaskin “Broken Man” (Zambia)
Zambia’s Aqualaskin gets real and raw on this reflective rap joint about how loss and grief left him feeling like he’s had to rely on himself, and how that experience has left him broken and shattered in ways he could never have imagined. “It’s embedded in my scalp/ pain too deep, you can never understand,” he raps while the beat massages the ears, transporting the message to the deepest confines of the heart in the process. Material possessions mean nothing if one’s entire universe is shattered, and “Broken Man” reminds us to love the ones we treasure while they’re still here with us.
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