Best Songs from West Africa in March 2026

This month’s Best Songs from West Africa features fast-rising and established talents from Mali to Benin and Ghana. From the first inklings of an exciting new project from Fatoumata Diawara to a new release from Anabel Rose, a shining star of the alte music scene, this list is packed with a blend of genres, music scenes, and stories.

Check them out below:

Anabel Rose - “Imperfect Daughters” (Ghana)

In “Imperfect Daughters,” Filipino Ghanaian singer Anabel Rose considers the cost of carving one’s own path. Delivered as a stirring mix of soul and experimental R&B, “Imperfect Daughters” is a candid reflection of the complexities of moving against expectations and leaning towards one identity. It is a strong, lyrically grounded song that ends with a memorable hook in which Rose offers something of a truce/supplication as she seeks blessings for the “Fathers/Mothers of Imperfect Daughters”. Rose has been an undeniable talent in the Ghanaian alt music scene, and with each new track, she continues to lean into her greatest artistic attribute: her ability to tell stories that feel complete and thoughtfully drawn out.

Angelique Kidjo & Ayra Starr - “Aye Kan (Are You Coming Back?”) (Benin/Nigeria)

A cross-generational collaboration amongst two of Africa’s biggest stars will always be a good idea. Not that this is new for Beninoise legend Angelique Kidjo, who routinely collaborates with younger African artists, thereby keeping her discography in conversation with the times. In her latest single, “Aye Kan,” featuring Afrobeats princess Ayra Starr, both artists keep things philosophical yet lighthearted as they sing about holding space for their feelings on life and love. Both women, who share Beninoise heritage, Kidjo having been born there and Starr having made it her home for some time, are seamless collaborators whose voices blend into a rich, layered texture. A well-executed and considered collaboration.

Blacksherif - “Popstar” (Ghana)

From the title, one might expect a high-tempo, energetic track espousing the highs and lows of pop stardom. In truth, Black Sherif’s newest drop, “Popstar,” is tempered, languorous, and laidback. It’s an interesting way of embodying pop stardom, one that knows it doesn’t have to do too much, and has little to prove anymore. In that way, it makes “Popstar” a reflective, even sombre track that doesn’t draw you to the dance floor but finds you sitting, or leaning back as you take it in, allowing Sherif to walk you through his experience, his hopes, and his complicated thoughts on them.

Juls featuring Kojo Blak and Minz - “Perfect” (Ghana)

Tucked at the very end of his latest EP Jigi Jigi Vol. 2, Juls enlisted Kojo Blak and Minz for a groovy Afropop track with “Perfect.” Dripping with affectations, desire, and a languid, summertime flavor, “Perfect” sees perfect synergy between Ghana’s Kojo Blak and Nigeria’s Minz. Both artists bring easy charm and witty musicianship to Juls’ signature highlife-inspired production. 

Joeboy featuring Wizard Chan and Braye - “Fall Back In Your Arms” (Nigeria)

Resident romantics Joeboy and Wizard Chan teamed up to release a joint project, Agba Romantic, which delves into the ever-fascinating world of romance and desire. The first track, “Fall Back In Your Arms,” features alt R&B star Braye. The song is sparse in production but rich in tenderness, all while carrying the energy of the first day of summer.

Ayra Starr - “Where Do We Go?” (Nigeria)

Ayra Starr has been entering a new era with her music. It’s experimental, free-falling, and daring. That energy is properly bottled in “Where Do We Go?”, a seductive, groovy new track she released earlier this month. In it, Starr leans into her talent for witty lyricism, spinning scenarios and weaving narratives into a fully formed story of unresolved desire. As a song, “Where Do We Go?” departs from Starr’s classic Afropop background in many ways. It's a globalist record featuring minimal percussion, club-ready synths, and heart-thumping steps. If this era is anything to go by, fans of Starr can expect a version of her who embraces her growth and takes on new life experiences with stamina and creativity.

Mr Eazi x King Promise - “Mariana” (Ghana/Nigeria)

Continuing their boy band fantasy, best friends and longtime collaborators Mr Eazi and King Promise teamed up for the release of their latest single “Mariana” off their forthcoming joint project “See What We’ve Done.” “Mariana” shares a sensibility with some of the easygoing, strings- and percussion-heavy compositions on the songs they’ve released so far for this project. Thematically, it also follows the story of love, desire, and the attempt to woo an object of affection.

SPINALL - “Impromptu Bend” (Nigeria)

DJ SPINALL made a surprising artistic choice when he released a jazz EP, When Lagos Sleeps. The project, arranged and produced by him, is a stellar work that allows the renowned Nigerian producer to tap into his jazz background, which he often incorporated into his Afropop records. “Impromptu Bend” is the last song on the project and is anchored by a steady, intentionally consistent groove. String, light drums, guttural guitar strings, and flirty horns finish off the short but memorable track. “Impromptu Bend” sounds plucked right out of a spy movie, but could also work just as well on a drive through Lagos in the middle of the night.

Fatoumata Diawara - “Djanne” (Mali)

Malian icon Fatoumata Diawara returned with a funk-rock inspired jam “Djanne”, leading the way to what sounds like an exciting project to come. “Djanne” builds on Diawara’s love for catchy hooks, socio-conscious storytelling, and the superimposition of specific tenets of Malian music into Western, often antithetical genres. This makes “Djanne” a stirring and unforgettable track that further burnishes Diawara’s artistic genius.