Kenyan Athlete Geoffrey Kamworor Broke the Half Marathon World Record
The athlete broke the world record by 17 seconds.
Seasoned Kenyan long distance runner, Geoffrey Kamworor, gave a stellar performance at the half marathon held in Copenhagen this past Sunday. Kamworor, who is a three-time World Half Marathon Champion, beat the previous record set by fellow Kenyan runner, Abraham Kiptum, by 17 seconds (58:01) according to BBC Sport.
Speaking about setting a new world record, Kamworor said, "It is very emotional for me to set this record. Doing it in Copenhagen, where I won my first world title, adds something to it." While the 26-year-old athlete was behind the world record in the first 5 kilometers of the race, he managed to close the gap in the final 11 kilometers.
According to Jon Mulkeen of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Kamworor had prioritized beating the previous world record for the half marathon and passed on the opportunity to represent Kenya at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, later on this month.
Kamworor clinched his first half marathon title back in 2014 and his third consecutive title just last year. He took home silver at the 2015 World Championships and came first in the New York City Marathon in 2017.
Watch the final moments of Kamworor's half marathon race in the video below:
Geoffrey Kamworor Half Marathon World Record
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Featuring Boutross, Parroty, Nadia Mukami, Marioo x Harmonize, Coco Em and more.
April saw a myriad of new releases from some of East Africa’s most exciting emerging acts in different genres. Here are some of our favorites.
For more of the best music, check out our Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African and East African music lists here and tap in for our weekly Songs You Need to Hear roundup.
Boutross 'Kabla Mtindo' EP
Kenyan shrap pioneer Boutross dropped the Kabla Mtindo EP as a teaser project to ensure his fans don’t lack content to work with before his album Mtindo. This is his first EP in his catalogue. He has featured Ndovu ni Kuu , Xtatic , Swahili Papi, CKO, Shrap OG Jovie Jovv, Munyax, DEZ and Chinbees from Tanzania.
Donado Stone 'Noticed'
“Noticed” is a song written by Donado Stone that is part of his upcoming mixtape. The song, which acts as his second single from the tape, centers on love, infidelity, sex and forgiveness. On a similar theme to his first single “IGotU,” he tackles being in a romantic relationship with a woman who is already in a serious relationship with another man. He's negotiating with his love interest to leave the other guy and be his with support from his sexually crafted lyrics that are appealing.
Moreh ft. Parroty 'Kanuthu'
We have a major banger from Genge hitmaker Parroty titled “Kanuthu," this track is set to take over the streets and club scene with its catchy chorus.
Nadia Mukami ft Latinoh 'Zawadi'
“Zawadi” by Nadia Mukami featuring her new signee Latinoh is a song that looks to celebrate what or who we love as we look at them as a gift. It can be a sibling, a child, a parent, a friend, a colleague, or even a lover. Nadia Mukami, who is a new mom, chooses to celebrate her child and refers to her as a gift.
Marioo ft. Harmonize 'Naogopa'
Tanzanian fast-rising recording artist Marioo is back again with another afro-bongo banger titled “Naogopa.” He joins forces with Konde Gang boss Harmonize for this romantic bongo flava track produced by Abbah that talks about a man who is afraid his woman does not love him back.
Coco Em 'Land (Black) First' feat Sisian & Kasiva
Nairobi-based DJ and producer Coco Em released her new EP Kilumi this month. Her new single “Land {Black) First” featuring Sisian and Kasiva is a potent lyrical statement of protest against structures of power and supremacy. Combining spoken word, droning bass and percussion that seems to cut and twist through the air, it hums with heat, energy and tension.
This new class of young African musicians are poised to take the music industry by storm.
In the world of African music, there have been a select group of female acts who made it to the top—from seasoned veterans like Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Angélique Kidjo to contemporary pop stars like Yemi Alade and Tiwa Savage. However, they have at times been few and far between, especially when compared in numbers to their male counterparts.
Fortunately, something exciting is taking place on the continent, and that dynamic is slowly but steadily beginning to change. The driving force of that shift is the emergence of a new class of young female artists who are taking the music industry by storm in each of their respective countries across the African continent. They are making music on their own terms, they are finding and growing their own audiences, and of course, they are extremely talented.
From Nigeria to South Africa to Ghana to Kenya, these young women who are all still very early in their careers are already making major moves - from dropping nationwide hits, to signing deals with global record labels, to landing songwriting credits on Taylor Swift songs. They all show amazing promise, and they are all on the verge of serious stardom. Here, we bring you our list of the female African artists you definitely need to watch in 2022. Check them out below.
Ayra Starr
Ayra Starr has been on the radar of the Nigerian music secene ever since her self-titled debut EP dropped at the top of last year, but the Mavin Records signee made one hell of an impression when she returned in August 2021 with the release of her debut album 19 and Dangerous. The 11-track offering enabled us witness the dynamite songstress in all her youthful, insanely talented glory.
From her self-assured mission statement “Cast (Gen Z Anthem)” to the boastful swagger of suave afropop cut “Fashion Killer” to the boisterous, spine-tingling energy of surefire pop hit “Bridgertn,” Ayra’s brand of afropop is music is highly exuberant, unapologetic, and oozes superstar charisma, and she consistently clocks views in the several millions on her music releases despite her being so early in her career. Ayra Starr and her music is a glimpse of where the trajectory of Nigerian music is headed. She may be Nigerian, but she is undoubtedly a global pop star in the making and we can’t wait to see it happen.
Nomfundo Moh
If the term fast-rising were a person, it would be South African singer and songwriter Nomfundo Ngcobo. Popularly known as Nomfundo Moh, the 21-year-old is quickly becoming one of South Africa’s new sensations. Nomfundo Moh signed to Universal Music Group following the success of her self-released debut single “Lilizela” in 2021. Her musical style is diverse, with her dabbling in blends of afropop, soul, trapsoul, house, and more, but the singer boldly declares herself an afropop artist, saying “my music is afropop because I am inspired by the African sound.”
Nomfundo blew up more and more with every new song she dropped.The music video for her recent single “Phakade Lami” featuring two of South Africa’s biggest female vocalists Sha Sha and Ami Faku is already sitting on 8 million views on YouTube, less than 6 months after it’s release. Her debut studio album Amagama dropped at the tail end of January, and the entire 13-track album was written by the singer herself. With her already quick at work on her second album, it’s obvious that Nomfundo Moh is here to stay.
FAVE
FAVE is a gem. A fast-rising singer and songwriter from the southeastern part of Nigeria, FAVE’s breakthrough moment came in 2021 when her single “Baby Riddim” hit the public eye as one of the best Nigerian songs from an emerging artist that year. “Baby Riddim” is an easygoing, affectionate pop single which preceded her debut EP Riddim 5, and the song has already made her a favorite in the eyes of Nigerian music lovers.
Earlier in 2021, Fave had appeared on Olamide’s ninth solo album UY Scuti, and for an artist who was not well known at the time, that was a big catalyst in her outdooring. After all, only the most talented of Nigerian artists have succeeded in getting an early cosign from the seasoned rap star, and having now joined cohorts with the likes of Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, and Omah Lay, FAVE is indeed in very good company.
Ria Sean
Gloria Asene Enebi, popularly known as Ria Sean is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who was buzzing underground for a while, up until last year. In 2021, Ria Sean signed to Island Def Jam Recordings by way of a joint deal with accomplished Nigerian imprint Aristokrat Records. She’s best seen serving up sensual sounds in her hypnotic vocals, intricately toeing the line between afropop and R&B. Last September she dropped her debut EP Fluid, and a lead single from the project “Satisfy My Soul” is currently making the rounds as a fresh new sound from a fresh new face
Nikita Kering
Nikita Kering is an R&B singer-songwriter from Nairobi, Kenya. She was spotted by Nigerian singer Mr Eazi’s talent mentorship program emPawa100, which led to the release of her single “Tragedy” under emPawa Africa in 2019. The emPawa sponsored project hit the airwaves, and “Tragedy” blew up and pushed the 20-year old singer straight into the limelight.
Nikita went on to release a number of singles independently before signing a deal with Universal Music in 2021. The 20-year old singer has already won a number of awards, including bagging four AFRIMA awards, two in 2019 for Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa and Revelation of the African Continent, and two in 2021 for Best R&B and Soul Artist and Best Female Artiste East Africa. Her latest body of work is her 2021 debut EP A Side of Me, a 7-track EP of Nikita’s special brand of R&B.
Money Badoo
No genre is off limits to the women on this list, and down in South Africa artists are taking trap music to new levels. Rapper, singer, and fashionista Money Badoo has been making music with her close friend and fellow rapper Sauwcy as a duo named Money Badoo & Sauwcy since 2016. They have several songs, features, a 2020 trap-heavy EP MK-Ultra to their name, and have been representing as part of the “new wave” of hip-hop artists in the country. Music is still being made by the eclectic rap duo, but Money Badoo’s solo efforts as well as a string of guest features she’s done over the past year has established her as a force of her own. Her most recent single “47K$” dropped in December 2021 featuring Def Jam Africa signee, rising singer Ricky Tyler and the song is a perfect depiction of the rapper's unbridled charisma.
Titose
Titose is a 24-year old singer and songwriter from Botswana who began putting music out in 2020. She’s a lush-voiced singer who is pushing the boundaries of R&B and trapsoul in Botswana. While R&B is not a hugely popular genre in her country, the singer found room for her sound in a global audience. She’s the first artist based in her country to partner with Apple’s artist services company Platoon, and with the platform’s help she released her debut project. She sings about romance, friendship from a perspective of sincere introspection, and her lyrics carry a refreshing vulnerability that explores what it means to be a young, impressionable woman learning to navigate the ups and downs of life and love. Her debut EP Was It Something I Said was released in November 2021, and with her incredible voice and her cloudy, intimate tunes the R&B trailblazer has captured the hearts of many.
Xenia Manasseh
Xenia Manasseh is a 24-year old R&B singer and songwriter from Kenya. Her successful debut EP Falling Apart which dropped in October 2019 opened major doors for her in the music business, and since then Xenia’s music career has taken off very quickly. Since then she’s opened a concert for Nigerian singer Rema in Nairobi, collaborated with Sauti Sol, appeared on a Teyana Taylor single, co-wrote a Taylor Swift song, and been a backing vocalist on Beyoncé’s (yes, Beyoncé’s) all-female band. She studied Music Business and Management at the Berklee College of Music, and she is currently signed as a songwriter to Atlanta based label UCMG. She’s released a string of singles since her debut EP, and her latest offering is her 2022 single “Waiting,” a collaboration with Kenyan producer Ukweli.
TiTi Owusu
Titi Owusu is an emerging afropop singer, songwriter, and performer from Ghana who possesses an amazing voice. The extremely talented vocalist started out making rounds in the live music circuit in Accra, doing live sets of R&B and jazz favorites at hot spots and events across the city before finally releasing her own music. Titi has two singles and a handful of features out on digital streaming platforms so far, but her performance that takes the cake is her guest appearance on Ghanaian rapper BRYAN THE MENSAH’s buzzing single “Until I See You.”. On the buzzing pop single, Titi delivered a stellar vocal performance on the song that has even led to comparisons to Beyoncé.The song has since become a TikTok favorite with over 694,000+ views on videos using the song as its soundtrack, and you can bet the magic in her voice has something to do with it.
Essilfie
Maame Esi Essilfie, better known as Essilfie is a singer, songwriter, performer, voice-over artist, and all-around creative from Ghana. She got her start in 2018 doing song covers and posting them online, before dropping her debut single “Gye Wani” in 2019. Since then, she’s dropped a string of singles before following with her first project, her debut EP Tori’s Lounge. Tori’s Lounge is a 5-track project from the sultry-voiced emerging star filled with impassioned R&B, soul, and afrobeats songs that yank at the heartstrings.
Nadia Mukami
Nadia Mukami is a 25-year old singer and songwriter from Nairobi, Kenya. Nadia began recording music in 2015 while she was still a student in university, but her major breakthrough moment came as a result of her 2019 single “Radio Love,” which garnered massive media attention and also led to her winning two Pulse Music Video Awards. She was also selected to represent Kenya at Coke Studio Africa in the same year. She released her debut EP African Popstar in October 2020, but her latest release is her 2022 single “Fall In Love,” an afropop collaboration with Tanzanian singer Rayvanny.
Mandlin Beams
Closing out this list with another crazily talented emerging act from South Africa, we come to Mandlin Beams. Mandy Mdlongwa is a 20-year old R&B and soul singer based in Johannesburg who launched her career last year. She dropped her first single “The Sky = My Friend” in June 2021, presenting herself to the world with a dreamy and soulful debut. She followed that up with her debut EP Hears My Heart in November, seven tracks of acutely honest, intricately designed R&B and soul. With her being relatively new to the game major achievements are still down the road to come, but just off the strength of the music on Hears My Heart, we can confidently present Mandlin Beams to you as an artist that will do big things in 2022 and beyond.
Featuring Burna Boy, Adekunle Gold, Ladipoe, Rema and more.
Every week, we highlight the top releases through our best music of the week column. Here's our round-up of the best tracks and music videos that came across our desks.
If you like these music lists, you can also check out our Best Songs of the Month columns following Nigerian, Ghanaian, East African and South African music.
Burna Boy 'Last Last'
Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boyhas done it again, folks. The African Giant made his directorial debut this week with the release of his new single, 'Last Last', off of his highly anticipated sixth studio album, Love Damini. The single, a sample of American R&B singer Toni Braxton's hit single 'He Wasn't Man Enough For Me', is but a taste of what the Afro-fusion heavyweight has in store for fans this summer.
Adekunle Gold x Ty Dolla $ign 'One Woman'
Nigerian star Adekunle Gold come through with the music video for "One Woman," one of the highlights off his latest album Catch Me If You Can, featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The new visual was directed by the Ghanaian photographer and visual artist Mike Amofah and shot at the Flamingo Estate in LA and features a cameo from top model Madisin Rian.
Ogi 'Bitter'
Nigerian-American singer Ogi dropped her debut EP Monologues which arrived alongside her newest single and visual “Bitter.” “These songs are my outlet to say what I really felt about something but didn’t say because my feelings didn’t fit the script,” says Ogi. “ I’m putting myself display and staging those thoughts I never intended for people to hear. We love radical (maybe too specific) honesty.”
LADIPOE 'Afro Jigga' feat. Rema
Mavin Records label mates Ladipoe and Rema connect for the head-nodder "Afro Jigga." Re-uniting with directors Kewa One and Seun Opabisi the visual captures the fiery energy of the track.
TyStringz & L.A.X 'SHY'
TyStringz shares the first taste off his upcoming EP with the smooth single and music video for "Shy," featuring the star power of L.A.X. “My new Afrobeats single centers aroundempowering women to realize what beautiful creatures they are," he mentions. "With percussion being paramount, the beat allows me to become loose and free. You could call it a sunny infusion of tropical fun mixing with lush instrumentals, melting away any insecurities."
The African Giant continues to push the envelope, as he teases his sixth studio album, Love, Damini.
Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boyhas done it again, folks.
The African Giant made his directorial debut this week with the release of his new single, 'Last Last', off of his highly anticipated sixth studio album, Love Damini. The single, a sample of American R&B singer Toni Braxton's hit single 'He Wasn't Man Enough For Me', is but a taste of what the Afro-fusion heavyweight has in store for fans this summer.
In an effort to share his truest, most creative self with the world, Burna's video was shot entirely at his home, with his toys and gadgets on full display. The musician sprinkled in clips from his global triumphs, travels, and good times with those closest to him. Most notably, were scenes taken from his historic performance at New York City's Madison Square Garden, last month. If the song sounds familiar, it's because the generous performer shared a sneak preview with concertgoers during his North American 'One Night in Space' show.
As Burna Boy plays around with his sound and image, the move to take full creative control is a power move of note. Popular Nigerian music video director, Boy Directorjoked with his Twitter followers, "I was having a smooth run until Burna Boy started directing 😭".
Burna Boy is having an incredible 2022 so far, and we haven't even touched summer yet. The singer continues to dominate global music charts and stages, as he recently attended and treated celebrity guests and fans to a live performance. Also in the works, is his upcoming sixth studio album, Love, Damini which comes out on his birthday, July 7th.
Watch Burna Boy's new self directed music video for single 'Last Last' here.
The artist speaks to us about how his move to the United States provided him the experiential learning he needed to pivot to from economics to sculpting.
While this isn’t an exhaustive list of the films screening, here’s a lineup of interesting African titles showing at this year’s New York African Film Festival.
