Ayra Starr, Tyla, Burna Boy & More Are Nominated for 2026 Grammy Awards The 2026 GRAMMY nominations place African artists like Burna Boy, Tyla, and Ayra Starr firmly on the global stage. Discover which of the continent’s stars earned nods and how they are influencing musical culture ahead of the February ceremony. music November 7, 2025
The Top African Songs You Need to Hear This Week: November 7, 2025 The best new African music tracks released this week, featuring artists like Shane Eagle, Lasmid, J’Dess, Xenia Manasseh, and more. music November 7, 2025
The Best Alte Songs of 2025 So Far Alte musicians, like OGs Cruel Santino and Lady Donli, to newcomers Mavo and Zaylevelten, embody the unconstrained nature of African music with unconventional sounds and aesthetics. music November 6, 2025
A New Wave of Sound Emerges from Lagos via Tems' Leading Vibe Initiative 72 Hours in Lagos follows female producers Saszy Afroshii, TinyBraz, and Gbots as they navigate the city’s chaos and craft music on their own terms. featured November 6, 2025
How Independent Jazz Festivals Are Surviving South Africa’s Economy With major events collapsing and budgets tightening, Johannesburg-based festivals like Kids Love Jazz and uManyano Lwe Jazz are proving that community trust is the most valuable currency in the live music ecosystem. music November 5, 2025
Show Dem Camp Pays Homage to Old Nollywood on Their Latest LP, 'Afrika Magik' In conversation with OkayAfrica, the great Nigerian rap duo shares the process behind their newest album, ‘Afrika Magik,’ and how they’ve kept their creative antenna sharp for over a decade. music November 5, 2025
Get to Know 'Way-Way,' a New Sub-Genre of Algeria's Rai Music The Moroccan producer-artist Zouj tells OkayAfrica about the Algerian raï genre he studied with Moroccan elders, fell in love with, and turned into an experimental mixtape. music November 4, 2025
Mandisi Dyantyis and the Art of Cleansing Through Song The South African jazz vocalist, trumpeter, and composer bares his soul once again on his third studio album, “Intlambululo: Ukuhlambulula.” music November 4, 2025
Tim Godfrey Wants You to Enjoy Gospel Music Without Labels The Nigerian musician speaks to OkayAfrica about his ambitious new album, No Label, a project that breaks man-made labels on gospel music and shares a much-needed message of joy. music November 3, 2025
Knucks Flips Pre-Teen Trauma Into Confident Identity on ‘A Fine African Man’ The British Nigerian rap artist talks about his Nigerian boarding school experience, embracing his African heritage, and intentionally bridging the gap between Nigeria and its UK diaspora. music October 31, 2025
The Top African Songs You Need to Hear This Week: October 31, 2025 The best new African music tracks released this week, featuring artists like Phyno, Oseikrom Sikanii, and Amaarae, amongst others. music October 31, 2025
The Best Music From East Africa in October 2025 OkayAfrica rounds up the best new music from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, and Rwanda, featuring Sheebah, Toxic Lyrikali, Phil Emon, Diamond Platnumz, and more. music October 30, 2025
The Best Music From West Africa in October 2025 OkayAfrica’s list of the best West African songs and tracks highlights top music and artists, including Lali x Lola, Oumou Sangaré, The Cavemen, and more. music October 30, 2025
Listen to the North African Songs Making Waves This October 2025 This October, North African musicians are conveying introspective lyrics and nostalgia over danceable rhythms. This list features a bunch of unexpected club bangers. music October 29, 2025
Mr Eazi’s ‘Maison Rouge:’ The Afrobeats Superstar Is No Longer Scared of Boredom The Nigerian singer talks to OkayAfrica about his new project ‘Maison Rouge,’ shedding his love-hate relationship with the past and learning to enjoy the present. music October 29, 2025
Must-Hear Southern African Songs Right Now: October 2025 Edition For the music highlights from Southern Africa in October, OkayAfrica digs into alternative genres from Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, and beyond. music October 29, 2025
The Top Amapiano Songs to Stream Right Now: October 2025 Edition This month, we have top amapiano hits from Sfarzo Rtee, LeeMcKrazy, Stixx, MDU aka TRP, and more rising stars redefining the sound across South Africa. music October 28, 2025
The Top Afrobeats Songs to Stream Right Now: October 2025 Edition The standout records from October include songs from MOLIY, Adekunle Gold, Joshua Baraka, Ayra Starr, and more. music October 28, 2025
The New Amapiano Artists You Need to Know in 2025 Meet the rising talents shaping the next chapter of South Africa’s most dynamic sound. music October 27, 2025
The Top African Songs You Need to Hear This Week: October 24, 2025 The best new African music tracks that came out this week, featuring Mandisi Dyantyis, Celeste Ojatula, BOJ, Internet Girl, and more. music October 24, 2025
Southern African Alt & Indie Playlist 2025 A spotlight on the artists shaping Southern Africa’s alternative and indie frontier, from experimental jazz to electronic beats redefining the region’s sound. music October 24, 2025
Sounds From the Diaspora: Must-Listen African Music From the US, France, and UK African music is now embraced as a piece of global culture. These cross-cultural records are sourced from the three largest diasporan centers and are distinctly creative due to artists' personal investment in the music. music October 23, 2025
The Moroccan Rappers Proving Darija Is a Global Language of Hip-Hop Moroccan music was slept on for too long because of its unique Arabic dialect Darija, but once it crossed borders, it became an international force to be reckoned with. music October 22, 2025
Mariam Doumbia on Love, Loss, and the Enduring Legacy of Amadou & Mariam The Malian singer speaks to OkayAfrica about her late husband, their 45-year marriage, and enduring love as she releases their last body of work together, 'L’amour à la folie,' and a collaborative single featuring Fally Ipupa. music October 22, 2025
‘It’s in the Right Place and Growing at a Substantial Rate:’ Sheniece Charway’s Optimistic Outlook on Afrobeats’ Global Growth The music executive and Martell cultural ambassador sees opportunity for growth that makes Afrobeats a lasting force beyond its recent successes. music October 22, 2025
Patoranking Celebrates His Lagos Roots with Street Anthem “No Jonze” On his new single, the award-winning Nigerian musician blends Ajegunle’s Galala sound with that of global Afrobeats. music October 21, 2025
Blaqbonez’s 'No Excuses' Proves His Relentless Brilliance Always favoring high stakes, Blaqbonez has become one of Afrobeats’ most relentless artists. On ‘No Excuses,’ he explores all the angles of creativity and vulnerability in this conversation with OkayAfrica. music October 21, 2025
Nduduzo Makhathini Is Turning Jazz Into a Spiritual Language As he prepares to take the stage at New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center this weekend, the South African pianist, composer, and healer reflects on spiritual inheritance, carrying his Zulu ancestry into Western venues, and the ancient power of sound to connect us beyond race or place. music October 21, 2025
Stonebwoy’s Year of The Torcher With ‘THE TORCHER,’ Ghana’s leading reggae-dancehall artist expands his sound while confronting the structures that threaten creative freedom. music October 20, 2025
Blaqbonez Extends The ODOMUDUBLVCK Beef with “ACL” The rappers have been dissing each other for a while now. Via a riveting rap record from his new album, Blaqbonez brings even more firepower to the showcase, sparking conversations about the place of confrontation in Nigerian hip-hop. music October 17, 2025
How 20 Months in Prison Redefined Fela Kuti’s Music Kuti’s ‘African classical music’ era featured some of his most ambitious work as a composer, but they mostly remained uncatalogued. music October 17, 2025
The Top African Songs You Need to Hear This Week: October 17, 2025 The best new African music tracks that came out this week, featuring Patoranking, Sai Hle, MOLIY, and William Last KRM music October 17, 2025
MOLIY Teams Up with Grammy-Winning Tyla For a Club-Ready Banger “Body Go” In an exclusive interview with OkayAfrica, the “Shake It To The Max” singer discusses her previous record and kickstarting a new era of global stardom with a new single featuring Tyla. music October 17, 2025
Celebrating Fela Kuti: A Week of Storytelling on the Afrobeat Icon's Sound, Musical Rebellion, and Enduring Legacy As the world marks Fela Kuti's 87th posthumous birthday this week, OkayAfrica celebrates the legendary musician's life and legacy with stories that explore his lasting impact on music, culture, and activism. music October 17, 2025
Ayra Starr & Rema Take It to the Dancehall on "Who's Dat Girl?" The Nigerian superstars and labelmates evoke the sensual and colorful on their first ever collaboration. music October 17, 2025
Zlatan Upholds the Currency of Aspiration on His New Album "Symbol of Hope" Drawing from Afrocentric sounds, Zlatan’s third album showcases his inclination for growth. OkayAfrica discusses his latest project, Symbol of Hope and what it means to be a source of inspiration. music October 17, 2025
Joe Jacquest Reconnects With His Ghanaian Roots After Discovering His Father’s Hidden Past In the second season of Hidden Roots, musician Joe Jacquest Oteng embarks on a transformative journey to Ghana, where he retraces his roots and finds reconciliation with his father’s past. music October 16, 2025
The Enduring Legacies of Egypt’s Early 2000s Pop Divas Two decades after Ruby, Sherine, and Ranin ushered in an era of unapologetic dancing and tight clothes, millennials continue to celebrate the Egyptian pop icons who helped them craft unconventional identities. music October 16, 2025
Fela Kuti’s “Colonial Mentality” Was a Musical Rebellion Against the West Fela Kuti and the Afrika 70 released “Colonial Mentality” in 1977 following an attack on the Kalakuta Republic by the Nigerian army. In it, he urges unity among African people and the pursuit of genuine independence. music October 15, 2025
Jad Abumrad’s New Podcast Series Delves into the Life, Times & Complicated Legacy of Fela Kuti On the Afrobeat pioneer’s posthumous birthday, Abumrad, host of ‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,’ tells OkayAfrica about the process of putting together the thoroughly researched, 12-episode series. music October 15, 2025
Fela Kuti Week Continues With This Exciting Playlist The legendary Nigerian musician and composer would have turned 87 this week. To continue an activity-filled week in his honor, OkayAfrica has put together a three-hour-plus playlist of his best songs. music October 15, 2025
The 10 Best Fela Kuti Songs Veteran DJ Rich Medina, who introduced an American generation to Afrobeat, ranks the 10 best Fela Kuti songs. music October 14, 2025
