The African Songs You Need to Hear This Week
Stream the best African music this week, including new releases from Hildah Watiri, Maglera Doe Boy, Stixx, and more.
Maglera Doe Boy has released his new single “Izinja 2.0.”
Photo courtesy of Maglera Doe Boy.
Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top African music releases — including the latest Afrobeats and amapiano hits — in our best music column, African Music You Need to Hear This Week.
Read ahead for our round-up of the best new African music tracks and music videos that came across our desks this week.
Listen to the latest episode of Afrobeats Intelligence podcast featuring Afrobeats star Magixx.
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PSON - “Madame” (feat. KOJO BLAK)
Born and raised in the DRC, PSON possesses a distinctive swagger that's hard to miss, one that ceaselessly infects everything he touches. On “Madame,” featuring Ghana's KOJO BLAK, this demeanor becomes the basis for giving and receiving, expressed with particular clarity to those who remain open and vulnerable enough to surrender to the allure of love. The melodies are heavenly, and the overall effect is unmatched.
Lodú - “Olówó Orími” (feat. Savy Henry)
In July, Lodú released her Wine & Honey EP, which features the original version of “Olówó Orími,” a song that encapsulates the feeling of being in love and the attendant hope that everything will work out for the better. She belongs to the Așa school of pulling at heartstrings until feelings turn into song. For the remix, she's recruited Savy Henry, who adds another layer of warmth to an already complete rendition.
Stixx - Destiny [LP]
One-third of the incredible trio, alongside Sam Deep and Nvcho, behind the era-defining Kings of Kwapi Vol. 1, Stixx has paid his dues, collecting and keeping all the receipts along the way. Destiny is a work about alignment, avenues pursued and results obtained. The guest list makes it clear that we're dealing with the big leagues: Kabza De Small, Babalwa M, Kelvin Momo, Nanette, as well as his long-time collaborator Nvcho, who appears on four of the album's twenty tracks. From the cinematic soundscape of the opening track to the neck-snapping club bangers that follow, Destiny charts the course of a visionary so locked in that time will have to catch up with his innovations.
Sylent Nqo - “Feel It”
“Give me your hand, and I won't let go,” sings Sylent Nqo, meeting the song where it's at with his powerful pen. He expresses desire in tangible, long-term conditions, lending a sense of permanence to love. The guitar sparkles and shines, complementing his romantic stance with equally colorful chords that tug at the heart and calm the spirit.
A Pass - “Shillingi”
Uganda's A Pass is one of the shining lights in the continent's burgeoning dancehall scene. On “Shillingi,” he rides a beat that's more Afro than dancehall, sitting somewhere between the calm, collected pulse of reggae's one-drop rhythm and the shimmering edges of pop music. The result is an earworm that won't be leaving your rotation anytime soon.
Aema - “20 Again”
“20 Again” sounds like a promise of youth, capturing the excitement of living life and discovering things anew. Aema's superpower lies in conjuring word combinations that evoke deep feelings. “I'm too young to retire, so I chase my dreams every night / 'til my tired is tired, I'll be carrying bags on my eyes,” she sings, pushing against the conventional wisdom that prioritizes rest and instead leaning into the hustle culture her city, Lagos, is known for. The song expands and contracts, exploring youthful abandon in refreshing ways.
Hildah Watiri - “Don't Walk Away” (feat. Nonny Mthiya)
Representing Nairobi, Hildah Watiri pushes against expectations and spreads her wings. “Don't Walk Away” is a beautifully adorned work. Alongside Nonny Mthiya, she melts into the mechanics of the song, filtering, rearranging and constructing a different world. “I'm too tired to walk away,” she admits, her sense of defeat masked by some of the most heartwarming melodies.
Miss Kamweru - “Manzi wa Nairobi” (feat. Maandy)
“Manzi wa Nairobi” arrives just in time for summer. The sounds are big and all-encompassing, drawing straight from the dancehall playbook. The lyrics mirror the imagery, warm and affectionate, with an unmistakable desire to please. The vibe is off the scale, courtesy of the electric combination of Miss Kamweru and Maandy.
Maglera Doe Boy - “Izinja 2.0” (feat. Sir Trill, 25K)
Maglera Doe Boy pays homage to one of kwaito's greatest groups, TKZee, on “Izinja 2.0.” The original, “Izinja Zam,” was a response to the negative press surrounding the group at the turn of the millennium, with hard-hitting beats augmenting the defiant nature of its message. Maglera Doe Boy's version takes that foundation and splinters the boundaries of genre and imagination. It's a linguistic masterclass — moving between Spanish, Sesotho, isiZulu and Spitori — as well as a defining cultural moment. The song arrives in the same week that the rapper premiered his film, Mzansi: The Movie, which has already garnered a positive response. Sir Trill dips into his rap bag and comes out bearing greatness, while the interplay between 25K and Maglera Doe Boy gives us another showcase of their incredible chemistry.
Etuk Ubong - What If? [LP]
Etuk Ubong's compositions represent multiple worlds and parallel realities. He moves from master tactician to willing participant to engaging leader, sometimes within a single song. What If? is a collection of ideas and messages, fragments and complete sentences, future-pasts and present-futures colliding — coddling no one, confronting the very essence of life. It's jazz, Afrobeat, highlife and rock 'n' roll. The work balances intense instrumentation with vocals that peel back the layers to reveal something more human, more fallible. Taken together, the seven songs are pieces of a puzzle that, once assembled, work elegantly.
Winny - “One Day”
Winny has an impeccable bounce built in, an undeniable charm that grabs your attention from afar, and a voice capable of shattering glass and driving audio levels into the red. Somehow, she fits all this greatness, this precise and masterful impact, into just over two minutes of “One Day.” Produced by Puffybeatz, the song is a cross between the gritty spill of West Coast bass music, the maximalist drum arrangements of trap, the sensitivity of R&B and the everlasting touch of reggae music.
Listen to the top African music releases of the week on OkayAfrica’s Spotify playlist:
