The African Songs You Need to Hear This Week

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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Solana - Girl From The West [EP]

It’s no easy feat carving out a new lane. It takes countless hours of work, often with little to show for it, before, through some combination of persistence and divine timing, everything finally comes together. That’s been the story of Solana this year. “Okunkun” didn't quite land when she first teased it in 2024, but time has worked in the song's favor, allowing it to find the audience it deserves. She has also harnessed the power of social media, converting online momentum into tangible offline movement. Girl From The West feels like a declaration of greatness in the making: seven songs of inspired artistry, presented with a confidence that is difficult to ignore. From the searching opener “FAAJI” to the forthright, in-your-face “Get the Money,” and other bangers like the previously released “Dide” and “O Ri Mi,” Solana exhibits all the qualities of an artist who knows her time has arrived. That momentum has now culminated in a signing with Since '93 Records, the Sony Music-backed label whose roster has included African stars such as Tems and Tyla, marking a significant new chapter in her burgeoning career.

JAZZWRLD, GL_Ceejay, Zee Nxumalo & Thukuthela - “Ngek'silale (feat. Dlala Thukzin)”

When some of the most commercially successful names in South African house music come together on a song, the possibilities are exciting: a new portal, a different way of seeing, a fresh approach to sound. On “Ngek'silale,” JAZZWRLD brings together regular collaborators Thukuthela and GL_Ceejay, alongside Zee Nxumalo and Dlala Thukzin, two artists who have helped shape some memorable moments in the country's contemporary dance music. The result is a collaboration with an unmistakably celebratory spirit, one that feels particularly well suited to the festive season.

Thakzin - COMMON GROUND [LP]

Thakzin is widely credited with pioneering 3 Step, the house music subgenre that has secured its place in the broader landscape of African electronic music. But that's never been his only lane. His real superpower lies in his ability to move between different sounds and disciplines in search of something distinctly his own. That's precisely what he does on his latest release, COMMON GROUND, drawing from different strains of electronic music to create an immersive, cohesive listening experience. Jinger Stone, Kususa, Leandra.Vert, and Mpho.WAV are among the artists who contribute to this outstanding offering.

Patoranking - “Welcome To Lagos” (feat. Olamide)

Patoranking has remained consistent in delivering tunes that get people moving, and “Welcome To Lagos” is no exception. He takes listeners through the intricacies of one of the world's most exciting cities (“compatible with the rich and famous, you cannot blame us”) without ever overwhelming the senses. Olamide brings his own flavor to the proceedings, adopting a more relaxed, melodic approach that provides the perfect counterpoint to Patoranking's more forceful delivery.

Ukweli - “Toy” (feat. Xenia Manasseh, tg.blk)

Ukweli serves up pure, unfiltered soul. He taps into a particular frequency and explores its vastness, moving between disciplines while retaining an essence that is unmistakably his own. “Toy” features regular collaborator Xenia Manasseh, whose vocal interplay with tg.blk makes for a captivating pairing, one that will leave your ears tuned in long after the song ends.

Young Gemini - “What's Happening” (feat. Fifi Cooper)

Young Gemini's flow is smooth, bordering on perfect. She has a way with words, twisting them around, giving them new meanings, and finding ways to turn language into an inside joke. “What's Happening” offers a glimpse of her considerable range. It's an exciting excerpt to the world she's building on her new EP, 5 YEARS. Fifi Cooper brings a seasoned perspective to Young Gemini's youthful cadence, and the combination feels like something written in the stars.

Kwartengg - Hello [LP]

Kwartengg released his new album, Hello, earlier this week, and we've been swimming in the elegance of his artistry ever since. Featuring contributions from M.anifest (“Out The Mud”) and Ko-Jo Cue (“Be.”), among others, the eight-track project plays out like a game of hide-and-seek, rewarding attentive listeners with new details and discoveries on each return.

Sienna Senate - “Do Your Thing”

Drawing inspiration from the current wave of British soul music, London-born Sienna Senate channels her surroundings into a sound that feels both contemporary and deeply familiar. Earlier this week, her COLORS debut, “Do Your Thing,” prompted an enthusiastic response online, with listeners drawn to its nostalgic swing and its love-centric lyrical perspective. At its heart, the song is about inhabiting your own body, finding peace with yourself, and accepting the way things unfold. “Do your thing, Imma do mine / If it don't align, that's a clear sign / I won't force a thing, I won't waste time,” she sings.

Tessi Nandi - “meaning in the madness”

Tessi Nandi invites introspection on “meaning in the madness.” “Instead you turned toward the future, seeking solace and connection / is there meaning in this madness?” she wonders, as layers of piano, guitar, and synths gradually build around her, giving shape to the song's searching perspective. It's a song for yearners, for those caught between longing and acceptance. “Lost in nostalgia, and more lonely than ever,” she sings, drifting between coming to terms with things as they are and imagining an alternative outcome, a better reality.

Listen to the top African music releases of the week on OkayAfrica’s Spotify playlist