The Best East African Songs Right Now

May was a quieter month for East African music after the rush of hits that came through in March and April. But even in a slower stretch, the region’s artists kept showing us where the sound is headed. We are still hearing the pull of interregional collaboration, which only strengthens Joshua Baraka’s recent point on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast that East African music moves best when artists treat the region as one creative bloc rather than a set of separate markets.

At the same time, some of the month’s best songs leaned into softness, romance, and mood instead of chasing obvious blockbuster moments. In that sense, May felt less like a pause and more like a month of subtle gems and steady momentum.

This month, check out standout releases from Ish Kevin, Mbosso, Masterland, Fena Gitu, and more in OkayAfrica’s best East African music list.

Ish Kevin ft. Bushali — “Kibasumba” (Rwanda)

“Kibasumba” feels like the song that really set Ish Kevin’s month in motion. The Bushali collaboration dropped mid-month and received a tremendous response almost immediately, giving Kevin one of his clearest momentum-building moments of the year so far. Two weeks later, he followed it with “Question,” a smoother, more melodic release with Kenny Sol that showed another side of his range. Right now, Ish seems to be on a real roll, and this run of releases feels like the start of a very exciting new era.

We Are Nubia ft. Xenia Manasseh — “Longo Longo” (Kenya)

On “Longo Longo,” We Are Nubia and Xenia Manasseh turn a familiar Kenyan childhood reference into a sharp reflection on love that feels staged rather than sincere. The title plays on kalongolongo, the childhood game of “playing house,” and uongo, the Kiswahili word for “lies." It’s also exciting to hear an established voice like Manasseh alongside We Are Nubia, the Nairobi duo whose debut EP Needs dropped earlier this year.

Mbosso — “Ozalima” (Tanzania)

“Ozalima” works because Mbosso knows how to make love sound deep and dramatic. He uses a Hindi-Urdu word for “cruel one” in a playful, romantic way to describe a woman whose beauty leaves him shaken. It also fits the Mbosso Khan persona he has built over the years. His Bollywood-inspired style has helped him find fans beyond East Africa, especially in the Middle East and India, so the Urdu reference feels natural rather than forced.”

Masterland ft. Lino-G — “Ntanakimwe” (Burundi)

“Ntanakimwe” feels like exactly the kind of link-up that can open up a scene. On the track, Burundi’s multi-award-winning Masterland joins forces with breakout Gen-Z voice Lino-G, and that mix of experience and fresh momentum gives the song much of its charm. The title itself captures the song’s spirit, with “ntanakimwe” meaning something close to don’t worry, it’s okay in modern slang.

Marioo — “Mombasa” (Tanzania)

Marioo knows how to make a song feel like a destination, and “Mombasa” — an ode to the Kenyan coastal city — does exactly that. The track arrives ahead of his upcoming MMMCXII project, out later this month, and leans into the softness, ease, and coastal romance that he wears so well. It also feels like a smart return to a formula that already works for him: his 2025 song “Nairobi” with Bien became a major hit. “Mombasa” also opens a project with real regional pull, as MMMCXII includes collaborations with Bruce Melodie, Ya Levis, Sofiya Nzau, D Voice, Harmonize, Chella, and BabyDaiz.

Fena Gitu ft. Ariel Wayz — “Call Me” (Kenya/Rwanda)

“Call Me” has only just dropped, but it already feels like the kind of song that can travel. Kenya's Fena Gitu, as an East African crossover, the new collaboration with Rwanda's Ariel Wayz blends Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and English into a smooth Afro-fusion exchange that feels more intimate than flashy.