The Best East African Songs Right Now

For the past few months, I’ve been following the interesting sounds, ideas, and innovations showing up across East Africa … and what a time to be alive! The music itself is exciting, but the stories artists are telling, and the worlds they are building around them, are just as compelling. Regionally, East African artists are reaching deep into history, language, identity, and local sounds while pushing them in new and unexpected directions. The results feel inventive. I see their ambition, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to box some artists into any one sound or genre.

September’s East African music roundup takes us from Rwanda and Uganda to Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, with a detour into Somali musical history along the way. Rwanda’s Utah Nice puts men on the spot with the playful “Capable,” while Somali-Ethiopian artist Bananas Overdose imagines a glittering Somali dancefloor on “Mogadisco.” In Ethiopia, Fortuna Gebresellassie continues her cinematic exploration of Tigrayan identity, while hip-hop duo Negestat offer the first taste of their long-awaited album.

And there’s so much more. Here are some of our favorite East African songs this month:

Utah Nice — “Capable” (Rwanda)

Utah Nice is having fun putting men on the spot with “Capable,” a playful new single built around a simple question: can you actually handle a woman who knows exactly what she wants? The Rwandan singer is clear about the standard and flips the usual romantic script by making him prove himself instead. Musically, “Capable” blends Afrobeat, Bouyon, and electro-pop while keeping a distinctly Rwandan feel. It gives the track a bright, dance-floor-ready energy. And the one-shot take is mesmerizing as ever! The song also continues the sound Utah Nice has been developing since “My Mind” with Chris Eazy. 

Bananas Overdose — “Mogadisco” (Somalia/Ethiopia)

At OkayAfrica, we usually try to wait for official visuals before recommending a song, but “Mogadisco” was too good and too interesting to wait. On the track, Bananas Overdose imagines a glittering Somali dance floor where the past and present meet. Drawing from the funk, disco, and pop sounds that flourished in Somalia before the civil war, the Somali-Ethiopian artist gives that musical history a bright, modern pulse. The track is warm, playful, and made to move to, filled with flirtation, rhythm, and Somali references. As she prepares to release her debut album soon, “Mogadisco” offers a vibrant glimpse into this fun, funky universe.

Negestat x Efi — “Tsenate” (Ethiopia)

Ethiopian hip-hop duo Negestat — whose name means “royalty” — is gearing up to release an album they have been working on for the past couple of years. “Tsenate,” featuring Efi, is the project’s first single and an introduction to the sound they have been building toward. You can hear the duo’s sharp rap delivery and melodic edge, while the accompanying video offers a first glimpse into Negestat's next chapter. Fun times ahead!

Harmonize x Jay Melody — “Imeshindikana” (Tanzania)

Harmonize dropped his new album, 31, earlier this month, and he has been inundating us with delicious new music and visuals ever since. The album has several standouts, but “Imeshindikana,” his collaboration with fellow Tanzanian singer Jay Melody, is one of our favorites. 31 is chock-full of collaborations, bringing together artists from across the continent, including Marioo, Rayvanny, and Young Lunya from Tanzania; Kenya’s Sofiya Nzau; Nigeria’s Wande Coal and Yemi Alade; Ghana’s Stonebwoy; and Congolese-French singer Ya Levis. “Imeshindikana,” though, keeps things closer to home, leaning into the softer side of Bongo Flava.

Fik Fameica — “Sikiwa” (Uganda)

Fik Fameica is in motivational mode on “Sikiwa,” his energetic new song about pushing through setbacks. The Ugandan rapper moves between Luganda, Kiswahili, and English, delivering the message with the quick, confident flow that has long defined his sound. “Sikiwa” is his first solo offering since appearing on Kenyan rapper Mejja’s “Siaka.” The cross-border collaboration went viral, helped along by a cheeky dance challenge that pushed the song to a wider global audience.

Kapitani — “Safe” (Kenya)

Kenyan rapper Kapitani gets deeply personal on “Safe,” a moving track addressed to his late parents and shaped by the pain of losing them at a young age. He opens up about grief and growing up without them, but the song is also about resilience and moving forward. Produced by Jamaican producer Countree Hype, “Safe” pairs that vulnerability with Kapitani’s modern dancehall sound. The response has been immediate, with the video reaching the top of Kenya’s YouTube music trending chart within days of its release.

Fortuna Gebresellassie — “TEMBIENAY” (Ethiopia)

Fortuna Gebresellassie continues her cinematic exploration of Tigrayan identity with “TEMBIENAY,” the second chapter in a planned visual trilogy. Sung in Tigrinya, the song draws on ideas of ancestry, with Gebresellassie looking to Tigray as both a place and an inheritance. And the visuals are absolutely gorgeous! Gebresellassie told OkayAfrica she drew inspiration from the story of Queen Makeda and King Solomon, placing Tigrayan history at the center of the world she is building. Part one is even more visually thrilling. I am looking forward to part three.