North Africa’s music scenes are dominated by two (broad) genres: rap and different alterations of Arabic pop. While there’s great music coming out of both of these worlds, there’s so much more that begs to be explored.
In 2026, several rap heavyweights released highly anticipated projects: El Grande Toto continued his exploration of his alter ego on SALGOAT Vol. 2; Dizzy Dros staged a successful comeback with AFLAM; and Stormy released DESPERADO, a follow-up to his ICEBERG debut.
However, I have been drawn to other genres; so far, this year’s best North African music has sounded like RnB, classical tarab, desert blues, and electronic dance music. It has sounded vulnerable, passionate, and inventive not only in its lyricism, but also in its thoughtful production. Less bravado and more introspection.
Half of the artists in this list are well-established and commercially successful. The other half are emerging musicians who have a certain creative freedom that becomes difficult to maintain once an artist has a large following to please and answer to. I have found that their music is often the most experimental and interesting, especially in how it plays with global sounds while honoring one’s roots.
Elmiene - “Reclusive” (Sudan, UK)
British Sudanese powerhouse Elmiene is unstoppable, releasing album after album without missing a beat. He started 2026 by teasing his sounds for someone EP with introvert anthem “Reclusive,” singing about his tendency to withdraw into his safe space, more than is sometimes healthy. Over simple piano chords, trumpets, and a repetitive drumbeat, his voice shines in a heartfelt, upbeat vocal line spanning several octaves. “Reclusive” is a testament to the success and relevance an artist can achieve without being overly public.
TUL8TE - “Seneen” (Egypt)
Following up on last year’s Narein, one of the region’s most popular releases, Egyptian pop sensation TUL8TE released “Seneen,” yet another (great) breakup song. The track was written, composed, and produced by TUL8TE himself. Over syncopated Egyptian percussion like the daf and the tabla, he delivers emotional, introspective lyrics in a somber yet urgent vocal line, reflecting on emotional numbness and the suspension of time. The dreamy, echoing background vocals evoke older Egyptian greats like Mohamed Mounir. TUL8TE is one of the few artists who have managed to build a massive, completely homegrown fanbase with his art rather than through major-label support.
Imarhan - “Tamiditin“ (Algeria)
“Tamiditin” is a love song on Algerian Tuareg band Imarhan’s fourth studio album Essam, a successful blend of their nostalgic Assouf music and the French electronic production of collaborators Maxime Kosinetz and Emile Papandreou. Over looped, pulsing electronic sounds that are reminiscent of a quickly beating heart, and playful guitar chords, a man is thinking about the relationship with his far-away wife. It’s a visceral song that will put a smile on your face, whether you understand its lyrics or not. There’s a lightness in the guitar chords that opens up the chest. There’s a sincerity and softness in lead vocalist Sadam’s voice that makes the world stand still for six precious minutes.
Hiba Elzigouli - “Moya w Nar” (Sudan)
“Moya w Nar” (Water and Fire) is the first single from singer-songwriter Hiba Elgizouli's upcoming debut album of the same name. Piano chords, synths, and drums lead into Elgizouli singing and rapping about the double standards and social judgments placed on women. The choice of layered, call-and-response vocals alongside the Sudanese tom tom rhythm hints at the same rhythm being used in the women-only Aghani El Banat genre, where Sudanese women claim agency in a patriarchal society. The elongated high synth notes sound like magic and witchcraft.
Amaka - “32” (Libya)
On “32,” Cairo-based Libyan Tuareg musician Amaka addresses the difficulties young people face in Ghat, his hometown in southern Libya. Bass-heavy beats and slow piano chords create a solemn atmosphere over which he sings about the dire circumstances that push youth into smuggling: a severe lack of basic services and job opportunities. The vocal line frequently changes, flows, and falls into chant-like narration while his lyrics pay attention to details only Libyans may catch. The rest of the region does not pay enough attention to music from Libya, and Amaka is one of the country’s most interesting musical ambassadors.
Dua Saleh, Bon Iver - “Flood” (Sudan, US)
Los Angeles-based Sudanese American artist Dua Saleh teased their second album, Of Earth & Wires, with two Bon Iver collabs. “Flood” continues the vibey, ethereal music Saleh has been releasing in the past year, merging analog drums with soft vocals and synths. “While I was in Wales filming Sex Education, it flooded a minimum of ten times, and it felt like all the endless tears that I couldn't really tap into at the time, because I was so shellshocked from losing a grandmother,” they told OkayAfrica about the track. Of Earth & Wires speaks to many issues and experiences, all of which lead back to Mother Earth and family; through their music and poetry, Saleh represents a Sudanese experience that is mostly silenced and deserves much more attention.
Loun - “BONBON” (Morocco)
There’s a massive amount of Moroccan rap songs to choose from for a best songs list; this year, Moroccan rapper Loun, self-proclaimed future “King of Africa,” impressed with the high-energy drill track “BONBON.” The song begins with nightmarish bells that build cinematic tension, alongside fast snares and violin chords. Loun’s effortless and confident delivery is fast-paced and urgent yet polished, blending his aggressive energy with technical skills as he raps about resilience in Darija, English, and French.
Molotof, Reem Khairy, Electro Falahi - “Hesa Fe Berlin - Remix” (Egypt)
Electro Falahi is a music collaboration between Egyptian producer Molotof and his mother, Reem Khairy Shalaby. They blend Shalaby’s deep-rooted knowledge of Egyptian folklore with Molotof's modern electronic compositions to reimagine rural Egyptian and broader folk traditions in a contemporary, global sound. “Hesa Fe Berlin,” with its chanted recitation and bouncy synths, was inspired by the carousels and lights of German Christmas markets and the Islamic Mawlid celebration in Cairo. In a contemporary soundscape where many artists try to build a signature sound by “blending eastern and western sounds,” Electro Falahi is an example of how this can be done successfully.
Alewya - “Selah” (Egypt, Ethiopia, UK)
London-based Ethiopian Egyptian artist and curator Alewya has been rolling out her debut album, Zero, with a series of sonically expansive and versatile releases that draw on her Egyptian and Ethiopian musical heritage. Her club anthem “Selah” prepared us for summer’s heat. Layering rhythmic, ever-changing vocals and a catchy multi-vocal hook over afro-infused percussion, this track’s infectious energy is sure to get you up and moving. A painter who transitioned into music, Alewya is at the forefront of experimentation in global music, organically tapping into new worlds with every release.
Tif - “MINUIT D'APRÈS” (Algeria, France)
Paris-based Algerian artist Toufik Bouhraoua, aka TIF, released “MINUIT D’APRÈS” ahead of his long-awaited debut album SAVASHUIA. Blending melancholic trap beats with North African instrumentation, the introspective, guitar-led track finds him reflecting on the price of migration and nostalgia for Algiers through vulnerable storytelling. TIF, who left Algeria for France nine years ago and rose to prominence with his breakout project 1.6, infuses his music with nostalgic blends of chaâbi, French and Arabic rap, and Andalusian music.
Koteri - “Dry” (Egypt, UK)
Abdallah Diab and Dinar Lusaka’s duo Koteri returned with “Dry,” a hard-hitting alternative RnB track that is less experimental but still as groovy as their 2024 debut EP Heaven’s a Lonely Place. Featuring instrumentation that recalls Glass Beams’ electric guitars and eerie background vocals, “Dry” is more rooted in Arabic soundscapes than Koteri’s earlier music. This track feels like a departure into exciting sonic territory, bringing a sound not yet widely heard in Egypt.
Saint Levant - “Sabah El Ward” (Algeria, Palestine)
On “Sabah El Ward,” Algerian Palestinian star Saint Levant sings sweet lyrics about a morning of flowers over traditional strings that evoke the golden era of Arabic music’s classical tarab. Opening with a nostalgic saxophone, the track goes on to lean into the mundane beauty of daily life. Upon its release, Egyptian Copts pointed out the song’s syncopated rhythm and vocal line’s strong resemblance to the famous Coptic hymn “Amdah Fel Batoul.”
Marina Satti, Zeyne - “A’ti” (Sudan, Greece, Palestine, Jordan)
Did you know that Greece’s number one pop star has a Sudanese father? Reminding us of the endless creativity that can be found in the diaspora, Marina Satti teams up with Palestinian Jordanian singer Zeyne for “A’ti,” a bilingual alt-pop single in Greek and Arabic. Over piano chords, distorted synths, and Middle Eastern percussion, the two enter a dialogue about emotional attachment and dysfunctional relationships, approaching certainty and doubt from their differing vantage points.
Kawtar - “Njoum” (Morocco)
20-year-old Moroccan artist Kawtar is creating hyper-Gen Z/Pink Pantheress-coded music in Darija, and it’s working. “Njoum” is an ethereal track with lush, multi-layered synths and an unassuming yet confident vocal line. This kind of bedroom pop, blending international UK garage grooves with Darija lyricism, is unique in the Moroccan music landscape and a breath of fresh air.
Hosam Omran, MMKN - “Reparations” (Palestine, Egypt)
Palestinian multi-disciplinary artist Hosam Omran teamed up with Egyptian multi-disciplinary artist MMKN for “Reparations,” a song that is as dreamy as it is political. Dreamy, because of the synth scapes, light melodic instrumentation, and the well-rounded vocals falling in line with the catchy syncopated beat. Political, because Omran recalls the afterlives of the Nakba and two wars that displaced his family, demanding reparations for all that has been stolen. It will make you want to sing along until you stop and listen to the depth and heartbreak in Omran’s words. “Reparations” is part of Omran’s rollout for his upcoming album The Sleeping Beauty.
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