The Best North African Songs Right Now

Musicians across North Africa and the diasporas rushed to release their final songs before Ramadan’s retreat into spirituality (except, of course, for musalsalat songs). 

From Morocco’s Loun to Egypt’s Electro Falahi and Sudan’s Hiba Elgizouli, the following tracks span the bandwidth of rap and dance floor bangers to the perfect indie song for a quiet night drive.

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 dire circumstances pushing youth into smuggling - a severe lack of basic services and no 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. 

Felukah - “Better Days” (Egypt)

On “Better Days,” Egyptian songstress Felukah returns to her rap roots, narrating her search for a higher frequency and self-improvement. The beat is by none other than her younger cousin Seif Vannier; he made it in music class at school in 2024. During a session at Waha Studios, Felukah’s recently opened recording studio in Cairo, the cousins became collaborators after showing each other what they were working on. 

Dua Saleh, Bon Iver - “Flood” (Sudan, US)

Los Angeles-based Sudanese American artist Dua Saleh teases 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. “The flood became an allegory for staying afloat rather than drowning in grief, shaped in part by memories of experiencing climate-related flooding while living in Cardiff, Wales,” says Saleh.

Loun - “BONBON” (Morocco)

Moroccan rapper Loun, self-proclaimed future “King of Africa,” releases “BONBON.” The track begins with nightmarish bells that build cinematic tension, alongside fast snares and violin chords. Loun’s effortless delivery is quick, urgent, and witty.

Lege-Cy, Hamid Al Shaeri, Ismail Nosrat - “Kan 3ala 3eny” (Egypt, Libya)

Sika means quarter-tone, the tuning that defines and differentiates Eastern music. The Red Bull Sika salons bring musicians from across the region together to fuse their genres and step outside their comfort zones. This month, Egyptian musician Lege-Cy and producer Ismail Nosrat met Egyptian-Libyan synth-pop legend Hamid Shaeri for “Kan 3ala 3eny,” a song that evokes nostalgia and, with the typical Arabic pop guitar chords, inevitably a yearning for summer. 

Eman El Shareef - “Ansuni” (Sudan) 

Renowned Sudanese singer Eman El Shareef is beloved from Libya to Ethiopia for her ability to merge traditional rhythms with modern Sudanese pop music. This month, she released “Ansuni,” a song that showcases her immense talent and unique voice. Over syncopated clapping and Sudanese synth keys, she leads a choir in call-and-response vocals in the typical Aghani El Banat style. 

Juno - “A Taste” (Egypt)

During her one-year hiatus, Egyptian indie singer-songwriter Juno wrote her EP The Color Pulp between Berlin and Cairo, and had it mastered by Heba Kadry. Track two, “A Taste,” is a dreamy, whimsical synth soundscape that evolves into electronic, bass-heavy chaos in the best way. Juno’s vocal line journeys through different tempos, initially full of nostalgia and longing, then increasing in urgency and inviting us to dance, before ascending into angelic octaves. 

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.

Ghali - “Performance at Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony” (Tunisia, Italy) 

When Ghali, the Italian Tunisian star of his generation, was invited to open the Winter Olympics in Milan, he decided to perform the peace-themed poem "Promemoria" (Memorandum) by the renowned Italian author Gianni Rodari in Italian, French, English, and Arabic. He wasn’t allowed to perform it in Arabic, and for fear of his doing anything unexpected, the broadcasting company didn’t air any close-up shots of him during the performance. Now, fans are waiting for him to drop a song in response to the snub. He deserves a special mention for continuing to use his platform with intention and purpose despite facing criticisms of his pro-Palestine and anti-war stance.