The Best North African Songs Right Now

August saw a flood of new music releases across Africa, but it is also one of those rare months when it's hard to pick a solid number of great new tracks. While several big artists released new albums, I find myself searching for something I haven't heard before and struggling to find it. It seems that once artists gain a certain level of recognition, many get sucked into the sonic worlds of the labels they are signed to and churn out songs that feel too familiar and predictable. 

This month’s music list is a short but interesting mishmash of Egyptian rap, Sudanese electronic sounds and Moroccan Amazigh music. 

Cairokee - “Haseb Haseb“ (Egypt)

Headed by frontman Amir Eid, Egyptian rock veterans Cairokee return with their seventh studio album Supernova, which Rolling Stone MENA’s Editor-in-Chief fittingly calls “The Perfect Album for a Lost Generation.” Track five, “Haseb Haseb,” draws on stripped-back and well-produced shaabi melodies, keys, and syncopated rhythms that harmonize with Amir’s melancholic vocal line as he warns listeners not to become corrupt in this transient world. 

Jungle - “Romeo II feat. Bas” (Sudan, UK) 

Modern soul and funk band Jungle released their fourth studio album, Sunshine, and revisited their 2021 “Romeo feat. Bas” collaboration. “Romeo II feat. Bas” is a genre-bending feel-good song that builds on their first, widely praised single, which was Jungle’s first-ever official collaboration with another artist. The Sudanese American rapper delivers effortless rap bars that call to mind his Melanchronica album, effortlessly flowing with Jungle’s harmonizing background choir and sunny melodies. 

Nubi, Badmood - “Ya Welad” (Egypt) 

Egyptian musician Nubi releases “Ya Welad,” the second single teasing his upcoming album Esmy Ziad. Produced by Egyptian alternative hip hop producer Badmood, the track follows a simple trap beat and looped five-note melody over which Nubi raps effortlessly, flexing on his peers and giving the track what it takes to be interesting. Hailing from the South of Egypt, his rap delivery is distinctly Egyptian yet reminiscent of the Sudanese melodic flow. 

Shaw - “Pillave” (Morocco) 

Moroccan rapper Shaw releases “Pillave,” his first solo project in two years. The catchy Afrobeats-inspired track works with syncopated rhythms and lighthearted piano chords that betray the seriousness of its lyrics; Shaw gets vulnerable about missing his mother and feeling isolated, but if you do not speak Arabic, you might just imagine yourself sitting by one of North Africa’s Mediterranean beaches enjoying summer’s heat. 

Taz Waves - “The Return of the Unknown Traveler” (Sudan) 

Sudanese musician Taz released The Electronic Sounds of Sudan, a 12-track project that follows up on two earlier installations in his Journey of the Unknown Traveler series. “The Return of The Unknown Traveler” lays the cinematic groundwork for a story arc (introduced by fellow Sudanese musician Hiba Elgizouli) that explores the significance of the Yamaha PSR and Technics KN2000 keyboards for Sudanese street music, and channels these iconic instruments into a contemporary electronic sound. 

Miloud Tirakaa, Malak - “Malaayoun” (Morocco) 

Moroccan Riffian Amazigh musician Miloud Tirakaa teams up with Malak for “Malaayoun,” a very danceable track that moves between the artist’s vocal lines and long call-and-response style keyboard solos over a steady clap rhythm. The Northern Moroccan Rif region is known for its distinct Amazigh culture, music, and rhythmic styles as well as the local Tarifit language. 

TURK, Montiyago - “Samara” (Egypt, Sudan) 

Egyptian rapper TURK teams up with Sudanese rapper Montiyago for a summer pop love song. Even though Egypt is currently hosting roughly 1.5 million Sudanese refugees, many of whom are artists, Egyptians haven't often collaborated with Sudanese artists; Egyptian music journalist Menna Shanab told OkayAfrica this is an important step in a Sudanese artist’s career if they want to make it in Egypt. In that spirit, even though “Samara” is neither artist’s best song, it deserves a place in this list. It’s infectious enough for a dance session on the beach.