The Top Afrobeats Songs to Stream Right Now: September 2025 Edition

With just three months left until the end of the year, artists are releasing music at a steadier pace. The Afrobeats ecosystem by now is familiar with the sonic trends of the year, and most releases tend to fall into groups of previously organized sounds. This doesn’t mean there isn’t novelty, but rather artists are less critical at times like these and just drop music for the simple thrill of having their voices out there. 

These last few months wield the emotional resonance of summer to international audiences, since many African countries are winding down into a celebratory mood, and the music tends to reflect that feeling. Looking at the best songs of September, there’s a consistent thematic streak of rejuvenation and awakening, even when the music shimmers with subtle variations. 

OkayAfrica has scoured the best of the best so you don’t have to, and as always, we’ve presented our findings of sound, here, in this list of the monthly best African songs. 

Adekunle Gold – “Bobo” feat. Lojay & Shoday

The first thing one hears on “Bobo” are ecstatic fuji drums, a vivid choice that runs throughout the single. Announcing his forthcoming album title as Fuji, there’s no doubt Adekunle Gold intends to pay some homage to the foundational Nigerian pop music genre. Here, its riveting atmosphere is matched by urban drums and the melodious singing of the talented trio, bringing distinct styles in etching out the revelry of their superstar status.

Rema – “FUN”

Arguably the most complete Afrobeats artist of his generation, there’s nothing too complex for Rema to handle. He’s flitted across genres with the assurance of a winged being, but some of his most revelatory moments tend to come on his simpler songs. “FUN” ticks that box; over a mellow beat punctuated with steady drums and swirling violin, the Nigerian star makes a riveting image of his celebrity status, dropping gems of aspirational quality while doing so. But the song’s biggest success is its embodiment of the emotion it’s titled after, a truly fun song to vibe to.

Ish Kevin & Njerae – “Best Friend” 

On this East African crossover, the svelte singing of Njerae meets Ish Kevin’s purposeful flow. As duets tend to be, both artists take different sides in this exploration of modern relationships, painting their own sides with as much realism as they can muster. While Kevin deploys the flagrant sensibilities of rap music, there’s a subtle emotive core that supplies his verse some malleability, which allows Njerae to enter with as much gravitas. It’s a beautiful fusion of sounds and one of the region’s better offerings of the month.

Msaki, Jesse Clegg & Sjava – “Wayside Lover”

There’s an ethereal sense of intimacy realized from the intentional sonic choices on “Wayside Lover.” Right from the slow bounce of the drums to the piano notes that build around them, there’s the intent to reveal vulnerability, and even before any word is sung, that emotion has been established. It makes for a great record, then, when the performances from Msaki, Jesse Cleff, and Sjava are every bit as riveting. All across the song, there are the seamless markings of a master at work, never buckling under the record’s emotional weight but transcending its subject.

Qing Madi – “Scumbag”

After putting out her debut album earlier this year, Qing Madi has gone through the motions of releasing videos from the project, sparingly collaborating, but at every turn reminding us she’s a part of the bright future of Afrobeats. With a skillset that’s almost unrivaled, a stunning pen, and even more breathtaking vocals, a Qing Madi moment has never been truly far away. On “Scumbag,” we’re brought into a fresh sonic plain, with Madi working Afropop zest into her soulful instincts.

King Promise & Mr Eazi – “See What We’ve Done”

Recently breaking the internet with his high-profile wedding, Mr Eazi has followed up that beautiful affair with another purposeful move. On his latest song, “See What We’ve Done,” he’s joined by close friend and longtime collaborator King Promise, whose tender vocals are in chief control of the record’s exultant energy. When one has achieved a considerable deal in life, they tend to reflect upon the journey it’s taken to get there, and that sensibility is all over this song.

Wizard Chan & Joeboy – “Heal”

When Wizard Chan released his debut album, Healer’s Chapel, earlier this month, it was evident that the artist was playing the long game of legacy. The project was a follow-up to his two short projects, but there was no telling where he’d turn to, seeing as he’s flitted across genres while maintaining an alternative mystique to his presentation. “Heal,” his third record with Joeboy, advances the duo’s fine chemistry into one of the best records on mental health released this year. A balmy record with healing properties, it’s every bit a therapy session as it is a song.

lordkez – “Aweh (Remix)” feat. Cassper Nyovest

It’s inevitable that “Aweh” will become one of the records of the year. Shimmering with its neo-soul base, there’s an audible South African flavor that elevates it into the realm of the intimate, and lordkez makes beautiful use of those sonic peculiarities. Her singing is wielded lightly but powerfully, like a dreamy echo from a mythical land of sounds. Cassper Nyovest’s verse infuses even more realism to its glorious dance, floating with intricate rhyme schemes across its tender soundscape. What an achievement!

Gabzy – “New Body”

Minimalism is a recurring feature in Gabzy’s music—and for good reason. There’s an after-dark lull in his vocals, a breathy warmth that fills his records with as much longing as intimacy. “New Body” furthers those ambitions, infusing an urban R&B swing even while Gabzy flows with his typical assurance about the subtle motions of an affair. “You’ve been waiting to show your new body,” he sings in the hook, on either side delivering affectionate verses that pull the listener closer into the enchantment the narrator must feel, being the one on the other end of desire.

Maya Amolo – “I Like It” feat. Aylo

Maya Amolo’s serene vocals shine through on “I Like It,” a standout record from her sophomore album that features Nigerian act Aylo. No stranger to such terrain, Aylo’s verse puts a brilliant finishing touch to the record, especially after the world building done by the host star. As the title infers, it’s a song about the dizzying highs of attraction, with the singer’s voice mirroring the feeling of being newly in love. Barely new to Afropop, the R&B roots of the artists give it a tonal sensibility that’s unique in its own core, confident in its rather steady progression.