These African Artists Would Make Incredible Joint Albums

It’s not an overestimation to say that as long as music and musicians exist, joint albums will always be an appealing prospect. For years, artists of different generations, genres, backgrounds, and practices have tried their hands at this form, extending their budding or longstanding creative relationships into bigger bodies of work. In 1984, Victor Olaiya, known as the evil genius of highlife, and E.T Mensah, hailed as the king of highlife, released Highlife Giants of Africa, a seminal, culturally resonant project. In a more modern iteration, neo-highlife band The Cavemen was part of No Love In Lagos, a joint album with the rap duo Show Dem Camp and renowned guitarist Nsikak David. 

Where a single track is economical in what it can allow collaborating artists to say, a joint project — be it an EP or a full-length album — expands creative ambitions. The collaborating artists, when working on a joint project, are committed to a larger story they must consider and dissect at length, without over-flogging the matter. On the best joint albums, the collaborating artists manage to tell one story from separate corners of the room. Their understanding of the central themes might be similar, but never their delivery of it, lest they disappear into each other, leaving an indecipherable sonic identity or even worse, letting the listener suffer a blandness in perspective.

The joint album can also serve as a boardroom for renegotiating the scales of a relationship between the collaborators. In Beyoncé and Jay Z’s Everything Is Love, reconnection and reconciliation anchor the highly lauded and genre-diverse project. Full of bangers such as the trap/rap “Apeshit” and the sleek “Friends,” Everything Is Love rounded off a cycle of betrayal, confrontations, self-actualization, and turmoil that trailed the couple’s relationship. It's public-facing aspect, at least. 

Other times, a joint project allows collaborating artists room to consider just how far their perceived chemistry can go. When Bnxn and Ruger, two of Afropop’s brightest offerings, released their joint project RnB in 2024, they had just come off a very public and well-followed online feud. Although they do not address the cause or even the path towards reconciliation on their album, the project was dazzling proof that they were more interesting as collaborators than they were as adversaries. 

Still, several joint albums have unfortunately failed that test to several degrees, often failing to deliver on chemistry or perspective. Nevertheless, a joint album will always make sense for artists, even from an economic standpoint. For major artists, joint albums provide an opportunity to tap into new fanbases in ways that a single may not be able to achieve. And as we look towards and enjoy some of the latest joint albums that have recently come out, Wizkid and Asake’s Real. Vol 1 and the forthcoming See What We’ve Done by King Promise and Mr Eazi, OkayAfrica is taking a look at some artists who we would love to see collaborate on a joint project.

Wande Coal and Fireboy DML

Afropop legend Wande Coal has been a source of inspiration for a crop of new-age Nigerian stars, one of which is the soulful Afropop prince Fireboy DML. Both artists have released successful single collaborations. First with Fireboy’s “Spell” and then with Wande Coal’s “Jabo.” Added to this, both artists share an admirable creative relationship with Fireboy, hailing Wande as a big inspiration for his sound and a strong frame of reference. On a technical level, Wande and Fireboy share an uncanny similarity in tone, although that has never been a hindrance to an enjoyable collaboration. A full-length project from these artists, both of whom also have a wide range of influences and lean towards poetic lyrics, evocative writing, and gentle-paced deliveries, would make for a fascinating project to listen to. There’s also, of course, the cross-generational excitement this will surely trigger.

Amaarae and Bree Runway

It’s hard to believe that Amaarae and Bree Runway only released their first collaboration last year with “Starkilla,” an electro-house jam featured on Amaarae’s propulsive third studio album, Blackstar. As collaborators, Amaarae and Runway share an appetite for the disruptive. In their respective crafts, both artists, who are of Ghanaian heritage, have experimented with genres, bent traditional forms to their will, and are often willing to lay their anxieties bare while straddling them with a commendable air of bravado. A joint project from these artists could build on the vibrant synergy achieved in their first release. If made manifest, we might be treated to a project that’ll be just as full of energy, innuendo, and a knack for danger as their first.

Roseline Layo and Angélique Kidjo

Over the years, Rosline Layo has designed a career that’s made her a contemporary music icon with fans who are adoring and fiercely protective of her. Her music is littered with observations on life and love, all of which have given her the disposition of a beloved community leader. In many ways, it mirrors Angelique Kidjo’s legendary cultural standing as well, although on a more global scale. Still, as collaborators, with the notable “On Sera lá,” released last year, they bounce off each other’s energy rather well. Both astute observers and chroniclers of the shifting state of African life and interpersonal relationships, a joint project from these two would be a finely realized work grounded in storytelling and cross-generational wisdom.

Sarz and Qing Madi

From the groundbreaking I Love Girls With Trobul with WurlD to the deceptively tender LV N ATTN with Lojay, renowned producer Sarz has created masterful joint projects. While he never sings, his curatorial instinct has often made for some of the best collaborations. A joint project with Qing Madi, who was on Sarz's debut album with the soulful yet groovy In A Mustang, could further Sarz’s zero-miss streak but also open the ground for collaborators who are unafraid of trying new things. Madi is notorious for drawing influences from soul, R&B, and traditional Afro-pop in shaping her sound. Sarz, meanwhile, is a connoisseur of the esoteric, often collecting sounds from far-flung sources. It would be wonderful to see how both artists translate their knack for shape-shifting into a bigger body of work.

Victony and Priesst

Because of his singularity and perceptive approach to storytelling, it’s hard to imagine an artist with whom Victony cannot easily collaborate. But for a long-form project, compatibility isn’t simply enough. This is why a project between Victony and relative newcomer Priesst would make for an interesting listen. They are at different stages of their careers, Victony already well accomplished, and Priesst still full of the springiness common with rising stars. Still, they are both unwittingly provocative; their writing is brilliant and full of imagery, and more than anything, they share such distinct viewpoints on life that it is intriguing to see how they find common ground. Already, they have proven to be compatible collaborators, with Victony laying down sleek verses on the remix of Priesst’s breakout single “Akonuche,” where he name-drops Victony in the hook.