Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top Afrobeats and African music releases through our best music column, Songs You Need to Hear This Week.

Read ahead for our round-up of the best new African music tracks and music videos that came across our desks this week.

SPINALL – “Want You” feat. DESTIN CONRAD & JayO

With his first release of the year, veteran tastemaker SPINALL goes the sensual, mid-tempo route. The production swirls with a drum and guitar base that sets the body moving, resembling the lush soundscapes of Wizkid but with even more urgency. On singing duties, the duo of DESTIN CONRAD and JayO deliver in tune with the innuendo-leaning direction of the song, painting imagery that shows how badly they want the girl. It’s a song that sounds ready-made for intimate settings, but its progression could also lend itself to more open events. – Emmanuel Esomnofu

DJ Lag, Sir Trill, Sykes - “Woza”

Sir Trill is on a roll. He kicked off the year deep in his amapiano bag with “ iMpumelelo,” then took it up a notch by returning to his rap roots on “iBele” alongside 25K and Maglera Doe Boy. Now, he’s launched a daring incursion into Gqom with DJ Lag’s thunderous “Woza.” Joining him is Sykes – the voice behind hits with Dlala Thukzin (“iPlan,” “Imoto”) and Kelvin Momo (“Bala”), a perfect partner-in-vibe. It’s a match forged on gqom dance floors, streaming platform playlists, public taxi speakers, and everywhere else, the sgubhu lands the hardest. In a press release, the producer shared that he started making the 3-Step-inspired beat while playing back-to-back sets with Thakzin, a mainstay in the 3-Step scene. “I wanted to capture my take on 3-Step while channeling Afro-Tech influences I’ve been spinning during live sets. When Sir Trill and Sykes added their magic, I knew I had something that merged my Gqom roots with a new sonic direction; it just felt right,” he said. – Tseliso Monaheng

BNXN & FOLA – “Very Soon”

When they first linked up, it was clear that BNXN’s saccharine vocals beautifully complemented the brooding tones of FOLA. On “Very Soon,” they capitalize on that artistic similarity to craft another song of remarkable emotional power, as they sing about the aftermath of a breakup, promising to be better soon despite the lingering pain. With a melancholic soundboard, it’s a detailed view into the world of a character that’s going through the rubble with nothing but the resolute hope they’ll get on the other side. – EE

Kwesta - “Nyakanyaka”

Kwesta’s becoming, from a young gun ready to tear up any stage, collaborating across genres, to a grootman (elder) of the game, is the stuff of legends. Despite his longevity, he’s kept a youthful curiosity and a pen as sharp as the needles he steps on when the raps emerge. “Nyakanyaka,” off his latest album, The Big Bro Theory, is a masterclass in lyrical control. The way he bends words, forces them to obey him, and crafts rhyme schemes out of thin air is pure wizardry. His content is deeply local yet resonates globally. “I’m on my Tito, I’m in my bag,” he raps on the chorus, a slick (perhaps unintentional) nod to the late Tito Mboweni, South Africa’s former finance minister and first Black governor of the Reserve Bank. But he doesn’t stop at clever punchlines; he breaks syllables down, invents cadences, and feeds the ear pure gold. Rhyming “as we raise” with “temperature”? Just unfair. Kwesta remains an unmatched emcee. A superior artist. – TM

Simi – “Day By Day” feat. Kizz Daniel

It makes perfect sense that Simi and Kizz Daniel would do a song together. They both create music from the mundane elements of life, and the latter is in his most collaborative phase ever, stretching his distinct style to accommodate the musings of his talented peers. On “Day By Day,” the warm, percussive-driven production gives both artists the space to reflect on their blessings, even referencing Fido’s classic, which shares some sonic semblance with the newer record. It’s quite the feel-good affair we have here. – EE

Mashbeatz - “Nobody” (feat. Nasty C and Usimamane)

Earlier this week, a mix by Mashbeatz and DJ Sliqe was released online, featuring exclusives and unreleased heat that quickly went viral. One standout was “Nobody,” a lethal link-up between two of Durban’s finest in Nasty C and Usimamane. The former needs no introduction and, in the past decade that he has been active, has become somewhat of a figurehead for the new wave of South African hip-hop. The latter is a student of the game who’s carved his own lane with tracks like “Cheque” and “Uvalo” and delivered scene-stealing verses, most notably on Mashbeatz and Wordz’s 2024 epic, Only The Brave. On “Nobody,” we get two sentient emcees, high off their own brilliance, swaggering on a beat like it owes them money. “Can’t even jump in no mosh pit / PTSD, I’m from the kasi,” spits Nasty C, a reminder that his pen remains elite, and his run is far from over. – TM

Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top Afrobeats and African music releases through our best music column, Songs You Need to Hear This Week.

Read ahead for our round-up of the best new African music tracks and music videos that came across our desks this week.

BNXN – “Cutesy”

Cool flame best describes "Cutesy," the new record from BNXN. Known for flexing his lyrical abilities, on this one, the artist goes for the atmospheric, utilizing the half-realized pomp of drill-esque drums to croon about his intentions for his lover. It's an affectionate performance made even more tender by BNXN's unfazed delivery, taking the theme in good stride even as the production infuses a strong dramatic quality. Sounding like a new era, we're all ears for what the artist has lined up. - Emmanuel Esomnofu

saveHXPE - "80s Baby" (feat. Baby Diaz)

Lesotho's saveHXPE wears his influences on his sleeve. On the follow-up to "Real", released earlier this year, he utilizes a Kendrick Lamar-esque cadence to magnetic effect. Baby Daiz is the extra seasoning, and levels up an otherwise intimate affair into a rap banger with multiple replay value. - Tšeliso Monaheng

Anendlessocean – "ZA"

Known for blurring the lines between contemporary gospel and the mainstream, Anendlessocean has delivered another record of stunning quality. "ZA" is an affirmative number elevated by its stirring, stripped soundscape and the artist's lucid lyrics, wherein he boasts of the assurance of living in the spirit. As always, it's a fine feat of musicality that is made even more beautiful through its resounding message. - EE

ID Cabasa, Bella Shmurda, Ayo Maff & Ajebo Hustlers – "Anytime Reimagined"

Veteran producer ID Cabasa has been orchestrating a series of reimagined songs, giving fresh life to some of the most transcendental records of the 2000s. On his latest, he flips the aspirational hues of 9ice's "Anytime," collaborating with a trio of artists who made their name from similar stories. A fine mix of lyrical sensibilities, the voices are in sync as well, making this undoubtedly one of the best songs from the project yet. - EE

Ishuu Industry & Ntate Stunna - "Ndeya Ndeya" (feat. 2wofresh)

On "Ndeya Ndeya", Ishuu Industry and Ntate Stunna create a party anthem for the ages. With 2wofresh in the mix, the song becomes more than just a jam; it's a statement of intent, never to stop loving the good times. - TM

Rowlene & Christer – "Don't Give Up On Me"

One of the most impressive voices in the scene, there's a vulnerability that is uniquely expressed in every Rowlene song. Her adeptness in the R&B style heightens her feeling for the mundane; even the most ordinary experiences are magnified when she sings about them. "Don't Give Up On Me" thrives on these influences. It emphasizes that while human flaws are inevitable, it's important for lovers to remain in awe of one another. With an exhilarating delivery that soars until the last second, it's one of the most emotive songs you've heard recently. – EE

B4bonah & Samsney – "Active"

Produced by Samsney, this record showcases a vulnerability in its arrangement. It explores the familiar Afropop theme of striving to build a better life, but its unique appeal comes from the infectious beat and B4bonah's spirited performance. Ultimately, it's a song reiterating the energy Ghanaian artists bring to the scene, and as always, it's active. – EE

The Cavemen - "Dancing Shoes"

Siblings Kingsley Okorie and Benjamin James are The Cavemen, a duo whose potent highlife songs have gained a sizeable following over the years. They have spent time with Lady Donli, KDDO, Busketmouth, and other shining lights in the Nigerian music scene. "Dancing Shoes" is a party manual, guiding you gently towards requisites on the dance floor. The aim, however, isn't to sweat, but to live in the music and never leave its magnetic field. - TM

Kwesta - “Joy” (feat. Nkosazana Daughter)

One of the most decorated rappers in South African hip-hop, Kwesta's range extends beyond the template he operates within. He has had bangers across genres and remains as sharp and relevant to the scene as ever, a testament to his staying power. On "Joy", he calls upon Nkosazana Daughter, whose silky voice is the sonic embodiment of easy living. In his usual, raspy voice, Kwesta spit lyrics steeped in slang so complex, it sounds like he invented the words for this song specifically. - TM