Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top African music releases — including the latest Afrobeats and amapiano hits — through our best music column, African 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.

Sarkodie – “Lavida Loca” feat. Lasmid

On his latest single, Sarkodie explores the pop rap path he’s done so well since the start of his career. He promises the good life on “Lavida Loca,” with the exquisite imagery and opulent flows to go with, but a winning element in its composition is the vibrant drums at the core and the atmospheric vocals of feature Lasmid. Known for his own soulfulness, he creates a truly memorable record with one of Africa’s most consistent rappers ever. A surefire bop. – Emmanuel Esomnofu

Dee Koala - “Horns”

Dee Koala needs to be protected at all costs. The Cape Town-based emcee has the masses obsessed with her style and endless swagger. Her bars that borrow heavily from the Khayelitsha streets she calls home, from the slang to the inter-personal and communal relations; and her enigmatic stage presence and camaraderie that has seen her produce smash hits with the likes of Riky Rick, Maglera Doe Boy, Blxckie, and fellow Cape Town emcee, K.Keed. She has one album under her belt in 2019’s 4 the Kaltsha, and has waded the waves of fame with her head up, feet on the ground, and a mouth that knows how to put detractors in place. “Horns” is a triumphant, brass-heavy return to a form she never lost. She is sharp, incisive, assured, and fly as hell. “Andizanga ngalonto/ suka kude, deep kwi ntsokolo (I didn’t come here for nothing / I come from far, deep within struggle),” she raps, adding fuel to a fire that had been blazing from the first bar, which started with her declaring that she’s got no time to chit-chat after she gets off the stage. With Flowaboii delivering with a heavy hand on the boards, Dee Koala is left with no option but to cause total annihilation. - Tšeliso Monaheng

Asake & Tiakola “BADMAN GANGSTA”

Nigerian star Asake connects with buzzing French artist Tiakola for the new single and music video for “BADMAN GANGSTA.” The two artists trade verses in English, Yoruba, and French, as they celebrate all of their self-made successes. “‘BADMAN GANGSTA’ is a page from my real life. It’s about owning your space, your struggles, your blessings, all at once,” says Asake in a press statement. “Working with Tiakola brought a whole new flavor to the track. We come from different places but speak the same language when it comes to vibe, feeling, and ambition.” - EE

Gabzy – ‘It’s Not You, It’s Summer [EP]’

For years, Gabzy has embodied the Afrobeats sound with a subtle diasporan touch. Often taking from R&B, the blend has won him a unique spot in the scene, and with his new EP, the artist seems to be moving even closer to the roots of his sound. It’s Not You, It’s Summer is a tender collection of six songs, featuring Fireboy DML and Victony, who further enforce Gabzy’s unique vision. Replete with tales and interesting characters, it’s a showcase of an artist who’s kept in constant touch with their process. – EE

Voltz JT feat. Sane - “Cannabis”

Voltz JT is no stranger to Zimbabwe’s music scene. A pioneer of jecha trap, which is his homegrown blend of UK drill and Zim street grit, he’s built a solid reputation through consistency, carving his own lane one bass-heavy banger at a time. Following the explosive “Medzai Fridge,” he returns with “Cannabis,” a track many believe throws subliminal shots at fellow emcee Holy Ten. The tension between the two, fanned by online back-and-forths, now finds a new home on wax. Holy Ten’s political affiliations, particularly his vocal support of the ruling ZANU‑PF, have drawn ire, and Voltz TJ seems to channel that discomfort into his verses with sharp precision. Cannabis is used as a metaphor for escapism or compromised values, positioning Voltz JT and his clique as the real ones. Sane slides in with purpose, anchoring the track with a verse soaked in youthful recklessness, hunger, and street-wise determination. Shots have been fired. - TM

Kehne – “KILODE”

Nigerian singer-songwriter Kehne showcases impressive vulnerability on “KILODE.” The trappings of a toxic love situation is one that’s been massively courted by musicians, but Kehne makes the theme uniquely hers, reflecting the years of fine-wrought artistry. Over the string-awoken production, her perspective is urgent and sensitive, asking to be treated with the same assurance that the other person’s words hold. “No dey call me baby, cos I’m not your baby,” she cautions with an unguarded shade of weariness that renders even more complexity to the record. – EE

Jordan Moozy - “Kryptonite”

Jordan Moozy is in a league of his own. He swaggers on songs like it's second nature, glides on beats like they’re his to slide on, and maintains a level of grit that usually gets lost when ambition overrides effort and hard work. “Kryptonite,” with Sun, is steeped in nostalgia, rich with imagination, and very much future-facing – a declaration that the homies are outside. Tatenda LXA draws from a deep well of house music, funk, amapiano, and more. The songwriting is magnetic and magnificent; “must be delirium, mass hysteria,” as your opening line is pure craft and attention to how the words move the soul, how rhythm injects meaning into life, how poetry becomes existence itself, made manifest through music. “‘Kryptonite’ is about a big comeback where you have your ops sitting on the edge of their seats, shaking in their boots. They don’t know what’s next and all you’re being is badder and better,” says the artist in a press release. - TM

Savara x Jay Melody – “Asali Mbichi”

Since deciding to release individual projects, Savara has shown a purposeful edge to his post-Sauti Sol days. Moving closer to a solo breakthrough with every release, his latest song “Asali Mbichi” has real potential in that regard. A subtle experimentation lies at its core, with log drums adapted in the realization of the East African rhythm. With emotive notes and the ever-beautiful singing of Savara and his guest Jay Melody, there’s obvious hit potential in the mellow beauty of this record. – EE

Phiwo - “Falling”

South Africa’s R&B scene is in full bloom, and Phiwo is right at the forefront. The Durban-born, Johannesburg-based singer/songwriter has been steadily carving out her lane since 2021, delivering deeply felt, slow-burning gems like the evocative “In The Moment,” collaborating with Adrienne Foo on a joint EP, and lending her voice to DJ Clen’s All Is Fair, a street-certified showcase of the country’s rising R&B talent. Her latest offering, “Falling,” is a hazy, bouncy slow-jam with vocals that float effortlessly over woozy production. There’s vulnerability at its core: “I know the role I played, I know I made mistakes,” she confesses, mid-descent into love’s dizzying spiral. It’s introspective and intimate, the kind of R&B that sounds and feels like everything will be okay again. - TM

Tyla – ‘WWP [EP]’

Every move Tyla has made since the start of her career reveals a young woman who was ready for fame. With her sensuous, minimalist songs, she’s positioned herself as one of the leading acts of her generation and her new collection of songs reiterates that fact. A new feature verse from one of Afrobeats’ icons, Wizkid, props this new release considerably well, also with the duo of singles that have been shared prior. New Tyla is always welcome, so there’s little to say except to get into the vibe. – EE

Halo Yagami – ‘Ingubo Enamehlo [LP]’

The Johannesburg-based soul artist Halo Yagami has often reflected a high sense of artistry. Through his songs, which blend a variety of genres, he’s provided a quality counter-perspective to the hyper-realized nature of Africa’s pop music, and he again proves his mettle on his new project. Yagami’s fifth, Inugbo Enamehlo, is a stirring body of work that goes deeply into the traditional modes of song-making, with the artist infusing his own unique touches that makes it a rewarding listen. – EE

Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top African music releases — including the latest Afrobeats and amapiano hits — through our best music column, African 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.

Victony & Fridayy – “Glory II”

Releasing a sequel to his latest single just some weeks after the original, Victony is flexing the reach of his artistry. Here he’s joined by Fridayy, who’s built up an impressive resume of collaborations with Afrobeats acts. The grass-to-grace narrative of the original is maintained, as Victony’s rap-informed flow is matched for intensity by his guest’s choir-reminiscent vocals. A fine blending of sensibilities, it’s a song that delivers beautifully on its role as an ode to God’s enduring grace. – Emmanuel Esomnofu

Kabza De Small - “Siyabonga”

Kabza De Small moves in his own lane. His long-awaited fifth album lays his heart bare, clarifies his intent, and reaffirms his status as the top don in the electronic music game. Not that he ever left; in the past year alone, his music was performed by an orchestra, he dropped one of 2024’s standout tracks in “Hayi Baba” (with Chronical Deep and LaTique), and laced bangers alongside Darque, DJ Maphorisa, Xduppy, and Dlala Thukzin. He’s a man on a mission: to stretch the sonic spectrum, school our senses, and come out on top every time. “Siyabonga,” featuring Nontokozo Mkhize and Mthunzi, shows Kabza at his most tender, most curatorial. It leans into 3-Step, embraces you, cradles you. It’s a prayer – “asisabi lutho, isandla sakhe siphezu kwethu imihla yonke” (we fear nothing, His hand is upon us every day) – and everyone’s invited. - Tšeliso Monaheng.

Lojay – “Tenner”

After announcing the August release of his long-awaited debut album, Lojay has set the wheels rolling with a fiery song intended for the dance floors. Pairing his svelte vocals with hyper-vibrant pop beats is an artistic choice favored by the artist, and it continues to prove a winning formula, as he paints a riveting portrait of a lady he’s enamored by. Bold metaphors, swirling notes, and banging drums are ever-present throughout the song’s runtime, but the fusion doesn’t eclipse Lojay’s voice at the center of the fanfare. – EE

Adekunle Gold – “Coco Money”

Always one to reinvent himself, you’ll be hard-pressed to find Adekunle Gold in the same spot. On “Coco Money,” he returns to the indigenous throb that influenced his early music, pairing disco sensibilities with the unmissable drums of Juju music. It’s a quintessential fly talk song, an arena the artist particularly excels in. The vocals and the energy matching each other’s vivacity, it’s a renewed demonstration of the artist’s prowess as a songwriter. – EE

TOSS, Maglera Doe Boy, Young Stunna - “Hermano”

“Hermano” is the rap Olympics – a relay of distinctive, heavyweight voices in African music. Themed around Black township life, with fashion nods to la sapeur, Black dandyism, and ukuswenka, the video brings the song to life in elegiac style. The back-and-forth between TOSS and Maglera Doe Boy deserves its own support hotline; there are simply too many quotables to catch in one go. Then comes Young Stunna on the chorus, a welcome breather from the lyrical warfare unfolding. Together, the three move like a league of their own: elite yet grounded, daunting but disarming, feisty and tender in equal measure. It’s an overload of excellence, so pace yourself. - TM.

Mr Eazi – “Corny”

On his latest song, Mr Eazi shows why he’ll always be an interesting voice within Afrobeats. The chill number produced by P Priime showcases the artist’s expanding vision as a storyteller, as he reveals the intricacies of a romantic relationship. “No go do you cunny,” he sings atop the mid-tempo production, charting a seductive vibe that sways with the lyrics of the record. – EE

Blue Pappi - “G-Wagon” (feat. LaCabra)

Blue Pappi’s on a roll, and he’s only just getting started. The emcee, vocalist, and producer, who hails from Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal – home of the legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo – follows up last week’s high-octane, Kane Keid-featuring “Dairy” with a mellow, left-of-centre tune that allows him and fellow Qwellers member LaCabra to exercise their rap muscles and cross uncharted flow territory. The cadences are impeccable, and the music, very stripped back, very lo-fi, allows them to swim with intention, playing lifeguard to your treasured eyes and ears. No word is wasted, and every moment of silence is as necessary as breathing itself. South African hip-hop is enjoying its moment in the sun, and these two are but part of a bubbling movement whose legend shall be spoken about in years to come. - TM.

Mlindo The Vocalist - “iMedi Yakho” (feat. Sir Trill)

Following the success of his breakout debut, Emakhaya, and the vulnerability of his self-titled sophomore album, Lindokuhle, Mlindo The Vocalist enters his third chapter with something deeper: perspective. It's a delicate balance of talent and emotional maturity that cuts above the clatter to go for the heart. Uhambo – The Journey is an album shaped by his own lived experience. It carries the weight of heartbreak, the beauty of healing, and the clarity that comes after navigating life’s highs and lows. On “iMedi Yakho,” a duet with Sir Trill, he repurposes the melody to Oliver Mtukudzi’s hit, “Neria,” and injects an Afro-pop swing to its step. The flavours ooze from the speakers straight to your soul. - TM.

Chrissy Spratt – “Call On Me” feat. Nonso Amadi & Serøtonin

Chrissy Spratt is no newcomer to the Afrobeats scene. Through her covers, the Canadian-based artist has curated a strong presence, even going on tour with Chike. Now, the Hi-Way 89 signee has released her latest song, a three-way collaboration with the talented singers Nonso Amadi and Serøtonin. As the line-up infers, it’s a vulnerable embrace that offers the love of a partner, with Spratt holding the thematic core through her piercing verse and vocals. It continues the purposeful run-up to a project expected in August, as she’s shown an impressive ability to handle several genres. – EE

Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top African music releases — including the latest Afrobeats and amapiano hits — through our best music column, African 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.

Runtown – ‘Soundgod Fest IV [EP]’

Boasting one of the most credible portfolios in contemporary Afrobeats, the artist Runtown has accrued a reputation as a recluse. Behind the needle-moving records is a man who just wants to stay disengaged from all the buzz, but he’s finally responding to calls for more music. Soundgod Fest IV continues his successful project series, a collection of six songs that ease into a chill vibe, with tales of love and life filtering out from the savant’s sweet tease. – Emmanuel Esomnofu

Kabza De Small - “Kabza Chant 2.0” (feat. Nkosazana Daughter, Nobuhle, Sykes)

How do you follow up greatness? You make greater moves. And who better than the undisputed king of amapiano, Kabza De Small, to show us how it’s done? On the sprawling “Kabza Chant,” the producer assembled some of the scene’s most vital voices, like Young Stunna, Murumba Pitch, and Nkosazana Daughter, for a praise song worthy of his throne. This second iteration, where Nkosazana Daughter returns, joined by Nobubhle and Sykes, is half the length yet just as potent, if not more. This is amapiano that has been performed with orchestras, heard in full houses, and felt in the spirit. It’s a shift in perception and a redefinition of legacy. It’s enchanting, exacting, and impenetrable. Kabza De Small is truly one of one. - Tšeliso Monaheng

Tekno – “Powerbank”

Nigerian star Tekno reinforces the currency of his hitmaker status over knocking Afropop drums. “Powerbank” is quintessential Tekno, boasting an astute flair for riding the beat, sounding as purposeful as ever in the recounting of a love story. When he vows that there’s “nothing I can’t do,” he sounds quite convincing, with him making quite the show of what those things might be. – EE

Yugen Blakrok - “Being Here”

With every album, Yugen Blakrok unlocks new chambers of rhythm. Her pen sharpens, her mind expands, and her worldview – always informed, never preachy – sketches parallel realms where beauty resists erasure. She moves like a magnetic field: gentle and affirming. Intentional in every breath, Yugen remains one of the best rappers doing it right now. “Being Here” deepens her already rich visual canon while her bars climb heights few dare. Sample this: “There’s times where sinners become the preachers/ Claim that they’re believers ’til you challenge their beliefs,” she raps, every bar a carefully curated slice of a bigger picture. Proceed with caution. This is real rap: unbothered, unfiltered, undeniable. - TM

Gabzy – “So Much Sense” feat. Fireboy DML

For years now, Gabzy has steered a unique vision for his R&B-influenced sound. Here, he’s joined by a similar stylist in Fireboy DML, creating a bop that evokes all the feels. With a laid-back beat evoking the promise of cool evenings, both musicians paint vivid images of chilling with their love interest, inferring that this would make so much sense. – EE

Zoë Modiga - “Uyakhazimula”

When Zoë Modiga speaks, the room listens. On record or in person, her presence demands stillness. On “Uyakhazimula,” she returns to eMbali in Pietermaritzburg, the place that raised her. The song feels like soul food, vintage couches, coal-heated stoves, and warm bread fresh from the oven. Just as the world outside threatens to fall apart, it wraps you in memory, in comfort, in beauty. This is definitive art: lush harmonies, emotional abundance, and spiritual glow. Zoë Modiga is a prime artist, and she radiates light. - TM

Da Capo – ‘Indigo Child II: Love & Frequency [LP]’

South African producer Da Capo’s establishment in the Afro-house genre is no fluke. He’s proven himself a fine creator and curator, assembling some of the most forward-thinking artists on his stellar production, and the follow-up to his last project, Indigo Child II, is no different. Featuring artists like Bongeziwe Mabandla, Elaine, and others, it is an impressive body of work with great potential to become a classic. – EE

Eli Mary - “PIECES’

On the emblematic “Pieces,” Johannesburg artist Eli Mary doesn’t just sing; she conveys feeling, using the microphone as a tool for expression. Her voice is a balm. Serene yet stirring, it drifts like smoke and lands like scripture. The beat shapeshifts beneath her, combusting in waves that mirror her emotional range. With each iteration, she peels back a new layer of self, revealing an artist who speaks as much as she soothes. This is heart music – gentle yet galvanizing. -TM

ODUMODUBLVCK – “PITY THIS BOY” feat. Victony

Released earlier this year, Odumodublvck’s “PITY THIS BOY” has all the markings of an enduring record. Between the bright strings orchestrated by Niphkeys and the harmony both Odumodu and Victony bring, it’s a delightful song to listen to. Its new video follows the opulent overtones of the song, casting the artists in scenes rich with color and activity, further extending the song’s appeal. Check out “PITY THIS BOY” and the other songs on OkayAfrica’s Best Afrobeats Songs of 2025 So Far list. – EE

Beatmochini and Towdeemac - “Eventually” (feat. Priddy Ugly, Maglera Doe Boy, Kaygizm)

The last time Priddy Ugly and Maglera Doe Boy linked up, we got a generational banger in “Ntjaka.” Now they’re back – this time on a more subdued, soulful tip – and are joined by two-thirds of the legendary Morafe: Towdeemac and Kaygizm. It hits differently, like a gentle nudge that nevertheless leaves lasting imprints on your spirit. With Beatmochini on production, this is a cross-generational link-up we didn’t know we needed but absolutely do. It’s a quiet storm of legacy, precision, and poetics. Towdeemac, once again, proves he’s not the one to front on. His bars don’t just rhyme; they ripple. Sentences run on, fold into themselves, and re-emerge as something entirely new. Who else can rap: “Cava ntja, how I inspired … to flex in their mother tongue / bona nou bafana ba kajeko ba matha joang / on another level, Joe, ba nkgopotsa nako tsa ka,” and make it sound effortless? Listen to "Eventually" here. - 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.

Olamide – “99” feat. Asake, Seyi Vibez, Young Jonn & Daecolm

Afrobeats veteran Olamide assembles an all-star cast on “99,” a banger released ahead of his forthcoming self-titled album. From Young Jonn to Asake and Seyi Vibez, the Nigerian contingent supplies the colorful hedonism that’s been at the center of its pulsating music culture, and with his riveting verse, Zimbabwean Daelcolm polishes off the guest performances. It’s a fine celebration of the African sound, with disco flourishes that should make it bang in the U.S. – Emmanuel Esomnofu

K.O. - “Supernova” feat. Cassper Nyovest

K.O stands as a towering figure in South African pop culture. From his pioneering days with Teargas to a genre-defining solo career, he’s long mastered the art of hitmaking. On “Supernova,” a standout from his latest album Pharacity, K.O offers a sleek, retro-futuristic reimagining of Lebo Mathosa’s “I Love Music,” reintroducing the late icon’s classic to a new generation. Joined by Cassper Nyovest, the rapper delivers cryptic, staccato bars that only he could make land. This serves as a reminder of his enduring command of style and cultural resonance. - Tšeliso Monaheng

Diamond Platnumz – “Katam” feat. Bien

A sweet tease of a record, “Katam” has guitar licks and soft drums that will set your heart rolling. There’s that inimitable East African flavor that Diamond Platnumz has perfected throughout his career. But now we hear even more soul and less activity, a touch that is amplified by the feature Bien. The ex-Sauti Sol man has a voice and tone that’s impossible to miss, and he relishes this beat, going over and over with Diamond as they toast East African ladies. With a video to follow, this has strong potential to become a hit song, no less, considering the profiles of the musicians. – EE

June Freedom – “Spiritual”

In what sounds like a tribute to Fela Kuti, the production on “Spiritual” plucks colorful drums and an effervescent note that never goes away. June Freedom’s ever-alert vocals find just the perfect spirit for it, floating with the enchanting allure of a ballet dancer across the record’s sonic space. “Spiritual” is a song about desire and all that goes in between; every performance here delivers on its simple but evocative premise. – EE

Mlindo The Vocalist - “Izinkomo Zika Baba” feat. Cowboii, DJ Maphoris & Madumane

Mlindo The Vocalist crept into the scene unannounced and never quite left. “Inkomo Zika Baba,” a striking amapiano cut from his forthcoming album (due in July), sees him team up with Cowboii and DJ Maphorisa. It’s the sound of summer in the heart of winter, a tender, groove-laced confession from a man lost in the heat of love. - TM

ZerryDL – “My Amigo”

For those paying attention, ZerryDL is one of the more inventive storytellers around. Between himself and his siblings, Shallipopi and Famous Pluto, the family contributed to the rise of an interesting subgenre that strongly entrenches southern Nigeria’s narratives on the country’s sprawling street pop culture. “My Amigo” carries a theme you’ve heard before—fake love among friends—but Zerry’s language and cadence make all the delivery, grooving assuredly over Busy Pluto’s thumping club-ready production. — EE

Maleek Berry – ‘If Only Love Was Enough [LP]’

For an artist who’s been part of the Afrobeats story for over a decade, it feels a little strange that Maleek Berry is only releasing his debut album now. But Berry has largely operated on his own time and with his own style, shunning popular choices for what has felt true to him. Holding such a dramatic premise, the title of the project prompts a lot of thought, and through its 15 songs, the artist charts an expansive storyline over taut sonic choices that mostly revolve around Afropop and R&B, with features coming from assured voices such as Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, and Zlatan. Read our exclusive new interview with Maleek Berry. – EE

Banda Banda - “Sombhuluka” feat. Fatoumata Diawara & Muneyi

While he may be best known for his work with Zoë Modiga, composer and producer Banda Banda’s footprint on South African live music is both deep and expansive. He operates on a frequency entirely his own– one that, as “Sombhuluka” reveals, resonates far beyond local borders. Featuring the masterful voices of Muneyi and Fatoumata Diawara, the track vocalizes the things we often dare not say. “Sombhuluka” is love personified: a feeling that travels through language and spirit, completely unbound by geography. - TM

Ric Hassani – ‘Lagos Lover Boy [LP]’

Through this sprawling journey that centers Lagos and its infamous love narratives, the artistic Ric Hassani hits another incredible milestone. It’s a setting and story that has attracted many artists, and yet for those who are attuned to their impulses, it’s a rich field. Hassani certainly makes the journey varied, even including several interludes that ease the album through its different soundscapes and concepts. – EE

Nasty C - “Soft” feat. Usimamane

It seems Nasty C has only grown more powerful since embracing his independence. He’s already delivered “Psycho” and “Nobody,” so there’s no real reason he needs to go this hard. But he does. As the title suggests, this track offers a gentler landing than his usual high-octane fare, revealing a more measured but no less lethal side of the rapper. TM

Mayorkun – “Blessings On Blessings (B.O.B)” feat. Davido

Off his Still The Mayor album comes this great union, the mentor and his mentee. Mayorkun definitely has a lot to be thankful for, recently announcing his deal with Sony Music Africa, which he attributed to Davido’s help. Indeed, their collaboration has that groove and movement about it, with bouncy percussion that leans towards Mayorkun’s tendency for upbeat production. “Follow who know road,” in this context, is quite clear considering the duo’s relationship, a history that consistently translates on wax. – EE