Southern Africa

Amapiano continues to dominate Southern Africa’s music landscape, with Kabza De Small leading as one of the most-streamed artists and his album Isimo topping charts in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, and beyond. His track ‘Imithandazo’ emerged as the most-streamed song across several countries, highlighting the genre’s widespread appeal. In Zimbabwe, local stars Holy Ten and Jah Prayzah stood out, while Zambia celebrated Yo Maps’ strong performance with his album Try Again. In Mozambique and Namibia, amapiano blended with Afrobeat to shape listening trends, showcasing the region’s evolving music scene where local rhythms and global influences coexist dynamically.

‘Imithandazo’ by Kabza De Small ft. Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine & Umthakathi Kush (South Africa)

‘So Mone’ ft. Tay Grin by Yo Maps (Zambia)

‘Tshwala Bam’ by TitoM ft. S.N.E & Eeque (South Africa)

‘Delilah’ by Holy Ten (Zimbabwe)

‘Kana Ndanyura’ by Killer T (Zimbabwe)

‘Amalobolo’ by Kelvin Momo ft. Stixx, Nia Pearl (South Africa)

‘Banga’ by Holy Ten (Zimbabwe)

‘Wadibusa’ by Uncle Waffles ft. Royal MusiQ, OHP Sage, & Pcee (eSwatini)

‘Masithokoze’ by DJ Stokie (South Africa)

East Africa

In a year that saw a rise in music consumption, the East African scene was dominated by the ‘usual suspects’ who racked up streaming millions. In Kenya, Bien chalked up yet another successful year, easily solidifying him as the country’s top pop artist at the moment. In Tanzania, the battle was always going to be between the frontrunners Diamond Platinumz, Rayvany, and Harmony, with Zuchu not too far behind as she continues to attempt to break the boys’ club stranglehold on the bongo flava genre. Uganda saw the 2023 breakout star Joshua Baraka hold his own in a country that loves its dancehall. However, it was the viral TikTok sensation ‘Hoozambe’ remixed by Mudra D Viral and D Star that gobbled the Ugandans’ data bundles. Bruce Melodie, meanwhile, continues to be the most visible pop star in the land of a thousand hills – Rwanda.

‘Extra pressure’ by Bien (Kenya)

‘Komasava Remix’ by Diamond Platnumz  & Jason Derulo ft. Khalil Harisson & Chley  (Tanzania)

‘Hoozambe’ by Mudra D Viral & D Star (Uganda)

‘Iyo Foto’ by Bruce Melodie ft. Bien (Rwanda)

Anglophone West Africa

As has been the case for years, West African pop has continued to evolve, with Nigeria and Ghana at the forefront. We've seen bold innovations that have transformed the sound, shifting to a more energetic tempo. While themes still focus on carnality and bravado, there are also empowering anthems here and there.

‘Ozeba’ by Rema (Nigeria)

‘Makoma’ by King Paluta (Ghana)

‘Very Soon’ by Fameye (Ghana)

‘Killa Ji Mi’ by Shatta Wale (Ghana)

‘Different Pattern’ by Seyi Vibez

‘Big Big Things’ by Young Jonn (Nigeria)

‘Commas’ by Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

‘Love Me Jeje’ by Tems (Nigeria)

‘MMS’ by Asake and Wizkid (Nigeria)

‘Jejereje’ by Stonebwoy and Ginton (Ghana)

Francophone West Africa

This collection of videos highlights the diversity and vibrancy of West African music in 2024, showcasing a blend of traditional sounds and modern influences. From Senegal, Wally Seck captivates audiences with his dynamic fusion of mbalax and contemporary rhythms, while Mali’s Mariam Ba delivers a heartfelt performance rooted in Manding traditions, enhanced by refined arrangements. Burkina Faso’s Amzy Burkina energises listeners with a rap-infused track that reflects urban dynamism, while Guinea’s Ans-T Crazy brings a festive spirit through a lively fusion of coupé-décalé and urban beats. Togo’s Paki Chenzu rounds out the collection, celebrating the nation’s cultural richness with a distinctive mix of traditional Togolese sounds and Afro-urban vibes. Together, these standout videos reflect the creative evolution of music across West Africa.

‘CONFUSE’ by Wally Seck (Sénégal)

‘Ne Wolo la Bamako’ by Mariam BA LAGARÉ (Mali)

‘Lengué’ by Amzy Burkina (Burkina Faso)

‘3 FOIS’ by Ans-T Crazy (Guinea)

‘RUN FOR MONEY’ by Paki Chenzu (Togo)

Central Africa

The music consumption and trends in Central Africa remain more or less the same as the previous couple of years. In DR Congo, the music scene is still dominated by the big players. With almost two decades of success, Fally Ipupa continues to dominate the music scene in 2024 with impressive performances and constant success. This year, Fally completed a breath-taking tour in Europe, with sold-out concerts in iconic venues. Ferre Gola, often described as Fally’s nemesis, has also made a great impact on the music scene, with equally sold-out concerts. In Cameroon, feminine artists like Krys M., Charlotte Dipanda and Blanche Bailly are offering a contrast to the male dominated scene from countries like DRC. Artists from the Central African diaspora such as Gims (France/DRC), Dadju (France/DRC) and TayC(France/Cameroon) and Ninho (France/DRC) are continuously pushing pop, Afrop pop and hip-hop trends and Pan-African collaborations, ultimately pushing music consumption from the region across platforms.

‘I love You’ by Dadju ft. Tayc (DRC)

‘207’ by Fally Ipupa ft. Réné Soso (DRC)

‘TIA’ by RJ Kanierra (DRC)

‘Toi d’abord’ by Emma'a (Gabon)

North Africa

Each year, North African artists achieve remarkable success across various platforms, garnering millions of viewers and listeners. The music presented from this region is a fusion of traditional oriental sounds with contemporary genres such as Afrobeats, Afro pop, and hip hop, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of North Africa. Artists like ElGrande Toto (Morocco) and L’Algerino (Algeria) consistently dominate the charts, year after year.

‘Joanna’ by Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)

‘Ana W Nti’ by Numedia Lezoul & Kader Japonais  (Algeria)

 

‘Ana Baba’ by Pousi & Muslim (Egypt)

‘DIPLOMATICO’ by El GrandeToto (Morocco)

‘SPIDER’ by Gims and Dystinct

 

‘Roméo’ by Algerino ft. Soolking (Algeria)

‘Badadi’ by Douaa Lahyaoui (Morocco) 

‘Souk’ by Samara (Tunisia) 

‘MAHBOUL ANA’ by Lazaro (Morocco) 

‘Ya Sahbi’ by Mortada Ftiti ft. Blingos (Tunisia) 

‘BANDIT’ by Didine Canon 16 (Algeria)

‘KEBDA’ by Afroto (Egypt)

‘Ana Mn Gherak’ by Bahaa Sultan (Egypt)

‘Beykalemony’ by Ramy Gamal (Egypt)