SA: Manu WorldStar’s Choko added to Africa Now playlist

Africa Now is Apple Music’s biggest African playlist, which includes songs from some of the biggest musicians on the continent. It features the latest hip hop, gqom, Afrobeats, amapiano, Afropop, alté and kuduro releases. The playlist is updated every weeks and follows the latest releases on the continent.

‘Choko’ is Manu WorldStar’s lead single off his upcoming debut album Molimo. The song was released on 25 June and has been playlisted on local radio stations like Ukhozi FM and Good Hope FM, as well as KISS FM (Kenya), Rock FM (Zambia), YFM (Ghana) and Flex FM (UK).

“It feels amazing to be recognised as an artist who is making music that is worthy of being on top world playlists,” Manu WorldStar told Music In Africa. “Following two weeks of the song’s release, I feel like I just got a perfect kickstart for the rest of my Molimo album.”

Other notable artists featured on the Africa Now playlist include Davido (Nigeria), Sarkodie (Ghana), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) and Kabza De Small (South Africa).

Asked what inspired the title of the song, Manu WorldStar said: “I wrote ‘Choko’ when I was in an unbalanced state. I felt like my life was stagnant and I wasn’t progressing. So I asked God for spiritual blessings, monetary blessings and all-round healing. I used the song as a testimony that I will make myself proud and I will be the head of my family. This is the exact feeling I want my listeners to feel when bumping this record.”

He added: “I see myself being a firm ambassador of African music and culture to the world. In the next five years, I want to be known 'the Prince of African Beats'.”

Since the release of ‘Choko’, the song has garnered more than 250 000 streams on digital service providers. It appeared in the top 50 of Radiomonitor’s Top 100 chart and also debuted on the Metro FM Top 40 chart at No 33.