Login
Music In Africa
Artists (48,126) Organizations, Networks & Associations (4,625) Artist Service Providers (4,428) Music Education (3,169) Archives & Media (518) Events & Venues (227)
Solo artists
Composers, arrangers & songwriters
Producers
Bands /groups
DJs
Sound artists
Other
Session artists
Choirs, orchestras & ensembles
Spoken word
News Reviews Features Themes Gig Guide
CANEX WKND 2026 to bring Global Africa’s creative economy to Lagos in November

CANEX WKND 2026 to bring Global Africa’s creative economy to Lagos in November

SA: Mjolisi releases new album ‘Kuphelele’

SA: Mjolisi releases new album ‘Kuphelele’

Nigeria: Davido announces three-night Lagos residency at National Theatre

Nigeria: Davido announces three-night Lagos residency at National Theatre

Uganda: Nyege Nyege returns to the Nile for 11th edition with Wakaliwood collaboration

Uganda: Nyege Nyege returns to the Nile for 11th edition with Wakaliwood collaboration

Burna Boy to headline halftime show at NFL’s first Paris game

Burna Boy to headline halftime show at NFL’s first Paris game

Suno faces another class-action lawsuit over alleged 2025 data breach

Suno faces another class-action lawsuit over alleged 2025 data breach

SA: Mawhoo to bring Secret Garden live experience to Durban in November

SA: Mawhoo to bring Secret Garden live experience to Durban in November

Pax Nicholas of Fela Kuti’s Africa 70 returns with ‘Mind Your Business’

Pax Nicholas of Fela Kuti’s Africa 70 returns with ‘Mind Your Business’

British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo dies aged 44

British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo dies aged 44

Long Story Short named Apple Music’s Up Next artist for South Africa

Long Story Short named Apple Music’s Up Next artist for South Africa

SA: SOL Distro marks first year with more than 1,000 artists, R1m in royalty payouts

SA: SOL Distro marks first year with more than 1,000 artists, R1m in royalty payouts

Spotify adds control to exclude kids’ music from personalised recommendations, Wrapped

Spotify adds control to exclude kids’ music from personalised recommendations, Wrapped

NEFCISA
NEFCISA

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) is proud of its partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) as a Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP) for its Social Employment Fund (SEF). Through this collaboration, MIAF is running a national programme that is creating jobs, addressing skills gaps, and strengthening South Africa's creative industries — in line with the SEF's overarching goal to generate work for the common good and build community value through employment, social contribution, and inclusive economic participation. Operating under the banner NEFCISA (National Employment Facility for Creative Industries in South Africa), the initiative is recruiting and training participants, matching them with host organisations, and has already placed 1 500 workers across the country — surpassing its original target of 1 000. NEFCISA is delivered through a network of 20 host organisations spanning five provinces, who are actively hosting participants and contributing to work for the common good across South Africa's creative and cultural industries. Key Objectives: Support employment and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. Offer skills development and training programmes. Foster partnerships between public and private creative sectors. Promote South African creativity at both provincial and national levels Foster community development through social contribution.

ACCES
ACCES

ACCES Conference and Showcase Festival is Africa's leading music industry gathering, bringing together the people shaping the future of the continent's music business. Artists, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, policymakers and cultural leaders from across Africa and around the world come to ACCES to build partnerships, exchange ideas, discover talent and create new business opportunities. Since its launch in 2017, ACCES has become the continent's premier platform for professional exchange and music market development. Combining a high-level conference with a curated showcase festival, networking, exhibitions and industry programmes, ACCES offers a unique space where creativity meets business and where African music connects with the global industry.

Gender@Work
Gender@Work

Music In Africa Gender @ Work is a three-year training programme aimed at upskilling and increasing the participation of female professionals in the African music sector. Launched by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) in April 2019, the programme is connected to the MIAF’s ACCES music conference – a pan-African event held in a different African country every year. This connection enables the programme to reach new participants in a different African country every year. The programme marks the beginning of a more concerted effort by the Foundation to support the participation and inclusion of women in all facets of its programmes and the music sector in Africa as a whole. Over the three years, the programme will aim to address gender imbalances in the sector through training, lobbying, facilitating knowledge exchange and dialogues that foster the interest of women. The broader objectives of the programme are to: Provide industry training for women on critical music industry skills, focusing on: Stage management Electronic music production and recording Music business management Technical knowledge Provide an opportunity for both professional and aspiring women to benefit from the Music In Africa network and its broad range of activities in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Provide a solution-based platform in the form of a round table at ACCES with a view to identify challenges, discuss opportunities and lobby for the interests of female practitioners. Offer participants the opportunity to benefit from programmes offered by MIAF’s partners. Increase access to educational materials. Integrate participants in the broader ACCES programme to maximise experience and exposure to the industry. Record and present training materials on the www.musicinafrica.net, including but not limited to tutorials, templates and other best-practice materials. Communicate women-based themes that support the initiatives and messages of the programme. MAIN TRAINING ACTIVITIES Training in first country (Ghana): In the first year, participants will be trained on all aspects of stage management by a team of experienced stage managers from 10 to 17 November 2019. The programme will offer robust classroom training as well as practical, hands-on training in which participants will also be given the opportunity to manage various aspects of the ACCES performance programme. Training in second country: The second training iteration will take place at ACCES 2020 when the programme will diversify its course to include music production lessons and training on other music business topics. A round-table platform will also be introduced to coincide with the ACCES programme. Training in third country: The third training iteration will take place at ACCES 2021 in a different country, offering an advanced course. HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?  As a participant, facilitator or trainer: The programme enrolls up to 12 trainees every year. All opportunities are advertised publicly on this website, and will be added to this page. Please keep checking this page for new calls (below under UPDATES & CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES). As a partner Please contact Claire Metais at [email protected]. APPLY The call for applications for 2020 will be announced soon. The Music In Africa Gender @ Work programme is made possible with the support of the Prince Claus Fund, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut.

Sound Connects Fund
Sound Connects Fund

For cultural and creative practitioners and organisations operating in southern Africa, access to funding remains a major challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a massive impact on government policy, spending and the economy in general, and has seen spending on culture being moved further down the list of priorities. Further, the cultural and creative industries repeatedly cite four main areas where investment is needed for growth, which are increased visibility, mobility including access to new markets, finance and support structures.

Instrument Building And Repair Project
Instrument Building And Repair Project

Experience the Vibrations African Instruments Exhibition online in 3D

Music In Africa
Home / Magazine / Features
Features

Top African songs of 2020 – part 1

Ano Shumba By Ano Shumba

22 Dec 2020 - 12:13

cc-img flag-img

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hampered the work of most artists. The cancellation of shows and restriction of movement and social gatherings caused a major reduction in artists’ income, which for most comes from live performances.

KiDi, Elaine, Prince Kaybee, Aya Nakamura and Stonebwoy.

Despite this, African artists released some incredible music during the course of the year. This was a time to hunker down, get creative and learn more about the digital tools at their disposal. Difficult times have always shown that humans can rise above the challenges and come out stronger ­­– and the COVID-19 pandemic is showing just how resilient creatives can be.

As always, Music In Africa has curated a two-part playlist divided into Africa’s five geographic regions with the help of our regional editors. The selected songs represent some of the best and most successful music releases that the continent saw in 2020. This quintessential playlist, perfect for your New Year’s Eve celebrations, is in no particular order and features some of Africa’s biggest rising stars. Enjoy!

West Africa

Wonderful by Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Enjoyment by KiDi (Ghana)

Jolie Nana by Aya Nakamura (Mali)

1er Coeur by Kaaris and Gims (Ivory Coast/DRC)

Nobody by DJ Neptune ft. Mr Eazi and JoeBoy (Nigeria)

Téré Doundou by Viviane Chidid (Senegal)

Duduke by Simi (Nigeria)

Bai remix by Soraia Ramos ft. Lisandro (Cape Verde)

Blow by StarBoy ft. Blaq Jerzee and Wizkid (Nigeria)

Open Gate by Kuami Eugene (Ghana)

No Dulling by Keche ft. Kuami Eugene (Ghana)

Inna Song by Darkovibes (Ghana)

Goulag by Kaaris (Ivory Coast)

Activate by Stonebwoy and Davido (Ghana/Nigeria)

Ataa Adwoa by Bosom P-Yung (Ghana)

No Stress by Wizkid (Nigeria)

Koroba by Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)

Dieu sur terre by DJ Kerozen (Ivory Coast)

Fem by Davido (Nigeria)

Sekougn Bayante by Jahman X-press

Tayc – Pour nous by Vegedream (Ivory Coast)

Paradis by Mula (Ivory Coast)

Zombie Dance by Trille ft. Deng (Liberia)

Cheri Coco by Amira Abed (Senegal)

Mercon by Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)

Southern Africa

Jerusalema by Master KG ft. Nomcebo Zikode (South Africa)

You’re the One by Elaine (South Africa)

Emcimbini by Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa, Samthing Soweto, Aymos, Mas Musiq ands Myzt (South Africa)

Fadza Mutengi by Poptain (Zimbabwe)

Kuteera by Tamy Moyo ft. Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)

Hazvigone by Killer T (Zimbabwe)

John Vuli Gate by Mapara A Jazz (South Africa)

Xola Moya Wam’ by Nomcebo Zikode (South Africa)

Bookoo Bucks by Nasty C (South Africa)

Uwrongo by Prince Kaybee, Shimza, Black Motion and Ami Faku (South Africa)

Lalela by MFR Souls (South Africa)

Mukwasha by Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)

Njabulo by Nomcebo Zikode (South Africa)

Fire by Anita Jaxson (Zimbabwe)

Risky by Elaine (South Africa)

Duffle Bag by Poptain, Anita Jaxson, MC Kampton, Prosper Fi Real, Kanter the Janter (Zimbabwe)

Titungamire by Gemma Griffiths (Zimbabwe)

Urikutsvireiko by Enzo Ishall (Zimbabwe)

See part 2 of our Top African Songs of 2020 playlist here.

Please log in to post a comment.

facebook twitter linkedin whatsapp email

Most popular

Sam Deep.

Top amapiano songs of 2026

16 Feb 2026
Burna Boy. Photo: Maja Moan

Top Afrobeats songs of 2026

19 Mar 2026

Open call: Goethe-Institut grants for Southern African creatives

08 Sep 2026
Rema emerged as the most decorated artist of the night, taking home three awards.

AFRIMA 2026: All the winners

12 Jan 2026
Asake and Wizkid.

Top Naija songs of 2026

31 Mar 2026

Sun-El Musician confirmed for ACCES 2026 in Joburg

15 Sep 2026

Open Call: Voices For Roxette invites artists worldwide to submit cover versions

15 Sep 2026

Disclaimer: Music In Africa provides a platform for musicians and contributors to embed music and videos solely for promotional purposes. If any track or video embedded on this platform violates any copyrights please inform us immediately and we will take it down. Please read our Terms of Use for more.

newsletter banner

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter

Follow us on social media

social icon social icon social icon social icon