West African artists to watch in 2021

Here is Music In Africa’s list of artists from the region to watch:

Gyakie

Daughter of Ghanaian highlife legend Nana Acheampong, Gyakie launched her career in 2019 with ‘Never Like This’, a heart-wrenching love song underlined by heavy hip hop beats and tender vocals. The song, which also leaks characteristics of highlife, R&B and soul, summarises her style. It set the tone for her debut collection, Seed. The five-track EP further cemented her position as an artist to watch and secured her a Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) Unsung nomination.

Larusso

In a country where dancehall has become mainstream over the past decade or so, the search is ongoing for the next artist who is set to take up the mantle from modern Ghanaian greats like Samini, Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale. For industry gatekeepers and pop music enthusiasts, Larusso, who has already collaborated with the aforementioned stars, is next in line.

Freda Rhymz

Ghanaian hip hop and Afropop act Freda Rhymz first attracted mainstream attention in 2017 when she won season 6 of music reality show MTN Hitmaker. Since then, she has not looked back. For the ‘Saucy’ singer, 2020 proved to be a particularly impactful year as she demonstrated with her rap offerings that she can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with more established colleagues like Sista Afia and Eno Barony.

Teflon Flexx

Months ago, rapper Teflon Flexx became the first musician from the Upper East region of Ghana to win the VGMAs Unsung category, which is dedicated to emerging artists. Flexx is behind locally well-received songs like ‘Madina’ and ‘Eskebelebe’, which the musician artfully weaved with galvanising verses and hooks.

Tems

Tems is the charismatic Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer responsible for successful records such as ‘Mr Rebel’ and ‘Try Me’. A YouTube Music Foundry alumna, Tems has also been listed by Apple Music and Spotify as an emerging African artist to watch. High-profile collaborations with Wizkid and Davido, as well as her innovative new collection For Broken Ears, have culminated in a meteoric year for her – and she shows no signs of slowing down.

Omah Lay

If Nigeria is a cradle of Afrobeats and Afro-fusion, Omah Lay is the country’s latest sonic innovator of these idioms. His smooth style and bare take on the subject of love, in particular, have contributed to the enormous success of his 2020 EPs Get Layd and What Have We Done. It also earned him a place as Apple Music’s first featured Africa Rising artist, as well as a feature on Shazam’s Naija Risers playlist, which premiered on Apple Music in October. The following month, Audiomack selected him for the #UpNow series for emerging artists.

Bella Shmurda

At just 23 years old, Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has already come into the first flushes of fame. It started with his determined debut single ‘Vision 2020’ whose remix features Olamide. A record deal with Olamide’s YBNL label quickly followed. Shmurda also contributed golden hooks on 2020 albums by the ‘Pawom’ man and Davido. 

Trille 

Trille is the man behind ‘Zombie Dance’, one of Liberia’s biggest songs this year. Locally regarded as a fast-rising sensation, the singer took home the New Artist of the Year Award at the recently held 2020 Liberia Music Awards, establishing himself as the latest prince of Liberian pop. 

FOC 

Signed to JMG Records in Sierra Leone, FOC’s acclaim began in 2015 with his knack for catchy freestyles. That lyrical ability has expanded into pop staples like ‘Yagba Dem’ and ‘Kanumasala Dae’. The talented rapper was also among the artists with the most nominations at the 2020 National Entertainment Awards (NEAs) with three nods.

Jizzle 

There’s no question about Jizzle’s reputation as Gambia’s golden boy. Since clinching the award for Best Upcoming Artist of the Year at the 2014 Gambian Entertainment Awards, the versatile pop artist’s career has only looked up, even securing a nomination at the 2016 All Africa Music Awards. He is also responsible for a glowing catalogue that was this year updated with songs like ‘Jealousy’, ‘Te Amo’, ‘Work and Pray’ and ‘FMF’. The year 2020 not only saw Jizzle consolidate his impact on the West African country but also fuelled his journey to spread his gospel to new audiences.