MUSIC
The best new African music tracks released this week, featuring artists like Victony, Aya Nakamura, Stogie T, Odeal, and more.
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 – ‘Very Stubborn [EP]’
Very Stubborn is a tender, more personal follow-up to Victony’s 2024 album, Stubborn. The Nigerian artist’s ability as a storyteller shines with each new work, and here, he’s joined by a stellar cast of industry greats such as Don Jazzy, Olamide, and Terry G. The eight songs showcase a combination of the distinct groove and style that Victony distinctly possesses. It’s a balance that makes this short project another stellar addition to his catalog. – Emmanuel Esomnofu
Manana – “Embrace Me” feat. Shekhinah
Manana pulled off a surprise drop this week with the deluxe version of his 2024 album, Our Broken Hearts Mend. Titled OBHM: Full Stop, it closed out a trilogy that began with 2020’s In the Beginning Was the End — a genre-shaping run that solidified his place as a touchstone for younger artists. Now fully anchored in his voice, he links up with fellow star Shekhinah on a laid-back bop for the soul. The songwriting is elite, as always. “But you disappeared without so much as a whisper / I know it’s not fair/ just ’cause I don’t say it, don’t mean I don’t care,” Manana sings. The vibes are eternal, a pairing destined to be remembered for how much meaning they squeeze out of the music. – Tšeliso Monaheng
Aya Nakamura – ‘Destinée [LP]’
Aya Nakamura’s place as one of the biggest artists in the Francophone world wasn’t handed to her on a platter. She’s risen to her present ubiquity through a purposeful depiction of her colorful, bold rap style. Subtly moving beyond her early flamboyance into a more measured sound, her new project Destinée encapsulates just how much growth she’s made. A sprawling project, its 18 songs are a wholesome demonstration of her strengths as an artist and curator. – EE
Asher Gamedze – “Following Up”
Asher Gamedze shows what happens when a singular vision and a deep devotion to art fire every part of your being. Over the years, as sideman and bandleader, he’s stretched textures across rock, folk, hip-hop, and straight-ahead jazz. “Following Up” continues a sonic trajectory that both fascinates and inspires. Playing alongside some of Cape Town’s finest, regular collaborators Ru Slayen, Rob Scott, Keegan Steenkamp, and Nobuhle Ashanti, he channels his intellectual impulses into new sonic possibilities. The music is deep and driving, shaped by the hip-hop and electronic traditions he grew up absorbing. “Following Up” appears on his forthcoming album A Semblance: Of Return, out in February via Northern Spy Records. – TM
Mahvel – “Wish U Well”
Melodies are an indispensable element in music. More so in African music, where effect comes chiefly from groove. This is something Mahvel understands, and you can hear it well on “Wish U Well,” his latest record. Bursting with evocative hums amidst the theme of loving someone even when you’re not physically present, it’s a cute, cherry record grounded in sensitivity. It’s not hard to see that we have a rising artist here who’s quite sure of what they want sonically. – EE
Meta and The Cornerstones – “Ayee” feat. Stonebwoy
It’s always a joy when African reggae artists link up, and Senegal’s Meta Dia joining forces with Ghana’s Stonebwoy feels like a moment long in the making. “Ayee” gathers everything we love about the continent’s sonic palette — dreamy vocals, enchanting instrumentation, a luminous atmosphere, and undeniable production finesse. The result is a track that channels breath, movement, and spirit with precision. It’s a moment in time, shaped by two bright lights of the scene. – TM
James BKS – “Na Na Benz”
Every song James BKS makes seems to draw from a rich history of socio-cultural context. In his latest, he pays homage to the legendary Nana Benz women of Togo, whose efforts at female empowerment were a strong reference point for Africa’s pre-independence movement. James’ record parallels the charged atmosphere of protest, polished in its audacious sonic choices by the similarly evocative video. – EE
Stogie T – “Win Or Lose”
All bets are off: the official results crown Stogie T as South Africa’s best rapper right now. Check the stats and close the results deck. From conceptual execution to lyrical dexterity and an impeccable flow — grounded in razor-sharp intellect and extraordinary breath control — he carries the flag for lovers of true lyrical rap. “Win Or Lose,” from his forthcoming album Anomy, is a battlefield where a war of words is waged, and, as expected, the master lyricist emerges victorious, detailing life “before the four-course meals and the Four Seasons.” – TM
Odeal – ‘The Fall That Saved Us [LP]’
Odeal’s prolific nature has never interfered with his quality. Every time we hear the British Nigerian act, it seems like he’s gone through yet another burst of creativity, forged in fresh vitality. His new project, The Fall That Saved Us, takes after the title structure of the previous (The Summer That Saved Me), but offers a decidedly different direction, both in mood and measure. Ending with a new Wizkid feature, it’s the kind of gift listeners will always want to wake up to. – EE
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