MUSIC
Stream the best African music this week and listen to new releases from DESIREE, King Promise and Mr Eazi, DJ SPINALL, ZENA and more.
Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top African music releases — including the latest Afrobeats and amapiano hits — through our best music column, African Music 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.
K.O – “20 Summers”
K.O has one of the most solid discographies in South African music. He has perfected the art of curating a sound and an identity, and seeing it through from ideation to execution. His impact is undeniable, and on “20 Summers,” he supplements that legacy with wisdom and hard-earned lessons while celebrating his many milestones (“whole lotta ice in my veins, whole lotta ice in my jewellery,” he raps). The flow he employs pays homage to AKA’s cadence on their generational collaboration, “Run Jozi.” Consistent and constantly innovating, he’s a model artist for anyone studying longevity.
bees & honey – “When the Party’s Over” feat. FOLA
bees & honey are on a roll, proof that they’re consistently working even as their peers sleep. With production credits on songs by Tyla, Ruger, and Craig David, their profile is already foolproof. They follow up the Moliy-featuring “Party Gyal” with the introspective “When the Party’s Over,” where FOLA makes a case for being one of the most exciting Afrobeats artists right now.
ZENA – TEMESGEN [EP]
ZENA are Kokoroko keyboardist-producer Yohan Kebede and bassist-producer Menelik. TEMESGEN is their first EP, a carefully considered entry following months of jamming, releasing singles, and putting out arresting visuals that would give the Windows ’95 interface a run for its money. The music is exploratory, an updated take on the Ethiopian pop and jazz that raised them. “ZENA!,” the intro, is heavenly; “MY LOVE YOUR LOVE,” which we’ve covered, gets better with every listen, a kick drum and bass groove that gives way to synth-heavy euphoria; Meron T’s vocals are the centrepiece on “IT’S YOU (ANTE NEH)”; and the title track wraps it all up with a psychedelic warmth that is sweet and gentle. There are rich moments in between; worlds to chew on over time, to savour and remember.
DESIREE, Nina Simone – “Four Women”
Nina Simone’s music found a new audience some 25 years ago, and various artists, such as Reflection Eternal, have offered their own interpretations, particularly of “Four Women.” South African DJ and producer DESIREE gives the song an Afro-house bounce while maintaining the spirit of the original. “Four Women” explores the vast emotional and social worlds women occupy—their internal struggles and their beauty in an unforgiving world. DESIREE’s version affirms these multiple lenses, bringing a refined sensibility to the dancefloor while adding another star to her growing discography.
SPINALL – When Lagos Sleeps [EP]
Earlier this week, a clip surfaced online of SPINALL playing his new music for top industry executives in the United States. In the audience were Mary J. Blige and Dr. Dre, who nodded along with visible excitement. When Lagos Sleeps is jazz-inflected, borrowing from the era that defined Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue. “Metric Rules” stands out in the way it brings that format into the heart of Lagos, infusing undeniable Afrobeats and highlife influences with something sharper and more electronic.
Nvcho, BlessKeyz, Mkeyz – “Mzali”
Nvcho has a lot to unpack on his debut album, Letters I Didn’t Send. There’s a sense of immediacy to the songs, like he’s been aching to realize them; like he’s always known what he wants to say. “Mzali” addresses the recent loss of his father, and is a sobering blend of grief and a groove so locked in you can’t help but move—even while empathizing. “Angithi bengazi ukuthi impilo inzima ngaso” (I didn’t know that life is so tough), he sings, the heaviness of loss laid bare. He finds comfort in the music, immersing himself in it, layering his approach over BlessKeyz and Mkeyz’s textured production.
Nyota Parker – “Confused Admiration” feat. A-Reece and Jay Jody
Nyota Parker has been consistent with her raps, taking time to apply herself and fully commit to learning the craft of emceeing. She’s a devout student of the art, and “Confused Admiration” feels like an ascension to a higher plane.
Featuring Jay Jody and A-Reece, she holds her own, employing a Bahamadia-nodding flow, multilingual lyrics, and an attitude that cuts clean through the speakers.
Kotrell – “Easy for You” feat. Amaeya
Kotrell’s “Easy for You” harkens back to the pop/R&B sound that made groups like P-Square legendary. His command of his voice is assured, and he writes with a sharp, thoughtful sensibility. Amaeya’s presence is complementary, a welcome delicacy that enhances an already solid offering.
Mr Eazi, King Promise – “Mariana”
Mr Eazi and King Promise build on the momentum toward their forthcoming collaborative album, following up “That Way” with “Mariana.” It leans on a guitar riff that gives the track an island feel. The countdown is officially on.
Tessi Nandi – “Missing Part”
From the first word she sings, it’s clear Tessi Nandi is special—a rare talent that arrives to reset the palette, to restore faith in feeling. “Missing Part” is disarmingly honest: “How can you love something you’ve never even had/ I’ll leave by the morning with a backpack slung over my left shoulder,” she muses. It’s in the detail: her vivid descriptions give the song a rare intimacy.
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