{"id":2228536,"date":"2026-01-09T16:54:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T16:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2228536"},"modified":"2026-01-09T16:54:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T16:54:28","slug":"top-trending-african-songs-to-hear-this-week-jan-9-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/top-trending-african-songs-to-hear-this-week-jan-9-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Trending African Songs to Hear This Week \u2013 Jan 9, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-element-guid=\"ecba85ea-e183-4c01-9b99-9238afc4d66f\">\n<p class=\"kicker \" style=\"\">MUSIC<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subtitle \" style=\"\">Stream the top trending African songs this week and listen to new releases from Shoday, Abigail Chams, KindlyNxsh, and Bruce Melodie.<\/h2>\n<p><figcaption itemprop=\"caption\" class=\"\">Shoday and Fola\u2019s \u201cPaparazzi\u201d embodies the essence of soft living.<\/figcaption><figcaption itemprop=\"author\" class=\"\" data-byline-prefix=\"Photo\">from Shoday and Fola\u2019s music video, \u201cPaparazzi\u201d\/YouTube<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-element-guid=\"8171061d-e06d-4832-c126-3eefc9112c0b\">\n<p>Every week, <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">OkayAfrica<\/span> highlights the top <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/tag\/african-music\">African music<\/a> releases \u2014 including the latest <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/okayafrica.com\/tag\/afrobeats\">Afrobeats<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/tag\/amapiano\">amapiano<\/a> hits \u2014 through our best music column, <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">African Songs You Need to Hear This Week<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>Read ahead for our round-up of the best new African music tracks and music videos that came across our desks this week.<\/p>\n<p><!-- placeholder(#1) --><\/p>\n<h2>Shoday &amp; Fola &#8211; \u201cPaparazzi\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"e56c8c85-a58b-4adf-b40b-febf48d99e02\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/ROFZ6p2hMKo\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On \u201cPaparazzi,\u201d <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Shoday<\/span> ropes in <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Fola<\/span> to craft a piece that embodies the essence of soft living. \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Would you hold me o, when I\u2019m feeling down, baby<\/span>,\u201d Fola wonders, unafraid of emotional weight. The line isn\u2019t meant to burden the listener. Instead, it adds depth to Shoday\u2019s more easygoing first verse. Together, their voices amount to audio therapy, turning regular chats into something refined and memorable.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Abigail Chams &#8211; \u201cYour Loss\u201d<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"23ed63e1-18cf-4796-bb41-ab5e9d2af6d2\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/ORKLOxIFRbc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/tanzanias-abigail-chams-is-on-the-brink-of-superstardom\/112766\"><span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Abigail Chams<\/span><\/a> is unhinged on \u201cYour Loss,\u201d a high-tempo rush that straddles the sacred line between highbrow pop and street anthem, built to resonate across the board. \u201cY<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">eah, I just broke up with my ex, and I did it over text, but I\u2019m feeling alright,<\/span>\u201d as opening lines should be illegal, but the words flow like lava from her mouth to our ears. Attentive to the zeitgeist of the modern dating scene and willing to let go at the slightest sign of disrespect, she issues a gracious rebellion against the tide that tells us to just go with the flow. As she puts it, \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">It\u2019s your loss, there ain\u2019t no other one like me<\/span>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Asher Gamedze &#8211; \u201cWar\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"3e2f29ae-c1a6-4c5c-8fc7-ae8c089cd641\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/vKRwc75MJds\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The shifting global order demands that those who care register their concern. In the midst of unopposed genocides, international treaties treated as polite suggestions rather than binding law, and late-stage capitalism doing its best to squeeze the life out of our shared humanity, artists like <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Asher Gamedze<\/span> stand as stark reminders that our voices matter \u2014 be it on a hyper-local scale or the world stage. \u201cWar\u201d is prescient and pressing, a timely entry in the canon of revolutionary music.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Cape Town\u2013based drummer issues a highly percussive, funk-laden beatitude that carries a potent, if unspoken, message to the core of the empire. It is a clarion call that leaves no ambiguity about Gamedze\u2019s position: decolonization is a lifelong project, and music can \u2014 and should \u2014 function as intellectual engagement without abandoning the body and its ability to dance. After all, it is through movement that the soul is replenished. \u201cWar\u201d is the second single from the seasoned drummer\u2019s forthcoming project, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ashergamedze.bandcamp.com\/album\/a-semblance-of-return\"><span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">A Semblance: Of Return<\/span><\/a>, which explores \u201cways of coming together, making sound, and imagining new and old modes of freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Kindlynxsh &#8211; \u201cSound of Home\u201d<\/h3>\n<div data-element-guid=\"ad608124-4154-4054-95b1-9d97d5729669\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/MmIYSCdHiT4\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Because I\u2019ve been feeling down, I miss the sound that comes from home<\/span>,\u201d emotes <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">KindlyNxsh<\/span> on \u201cSound of Home,\u201d released earlier this week to mark his twenty-third birthday. It\u2019s a ballad cut from the same cloth as the post-<span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Drake<\/span> rap sensibility that has taken root across the globe, a tote bag of feelings that both peaks emotion and piques curiosity, charting the inner terrain of a young artist trying to make something of himself. The accompanying video reads as a snapshot of contemporary South African rap, peppered with cameos from the likes of <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">PatricKxxLee<\/span> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/meet-the-underground-artists-redefining-southern-africas-music-scene\/1413199\"><span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Mfanatouchline<\/span><\/a>, whose presence underscores the communal ethos animating this generation. Clocking in at just over two minutes, \u201cSound of Home\u201d ends almost as soon as it begins, practically daring you to run it back.<\/p>\n<h2>John Lundun, uBeyond &#8211; \u201cIngoma\u201d feat. Nobuhle and Novex<\/h2>\n<p><span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">John Lundun<\/span> and <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">uBeyond<\/span> are sacred tools in any musician\u2019s sonic closet. On the second single from their forthcoming collaborative project, <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Tel\u00e9pathy<\/span>, the sound architects rope in <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Nobuhle<\/span> for a pairing of lo-fi and amapiano elements that feels rooted in a specific place while maintaining a clear global outlook. \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Uliphupho lapakade\u2026 ngicinga nawe ubusuku nemini<\/span>\u201d (you\u2019re an eternal dream\u2026 I think of you day and night), are lyrics that distill the effervescent nature of love; that embody the care and concern of two people who truly see and acknowledge each other. This is soul music, untethered and reaching for pure vibrations at every turn.<\/p>\n<h2>Priesst &#8211; \u201cAkonuche\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"67ed50c8-402a-495f-8b90-136990972954\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/HScbXSuVbqQ\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Priesst\u2019<\/span>s pen is mighty and audacious. On \u201cAkonuche,\u201d he comes out swinging his muscles, flexing hard on spectators. He doesn\u2019t hog the spotlight. Instead, it follows him throughout, tailing each limb and recording it all for future playback. \u201d<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">And if the tables no turn, me I go change the chair<\/span>,\u201d he sings, his voice calm and reassuring, with harmonies that float in the air like particles seeking a place to settle. It\u2019s a song about knowing that what is promised shall be delivered, being secure in that knowledge, and casting away all manner of doubt.<\/p>\n<h2>Bruce Melodie &#8211; \u201cPom Pom\u201d ft. Diamond Platunumz, Brown Joel<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"10ba0dda-3dbf-48b7-b1f1-5b7742acc99f\" class=\"column youtube small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12\">\n<div class=\"content \" style=\"\">\n<div>\n<p>\n                    <iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/hC1lSNjADxc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Rwanda\u2019s <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Bruce Melodie<\/span> starts the year strong with \u201cPom Pom.\u201d Built on the foundation of 3-Step, with elements of bongo flavor infused, the collaboration is one for the books. <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Diamond Plutnumz<\/span> brings his infectious energy, while <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Brown Joel<\/span> adds more fire to the already blazing combination. <\/p>\n<h2>Damie, Dolapo Martins &#8211; \u201cOne Minute\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cOne Minute\u201d leans into the Afrotech wave currently sweeping the globe, flips it, and feeds it back into the system with a distinctly West African twist. <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Dola Martins<\/span>\u2019 haunting vocals raise goosebumps on impact, while <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Damie<\/span>\u2019s epic, stadium-sized production gives the song its monumental backbone. Built for raves and late nights, it captures the freedom that comes with truly letting go and trusting the process. The track appears on their newly released ten-track EP, <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Come Back<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2>Naledi &#8211; \u201cLonely\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/naledis-quest-for-community-in-a-faraway-land\/143403\"><span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Naledi<\/span><\/a>\u00a0writes songs from the heart. She connects to the core of a subject, weaving her own magic that gives words wings. Her songs don\u2019t hover; they soar, carrying a relentless charm that underscores her magnetism and undeniable gift. \u201cLonely\u201d is the third single leading up to her forthcoming EP, <span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Darkness, My Old Friend.<\/span> So far, she\u2019s explored other facets of loneliness on \u201cA Joyous Time of Year (Christmas Time)\u201d and displacement on \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/the-top-african-songs-you-need-to-hear-this-week-october-31-2025\/1416204\" style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Aliens<\/a>,\u201d both released last year. \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">I just want someone to look me in the eyes and say that they want me, need me<\/span>,\u201d she confesses, embodying both intense longing and a tender vulnerability \u2013 markers of a life lived in a world that teases possibility, but never fully delivers on the promise. Pure magic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.okayafrica.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MUSIC Stream the top trending African songs this week and listen to new releases from Shoday, Abigail Chams, KindlyNxsh, and Bruce Melodie. Shoday and Fola\u2019s \u201cPaparazzi\u201d embodies the essence of soft living.from Shoday and Fola\u2019s music video, \u201cPaparazzi\u201d\/YouTube Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top African music releases \u2014 including the latest Afrobeats and amapiano hits [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2228537,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2228536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Top-Trending-African-Songs-to-Hear-This-Week-\u2013-Jan.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2228536"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2228538,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228536\/revisions\/2228538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2228537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2228536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2228536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2228536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}