{"id":2291328,"date":"2026-02-20T17:36:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2291328"},"modified":"2026-02-20T17:36:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:36:26","slug":"the-african-music-you-need-to-hear-this-week-feb-20-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-african-music-you-need-to-hear-this-week-feb-20-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The African Music You Need to Hear This Week \u2013 Feb 20, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-element-guid=\"06589c58-71dd-4c11-afb4-caa62cd3dae8\">\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 Music 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>Kivumbi King &#8211; \u201cItuze\u201d<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"732176ae-3dec-4b1c-9c42-d883441cbdf3\" 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\/t8qUlAmTzuU\" 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\">Kivumbi King<\/span> sounds effortlessly laidback on \u201cItuze.\u201d With roots in the country rap and spoken word scene, he maneuvers the track with a smooth, precise cadence, never missing a beat as he cruises with intention. The result is music that flows like rippling waves, seeping through your veins and leaving a lasting impression on the mind.<\/p>\n<h2>Lubiana &#8211; \u201cDivine Feminine\u201d<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"f2e5b012-f939-410b-99ef-22885d5738ca\" 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\/p3rEh0IJMq4\" 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\">Lubiana<\/span> grew up between cultures. Born in Belgium to Cameroonian parents, she carries a spiritual depth and technical range that feel almost otherworldly. That higher power flows outward on \u201cDivine Feminine,\u201d reaching toward us. It\u2019s a vast playing field: of rippling kora; of patient, steady strings; of music that feels medicinal, baked in since birth and now finding expression through her disarming voice. Of course, we can\u2019t ignore the words, which are as expansive as the sound itself, lending further weight to a composition already swimming in an ocean of wisdom. \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Nurture your garden, live in the present\/ the secrets of life lie deep inside you<\/span>,\u201d she sings \u2014 healing prayers, lessons for the future-present, pronouncements that steady and anchor you in the moment. <\/p>\n<h2>Nasty C &#8211; \u201cNo Typo\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"88b5a11f-ad6b-4c2e-b5a9-dcfb9b015970\" 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\/cGw1FDEraxY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ever since getting out of his deal with Universal Music Group, <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/nasty-c-on-fatherhood-freedom-and-the-making-of-his-new-hip-hop-album-free\/1410794\">Nasty C<\/a><\/span> has moved with intention and demonstrated a rare clarity not only among his peers but among artists younger and older than him. He\u2019s truly him, one of one, top shotta, leader of the new school. \u201cNo Typo\u201d is one of them ones, head-nodding and arms-raising, racing towards your head like it wants to be the first in line. The flow is timely, fiery, spectacularly placed. Nothing is out of pocket here; everything is tucked neatly inside Nasty C\u2019s world, which is lyrical and feisty in its delivery. \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">I\u2019m Gen-Z, my son a Gen-A\/ no Aiko,<\/span>\u201d is such a neat, clever bar; it\u2019ll take a minute to figure out that it\u2019s a double entendre whose other side is a nod to the artist <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Jhen\u00e9 Aiko<\/span>. <\/p>\n<h3>Ayo Maff &#8211; \u201cGod is Working\u201d\u00a0<\/h3>\n<div data-element-guid=\"70604bab-eb0e-4c90-8323-f55f167565cc\" 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\/T-CmREiUVP4\" 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\">Ayo Maff<\/span> plays spiritual mentor, vibe dispenser, and quintessential friend on \u201cGod Is Working.\u201d From the outset, he delivers mantras for the dancefloor \u2014 prayers offered like choreographed blessings \u2014 layering love, understanding, and compassion for anyone moving through hardship. \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">God is working, omo, everything go settle,<\/span>\u201d he repeats, offering uplift for the aching heart. It\u2019s communal hand-holding, something to latch onto. Such class, such release, such joy should be made a daily dietary requirement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Zee Nxumalo, Dlala Thukzin &#8211; \u201cAwe Mah\u201d (feat. Funky Qla, Shakes &amp; Les, MK Productions)<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"1aea99f5-0e5f-466a-be7c-9c0b0d82e9be\" 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\/XDq11_LZuU8\" 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\">Dlala Thukzin<\/span> and <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Zee Nxumalo<\/span> are on a generational run, showing no signs of slowing down. They have a firm grip on the pulse of contemporary dance music, and the chemistry coursing through their collaborations has already delivered bangers like \u201cAma Gear\u201d and \u201cMali.\u201d \u201cAwe Mah,\u201d an isiZulu exclamation of exhilaration, is their latest addition to a growing canon, another step in a sonic legacy future generations will reference. They\u2019re joined by Zee Nxumalo\u2019s previous collaborators <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Funky Qla<\/span> (\u201cMemezela\u201d) and <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Shakes &amp; Les<\/span> (\u201cFunk 55\u201d), alongside <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">MK Productions<\/span>, whose influence on Dlala Thukzin\u2019s sound has strengthened the broader dance music fraternity. The track leans into minimalism, weaving elements of Afro-tech and 3-Step into its wings as it swings between inherited influences and the thrill of discovery, for something just beyond the familiar.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Sonder the Africanime &#8211; \u201cDream\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"da240bc2-8836-4f00-bca2-568f511ebf3a\" 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\/tv7jz-OWHe4\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On \u201cDream,\u201d <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Sonder the Africanime<\/span> orders a specific type of softness, and gets it delivered via vocals that encompass even the smallest of worlds. They intensify emotion with precision, guiding listeners like a meditation through a forest of indecision and quiet longing. It\u2019s a song about overcoming fear and giving in to the moment, of letting go of control and letting the heart lead the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>VERBB, RAF DON, Minz &#8211; \u201ceh eh eh ii\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"04082894-a4e9-4b08-89ce-759f52a0ec61\" 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\/llkzRpcNDPo\" 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\">VERBB<\/span> and <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">RAF DON<\/span>\u2019s \u201ceh eh eh\u201d quietly slipped under the radar, buried in January when most ears were still recovering from the festive season. With <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Minz<\/span> joining on the re-up, the decisive street banger gains a fresh polish while keeping the swagged-out, aura-filled energy of the original intact. There\u2019s an internationalism in the song that grounds its local context in the global; lines like \u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">I want the Rands and some Nairas\/ switch up my location, I want Euros and some Dollars,<\/span>\u201d speak to this inward-oriented, outward-looking disposition. This will be in your head, playing on repeat, until you order it to stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Nonso Amadi &#8211; \u201cGreedy\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"b4b15b06-f1b3-40e8-91b4-608d0327edc7\" 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\/5nsj8R8xfN8\" 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\">Nonso Amadi<\/span>\u2019s smooth, gentle loverboy persona has long anchored his take on Afrobeats. Schooled in the R&amp;B classics that shaped his upbringing and tuned into the global sound whose trajectory he has helped shape, he\u2019s never shy about exploring matters of the heart.<\/p>\n<p>This gem, released during the month of love, is a welcome addition to a rich archive. \u201cGreedy\u201d navigates the tension between hope and disappointment: the optimism of a love in trouble (\u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">If I stand with you, I\u2019ll be standing strong<\/span>\u201d) and the frustration of realizing a partner may not be coming with good intentions (\u201c<span data-lab-italic=\"italic\" class=\"italic m-italic\">Nowhere to find, and nowhere to see ya<\/span>\u201d). It\u2019s a delicate, emotionally resonant balancing act that showcases Nonso Amadi\u2019s trademark romantic honesty.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>We are Nubia &#8211; \u201cAvailable\u201d\u00a0<\/h2>\n<div data-element-guid=\"eab1bdb3-8a18-4807-8ba5-6fa29d5b1758\" 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\/djf-uvRiwa0\" 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\">We Are Nubia<\/span> had a standout year last year, riding the wave of their single \u201cDnD,\u201d which distilled late millennial and Gen-Z desire into shorthand, hiding intimate details behind a groove so infectious that your body had no choice but to move. \u201cAvailable,\u201d from their newly released EP Needs, takes everything we love about <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.okayafrica.com\/14-bongo-flava-classics-you-need-in-your-life\/160880\">bongo flava<\/a> and channels it into a soul-stirring, balanced meditation on readiness and willingness. It\u2019s a love letter to their city, Nairobi: \u201ctastes so sweet, I want it for me,\u201d they harmonize, inviting listeners to experience the city&#8217;s pulse intimately.<\/p>\n<h3>Lagos In Paris, Kilimanjaro &#8211; \u201cLusafro\u201d (Kilimanjaro remix)\u00a0<\/h3>\n<div data-element-guid=\"208b3d70-6e0e-42f0-a635-f01fd6e04b0e\" 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\/altelVMgVHI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Back in June last year, artist collective <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">Lagos In Paris<\/span> released their self-titled six-track EP, We Are Lagos In Paris. Nestled between the serene opener, \u201cMali Spirit,\u201d and the closing track, \u201cTake Me,\u201d was \u201cLusafro,\u201d a funky, high-energy cut designed to get feet moving on the dance floor. London-based Zambian-Scottish <span data-lab-font_weight=\"font-weight-bold\" class=\"font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold\">DJ Kilimanjaro<\/span> reimagines the track through an Afro-tech lens, keeping the vocals central while layering in hypnotic synths. The result lands perfectly: a made-for-the-party collaboration that elevates the original without losing its groove.<\/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>Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top African music releases \u2014 including the latest Afrobeats and amapiano hits \u2014 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. Kivumbi King [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2291329,"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-2291328","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\/02\/1771608985_The-African-Music-You-Need-to-Hear-This-Week-\u2013.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291328","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=2291328"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2291330,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2291328\/revisions\/2291330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2291329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2291328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2291328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2291328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}