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Rolling Afropop, House, Amapiano, 3-step 2026

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Always felt it would be nice to explicitly re-integrate South-African stuff, as I find that so much of it straddles genres, has commercial appeal, and simply pops. It's also because of the first song I have to share. Hopefully it encourages us to break 100 posts this year :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49GhgLUjzdI
Officixl RSA, Benzoo, Sizwe Alakine - Mabalabala

Looking back, I do not think we have posted Uvalo last year. Sweet stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B12qTSkGmZw
JAZZWRLD, Thukuthela & Babalwa M - uValo

― Naledi, Monday, 5 January 2026 13:58 (nine months ago)

Wahoo!! ONE THREAD!

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Monday, 5 January 2026 13:59 (nine months ago)

Have to slowly move towards that black singularity and keep the afro-futurism spirit

― Naledi, Monday, 5 January 2026 14:11 (nine months ago)

One thread! One hundred posts!!

― Frederik B, Monday, 5 January 2026 14:27 (nine months ago)

And we're off to a good start :)

― Frederik B, Monday, 5 January 2026 14:27 (nine months ago)

TML Vibez & Ruger - Body Tuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85qgMRKMe-M

Became a bit obsessed with this one today. Incredibly lush.

― Frederik B, Monday, 5 January 2026 21:43 (nine months ago)

We haven't had Ankole cows in a while. Enough there to marry a chief's daugther. Nice bass bounce and vocals are on point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRr2UP8U1PE

I won't post Ngysindelwa with Zee Nxumalo. It goes hard and initially gave me Chale vibes at first, but it goes a bit nowhere.

Speaking of lush, how about this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROFZ6p2hMKo
Shoday & Fola - Paparazzi

For people like me who don't listen to many albums, Shallipopi just released a video for Gbefun. I somehow assumed all his other songs would be just heavy on bass like Na So, and boy was I wrong ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06DkCf0tens
Shallipopi - Gbefun (Fine SHit)

― Naledi, Wednesday, 7 January 2026 10:24 (nine months ago)

Know what, let's post Ngyasindelwa after all. It's kind of weird but in style with Durban stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmdvWry-9QI
DJ Lag x Zee Nxumalo feat. K.C Driller - NgyaSindelwa

― Naledi, Wednesday, 7 January 2026 10:48 (nine months ago)

great start

― nxd, Wednesday, 7 January 2026 11:00 (nine months ago)

This thing blasts. I'm sitting on my sofa with my headphones but I feel like I'm in a car with the top off.

― Naledi, Wednesday, 7 January 2026 11:01 (nine months ago)

I wanna repost this one from last year as it's really really good. And also I'm hosting these guys at my next clubnight.

Describing his vibe as "UK Afrohouse" (although personally I'd say it's closer to an amapiano/afrobeats/UK hiphop crossover style, I really think Ilxors in this thread will appreciate Rice & Peas by Boy Sayso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_c7dcC77nE

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Wednesday, 7 January 2026 11:53 (nine months ago)

Yeah, Rice & Peas is 2025 SOTY. NgyaSindelwa is incredible too, though! Around 1:45 when it takes off, Wow!

― Frederik B, Thursday, 8 January 2026 10:03 (nine months ago)

Frederik come to my clubnight! I'm sure Bristol is judt a short flight away..

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Thursday, 8 January 2026 11:06 (nine months ago)

Yeah... Sigh. Not really any good DK Afrohouse club nights. That I know of.

― Frederik B, Thursday, 8 January 2026 11:38 (nine months ago)

I dig the production on Rice & Peas, the vocals less so, but I may still consider voting for it. In terms of fusing styles it's certainly a good one.

― Naledi, Thursday, 8 January 2026 14:34 (nine months ago)

two weeks pass...

From their EP together. Prod by Magicsticks & 4Tunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv5chGtfVTg
Wizkid & Asake - Turbulence

Something a little different, faster and heavier on percussion, but I think it works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hKuvfH1j_w
Seyi Vibez & Omah Lay - My Healer

― Naledi, Tuesday, 27 January 2026 16:43 (eight months ago)

Yeah, I quite like that Wizkid/Asake ep. The rythms are sorta more choppy and stumbling, except of floating along in endless bliss. I think it's part of the move from amapiano to 3-step, perhaps? It fits them.

― Frederik B, Thursday, 29 January 2026 09:21 (eight months ago)

Hoping Asake is working on another Mr Money With The Vibe but with 3-step.

― Frederik B, Thursday, 29 January 2026 09:22 (eight months ago)

In ILM poll for 2025 tracks top African involved finisher -

12 Moliy & Silent Addy ft. Skillibeng & Shenseea - Shake It To The Max (FLY) (Remix)

― curmudgeon, Friday, 30 January 2026 01:53 (eight months ago)

And Zuchu and Shallipopi. Amaarae is also half-Ghanaian.

― Naledi, Friday, 30 January 2026 09:38 (eight months ago)

Been hearing a lot of quite unusual takes on gqom recently.

Starting with this. Desong M - Umcimbi (Feat. Spherzin Tribe)

This strange cantering rhythm that reminds me of 2000s schaffel techno in a way. When I first heard it I thought the DJ had made a mistake and was playing two records offbeat. Certainly a bit odd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_FwTsMJixk

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Friday, 30 January 2026 14:45 (eight months ago)

T.NO is an Amsterdam-based producer who specialises in a super fast style of gqom that might be a bit much for the fainthearted

https://soundcloud.com/tdotno/1-cadence-1?in=tdotno/sets/combat

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Friday, 30 January 2026 14:46 (eight months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg2L0_jPdRI

BabyDaiz - Allonsy

I don't know anything about BabyDaiz, but this is great. riyl Rema in HEIS mode

― obvious old hat (rob), Wednesday, 11 February 2026 20:59 (eight months ago)

Working my way through the OKayAfrica 2025 lists that dj martian posted last year. This is pretty great from Sudan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieWYePUoUFY

― Frederik B, Wednesday, 18 February 2026 11:52 (eight months ago)

Check this out by ARTICLE15 from Congo, 'Robokop'. Love the interpolation of "Petit Papa Noel" (famous French children's Christmas song). Whack CC subs on for the lyrics too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2NcMVn0sM4

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Tuesday, 24 February 2026 16:44 (seven months ago)

xxp 'Allonsy' is great

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Tuesday, 24 February 2026 16:45 (seven months ago)

Robokop is brilliant. Time to dig into the Congo scene I think; here's another very cool BabyDaiz song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHTf1t4H0FU

Allez Tobina Remix Ft. Rebo

― obvious old hat (rob), Tuesday, 3 March 2026 15:23 (seven months ago)

minimalist Afro-house from South African Tea White - "Season"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-GEIKJlYvo

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 March 2026 21:09 (seven months ago)

Rob / others in this thread if you ever come to Bristol, UK you must come (and DJ?) at my Terrain night

― Jonk Raven (dog latin), Wednesday, 11 March 2026 21:38 (seven months ago)

Follow-up to Shake it to the Max is here featuring Rema, though Skillibeng is really given all the space. Not in the same dimension, but I like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvoxXFakSyY
Silent Addy, Rema, Skillibeng & Disco Neil - Ballerina

Not necessarily her most memorable, but nothing wrong with it and AS always worth posting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ALDqFM9dPQ
Ayra Starr - Where do we go

Dlala Thukzin still got it. This edit is very short but admittedly the long version does not do much more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDq11_LZuU8
Zee Nxumalo, Dlala Thukzin - Awe Mah

― Naledi, Thursday, 12 March 2026 10:40 (seven months ago)

<3 awe mah

― nxd, Thursday, 12 March 2026 17:01 (seven months ago)

I wasn't completely wowed by Zee and Dlala new one though I do love her calling someone a "cheeseboy" (whatever that is)

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 12 March 2026 17:56 (seven months ago)

cheers dog latin! two of my oldest friends live in Bristol, so hopefully I will actually be able to take you up on that some day (though I do not know how to dj lol)

Ballerina is alright. I was gonna complain that since Silent Addy is Jamaican it's kind of weird to post it itt, but Rema is so much more the highlight over Skillibeng so n/m

― obvious old hat (rob), Thursday, 12 March 2026 18:09 (seven months ago)

I've been a good person. Technically late 2025 (from his album) but new to me and a video is out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qScsIn8UCcM
Young Jonn feat. Asake & Focalistic - 2 Factor

Reminds me of Dunnie and Qing Madi, but better ? Dutch Ghanaian girl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC454PNk6TQ
Nana Fofie - Where it hurts

This one is slick and could please some people here. Very different from your usual Tanzania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnyOKHzoWBo
Itaré - Pretty Girl

Ruger being out-rugered

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiunuwJI_4U
Bayanni - Stick to the Plan

― Naledi, Wednesday, 18 March 2026 13:56 (seven months ago)

Ballerina is alright. I was gonna complain that since Silent Addy is Jamaican it's kind of weird to post it itt, but Rema is so much more the highlight over Skillibeng so n/m
― obvious old hat (rob), jeudi 12 mars 2026 18:09 (six days ago) bookmarkflaglink

I actually agree, but we don't have a thread, do we? The reggae/dancehall one wasn't reconducted since last year, is there another ?

― Naledi, Wednesday, 18 March 2026 14:07 (seven months ago)

I wasn't completely wowed by Zee and Dlala new one though I do love her calling someone a "cheeseboy" (whatever that is)
― curmudgeon, jeudi 12 mars 2026 17:56 (six days ago) bookmarkflaglink

I assumed she meant Geez, boy, but now you have me thinking

― Naledi, Wednesday, 18 March 2026 14:11 (seven months ago)

xp We do! Sorry, I gave it a confusing name: rolling surf the riddim 2026

Though not entirely deliberately confusing, in my defence; the JA scene remains kind of disappointing imo, while there is a ton of exciting energy in la francophonie and dancehall-influenced music elsewhere. otoh I also started posting stuff from Mauritius and La Réunion in that thread, so I certainly shouldn't be policing this one lol

― obvious old hat (rob), Wednesday, 18 March 2026 14:47 (seven months ago)

You are officially excused because now I know there's a genre of music called Bouyon (bouillon, as in bouillon cube).

― Naledi, Wednesday, 18 March 2026 15:15 (seven months ago)

hmm that raises the tantalizing prospect of a genre called bouillabaisse

― obvious old hat (rob), Wednesday, 18 March 2026 15:47 (seven months ago)

beastie boys did it

― harper valley paul thomas anderson (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 18 March 2026 15:59 (seven months ago)

two weeks pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDRZnWCGPY4

Didi B feat Zlatan, Chley - Je m’appelle

This is cool, is it borrowing some SA sound I'm not familiar with? it has an earlier era of amapiano vibe to me, but e.g., I'm not quite sure what 3-step sounds like

― obvious old hat (rob), Tuesday, 7 April 2026 19:38 (six months ago)

I like it!

Didi B is Ivorian, so there's a hint of coupé decalé in there but other than that I'd say it's amapiano really

― rameau in the main room (dog latin), Tuesday, 7 April 2026 21:55 (six months ago)

I just read that Didi B is Ivorian and Wiki and another site I looked at said Zlatan is Nigerian while I see that Chley is South African

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 April 2026 22:57 (six months ago)

A friend suggested Didi B is part of the Rap Ivoire scene, which I'd not heard of before but am now very interested in

― rameau in the main room (dog latin), Wednesday, 8 April 2026 08:00 (six months ago)

francophone west african rap is consistently the best

i liked didi b's double album last year, diyilem & bazarhoff: genius

― ufo, Wednesday, 8 April 2026 10:01 (six months ago)

ufo, please feel free to post any highlights from that double album! the thread is quiet enough that personally I'm fine with ignoring the year

here's a brand new one though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uZ25_etXHk

Fally Ipupa - Jam (ft. Wizkid)

Wizkid is pretty dominant for a feature

― obvious old hat (rob), Monday, 20 April 2026 14:31 (six months ago)

This gqom banger is from a year ago but it's new to me and whooaaoaoaoa

General C'mamane - Money Tree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zBdO8wzlEk

― rameau in the main room (dog latin), Monday, 20 April 2026 14:38 (six months ago)

sick track

― obvious old hat (rob), Monday, 20 April 2026 14:51 (six months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-ZfhAbcG4c

BabyDaiz - Coupé

― rob, Friday, 24 April 2026 18:14 (five months ago)

I'm happy I put 3-step in the title cause it's clearly the year for it to explode. This is from Dec 25. MaWhoo has really become South Africa's top singer right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd-XuJkGCaY
Nkosazana Daughter, MaWhoo, Essa Kay & Skillz - Khetha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQBsWH99Pyk
DJ Maphorisa, GL_Ceejay, Jazzworx & Da Lee LS - AIBOO

And an older one from 2024 that I completely missed with always delicious vocals from Ami Faku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vznEXGFTjSI
Caiiro - Ndisize feat. Ami Faku

And I don't think we posted Tholukuthi last year, exactly the kind of low-key banger where you can nod appreciatingly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmx50Kh1lVQ
JAZZWRLD, GL_Ceejay & Thukuthela - Tholukuthi (Clap Song)

― Naledi, Sunday, 3 May 2026 10:03 (five months ago)

Jazzwrld has the best sound right now and I think he knows it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnmgItmroVo
JAZZWRLD - Ningikhonzele

― Naledi, Saturday, 23 May 2026 09:53 (four months ago)

It is definitely true that I'm sleeping on SA, but I just listened to "Nam Angeke" and liked it a lot so I plan to rectify that. I

n the meantime, is this SA-influenced? because the production is fantastic, love how it subtly amps up as it goes along:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRfb4NVD8LE

Blaqbonez - Chanel (feat. Asake)

― rob, Monday, 25 May 2026 14:00 (four months ago)

South African Amapiano act Mas Musiq has officially cancelled his scheduled United States tour dates, citing unforeseen circumstances beyond his control.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 31 May 2026 19:30 (four months ago)

This whole JayJayy album is incredible -- thank you!
― cr4bdbgs, lundi 18 mai 2026 19:38 (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink

Late reply but I listened to it and agree it's good to very good, even if nothing quite touches Mngani Wami - I've listened to that one a lot - fantastic song, does something really special and addictive, also my favorite chorus in a long time.

― Naledi, Thursday, 4 June 2026 07:11 (four months ago)

This is nicely light and springy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3Zvr_oZ2Q8
Victony - Fre$h

I didn't really react to it the first time, but this is worth posting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAZ0eGMWhuM
BNXN & Sarz - Back outside

― Naledi, Thursday, 4 June 2026 12:46 (four months ago)

On a more experimental side

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXL-j_zaHrU
Muzi & Msaki - Khethile

― Naledi, Thursday, 4 June 2026 13:00 (four months ago)

Naledi, "Fre$h" and "Kthethile" are both extremely my shit, and "Back Outside" is good too - thank you!!!

― sean gramophone, Thursday, 4 June 2026 13:35 (four months ago)

With pleasure, really like them both myself. I'm intrigued by the Fre$h outro - fooled me it was another song starting and possibly an even better one.

― Naledi, Thursday, 4 June 2026 13:56 (four months ago)

yeah i was like "where do i hear this!?!"

― sean gramophone, Thursday, 4 June 2026 14:21 (four months ago)

Need to catch up on some of the above. Listening now to R2Bees, who folks have posted about occasionally here on ILM since like 2015 and who are coming to DC later this month

― curmudgeon, Friday, 5 June 2026 21:58 (four months ago)

When I first got into 'afrobeats' and listened to DJ Abrantee mixes, the R2Bees tracks were often my favourites. But they kinda got left behind along with most of the other artists from Ghana on those mixes.

― Frederik B, Monday, 8 June 2026 12:19 (four months ago)

Thanks to everyone keeping this thread alive. So much good music :)

― Frederik B, Monday, 8 June 2026 12:20 (four months ago)

Just posted over on the albums of the year thread, but the amapiano/South African stuff on my albums list so far:

JayJayy: Detour
Djy Biza: Art of War
Djy Ora: The SGIDONOLOGIST2
Zee Nxumalo & Dlala Thukzin: Inznja Zam Vol. 1 EP
Uncle Waffles & Royal MusiQ: 4 DA STREETS! EP

― cr4bdbgs, Tuesday, 9 June 2026 16:48 (four months ago)

two weeks pass...

https://daily.bandcamp.com/album-of-the-day/various-artists-mzansi-bass-curated-by-shannen-sp-review

Mzansi bass compilation of various South African club beat styles put together for a label from elsewhere

― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 June 2026 15:08 (three months ago)

That link above is to the daily Bandcamp review. I like this part of the description on the label’s link for the album

At its core, the compilation was built through a process shaped by Johannesburg’s electronic underground culture; studio hopping, whatsapp groups, new tracks tested in cars on the way to the club, and similarly informed by Durban’s unique ecosystem where convoys of taxi drivers equipped with huge sound systems throw informal gqom raves, functioning as distributors when USBs change hands, circulating new sounds and styles before they reach any formal platform

― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 June 2026 15:13 (three months ago)

https://tratratrax.bandcamp.com/album/mzansi-bass-compilation

― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 June 2026 15:14 (three months ago)

Ayra Starr has a new single, she's also featuring on a fun Peggy Gou single (Wo, man)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90jy5Jgzb-Y
Ayra Starr - Tornado

A sweet flowing long Amapiano track that goes on forever in a good way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnsURjDwPmA
ShaunMusiq, Bassie, LeeMcKrazy, Mashudu - Ngiyak'cela

― Naledi, Saturday, 27 June 2026 14:51 (three months ago)

Also let it be known that I'm a big fan of Thatohatsi ever since I heard (and saw the video of) Amalanga. This one builds up nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN2JALXpSV8
Thakzin & Thatohatsi - Mele Bakuzwe

― Naledi, Saturday, 27 June 2026 15:16 (three months ago)

love that compilation

― nxd, Monday, 29 June 2026 04:43 (three months ago)

Cosign on the great compilation from TraTraTrax

― Frederik B, Wednesday, 8 July 2026 11:55 (three months ago)

One that I'm returning to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3gpgxx72Nw
Zee Nxumalo - Ngithathiwe

― Naledi, Saturday, 18 July 2026 15:19 (three months ago)

https://autotunetheworld.bandcamp.com/album/studio-simpa-digital-dance-music-on-vcd-from-dagbon-ghana

Studio Simpa: Digital dance music on VCD from Dagbon, Ghana

Hi-energy electronic dance music from Northern Ghana, created by farmers turned musicians working out of DIY rural studios. Relentless percussion, trance loops, heavy autotune and slinky VST synths. Sourced from locally-released VCDs circulating the markets of Dagbon and entirely unavailable outside the region until now.

Studio Simpa collects tracks from the past decade of the neo-traditional Dagomba dance genre, modernized traditional percussion dance - produced by Mohamed “Ebony” Fuseini, recording drums on his phone and recreating the sound of traditional music via FL Studio. Collaborating with “Gawani”, flashy singers from the surrounding villages and local VCD producers, Ebony created hyper-electronic versions of simpa for the local video market, complete with suggestive videos of women shaking their hips - light cultural transgression in the predominantly Muslim Dagomba North.

The compilation showcases the top artists of the scene - Dickson Gawani, Bala Zaaku, Yaa Naara and others - across a range of style and subject, from political commentary to warrior clan rhythms. Includes extensive liner notes by Morgan Greenstreet with artist interviews, cultural history, and song translations.

Compilation curated by Morgan Greenstreet and Christopher Kirkley
Research and interviews conducted by
Morgan in December 2023, following an initial visit in 2015. Chris K runs the Sahel Sounds label, and Morgan “modrums” Greenstreet, is the drummer in Loboko and producer for Lollise

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 19 July 2026 05:35 (three months ago)

I wanted to hate this prom-theme-ass song, but it got me (it's not as good as Back Outside though):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVtmoS5Dcck

BNXN & Sarz - Emotional High

― rob, Saturday, 25 July 2026 13:52 (two months ago)

Speaking of being won over, I'll accept this feel-good song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWsLroEUftI
Felo le Tee, Miikey Ndlovu, Mlooda feat. Q Bonqe - Ithuba

Also worth nothing that we keep expanding our 3-step playlist (or adjacent), including with 2025 songs. I'm starting to think of this sound as the final merge between South African House, Amapiano and Gqom. It's on the gentle and intense side, but that suits my personality.
- Zee Nxumalo, Skillz & Sykes - Mamma
- LKG and MSA feat. Sami Kay, Misokuhle - Lengoma
- Jazzwrld, Thukuthela, Babalwa M - Uvalo
- Piano City, Kelvin Momo, Thathohatsi - Amalanga

For 2026, my holy quinity is:
- Ningikhonzele - song of the year, what a vocal track, simply stellar
- Awe Mah
- Nam Angeke
- Phesheya
- Khetha

― Naledi, Saturday, 25 July 2026 15:30 (two months ago)

Jazzwrld so expertly blends those great voices and the instrumental rhythms on that one and others

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 25 July 2026 20:15 (two months ago)

Ningikhonzele song I mean

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 25 July 2026 20:15 (two months ago)

Via Brad Luen's substack and Bluesky I learned about Feza Langa's South African maskandi genre style late 2025 “Umaqondana” song and his number one on 2026 South African streaming song "Sengithole Omunye" that is popular both in the original version and the remix. He's from the mostly Zulu town of Nquthu. The harmonic vocal style and the instrumentation here on "Sengithole Omunye (feat. Chulumanco M) (remix)" is more traditional Zulu with early 1980s roots. Maskandi-rooted South African pop is not like amapiano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf9Q7_myCAw

― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 July 2026 21:48 (two months ago)

“Biama is basically coupé-décalé 2.0, like at 200% speed,” says Cédric Kouamé, a music producer and chief archivist at Baoulecore Archive Center in the Angrè district of Abidjan. “Like maïmouna, it comes from Yopougon . Most trends start [in] Yopougon. It is basically where a lot of artists started their career.

From Guardian article

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 August 2026 15:05 (two months ago)

digging this
https://hakunakulala.bandcamp.com/album/skeffu

― urmbchjo, Wednesday, 12 August 2026 21:08 (two months ago)

xps ok where do i find some biama tracks? 'coupe decale at 200% speed' sounds like a crazy idea for a genre, i want to hear that

― ufo, Wednesday, 12 August 2026 22:22 (two months ago)

2025 article on biama that names some artists

https://pan-african-music.com/en/biama-enfant-terrible-coupe-decale/

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 August 2026 20:17 (two months ago)

I haven't heard the rest of Ayra Starr's new album, but "Ms Paper" w/Theodora is rad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fCwU7NNdBg

― rob, Friday, 14 August 2026 20:03 (two months ago)

critic Brad Luen is excited about one of South African Nandipha808 2 albums out this year -Who Made Who that is a collaboration with Caaza. Nandipha808 also put out Private Members Only this year and "No Vocals" album in 2025.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 17 August 2026 21:16 (two months ago)

banger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJIK6mKz900

― 99 gram lychee (Noodle Vague), Friday, 21 August 2026 06:59 (two months ago)

three weeks pass...

I've just discovered this happy guy from Uganda - nice androgynous voice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIH4nhli-AU
Joshua Baraka - Yo Yo

Back to Nigeria: interesting blends here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKtfSt8uBd4
FirstKlaz - Salama

And now combined with 3-step

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU8U6Dzjj00
FirstKlaz & JAZZWRLD - Tsammani

― Naledi, Thursday, 17 September 2026 13:36 (one month ago)

(And for a moment I was thinking, oh there's two Na Je songs, but of course it's the same one, see Noodle Vague'd post just above :D independent discoveries !)

― Naledi, Thursday, 17 September 2026 13:46 (one month ago)

Interesting piece on the state of things: https://www.npr.org/2026/09/23/nx-s1-5931860/african-pop-tyla-ayra-starr-davido

As someone who isn't keeping up with the scene much I liked reading that, but it's kind of funny that he recognizes but then basically reproduces the problem of narrowing "afropop" down to mostly Nigerian music. Would be interesting to know if afropop is similarly fading in other countries as well. At one point amapiano seemed to be absolutely everywhere, if not nec on the charts.

I also think increasing American insularity since 2024 is an obvious if hard to quantify factor in the dip. Though he mentions K-Pop -- is that still popular in the US? I'm not quite convinced K-Pop Demon Hunters would could as evidence of that, but maybe I'm wrong

― rob, Thursday, 24 September 2026 19:47 (three weeks ago)

K-pop band BTS just played 2 nights at a Baltimore football stadium recently so there's an audience. I didn't go so can't tell you anything about demographics. Now the Afro + fest in the parking lot of the Washington Commanders football stadium near DC drew big crowds (but not quite BTS size) over 3 days of labor Day weekend for Afrobeats stars, some amapiano, some dancehall & soca, some rap, some r& b, & a few other African genres. The crowd for Afro Plus was largely African and Caribbean but also African-American. Yeah, afropop may not be crossing over more to American pop & country song masses but at least here in the DC area its gotten on r& b/rap radio which is still a strong listening factor here and has gotten the genres a bit of support from non-recent immigrants.

It may have been just bragging, but I heard an IG live with the organizers of Afro Plus fest and they said folks want them to organize big events in Toronto, NY , and Paris! This is not necessarily countering any claims of afropop fading, but it is demonstrating that there's still a sizable large audience in those locales for the music.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 25 September 2026 05:41 (three weeks ago)

At one point Sheldon Pearce in his NPR article says :

But Tyla returns to a different landscape than the one she entered, the crossover outlook for Afro-pop having narrowed considerably.

but later he says:

The Afro-pop takeover of the American market never fully manifested, at least not the way it has for K-pop. There are many reasons for the economic disparity, not least the ways that colorism amplifies xenophobia — but Afro-pop also isn't optimized for social engagement and video-powered feeds in the same way. It's worth noting the difference in ground covered, too: The space of that "K" represents a nation, while Afro-pop has to speak for several.

I am wondering if he is saying (as critic Dave Moore and others say) that streaming and the current charts are more stagnant than those of even 4 years or so ago. I think it was always hard for afropop/afrobeats to crossover in the US and it was impressive that artists did thanks to US r&b/hiphop radio and other outlets.

As for the music being stagnant and the artists somehow being responsible for not having a K-pop Demon Hunters moment -- I like that Pearce also simply notes when talking about Ayra Starr that :

Starr Girl didn't chart on the Billboard 200, but listening to it, that feels more like the chart's problem than the artist's. It's worth wondering if the American market should even be treated as a cultural hegemony any longer: The charts and Top 40 radio have seen less and less turnover in recent years, and grown significantly less diverse at the summit. If patterns hold and the next break never comes for Afro-pop, it will still have been worth it for all the artists leading the push, the breakthroughs made while seeking to transcend boundaries.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 25 September 2026 18:48 (three weeks ago)

In rotation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUhZRUY8lRo
TNS, Zee Nxumalo, Argento Dust - Yini

Also Mali from last year. And Vuma Dlozi Lami (Issa Sisdoh) from two years ago.

― Naledi, Thursday, 1 October 2026 07:19 (two weeks ago)

I haven't read the NPR piece in depth, only skimmed, but it seems strange to speak about the state of a continental industry through the lens of US Grammys and charts, considering Tyla as a central figure, and making a comparison with K-pop. I agree it reinforces the impression of US insularity and potentially old clichés about Africa finally developing but ultimately falling short of really proving itself. I'm sure the article is just using this as a hook, I see it delves into the history and directions of the genre, describes it as something quite large, macro- and multi-headed, with its own aesthetics and relation with the pop spectrum etc. Maybe people wouldn't read it otherwise.

― Naledi, Thursday, 1 October 2026 07:36 (two weeks ago)

x-post -That 2025 TNS, Zee Nxumalo, Argento Dust - Yini song is great even if it feels a bit South African formulaic. They do that formula with the sweet vocal melodies over the afro-house dance beats and synth flourishes so well

I forget whether that NPR piece alluded at all to US rap & r&b having less pop crossover moments in US now as well, and yeah is that the standard we should be worried about. As I noted above, Pearce does choose to praise Ayra Starr even if she hasn't had a US crossover Billboard moment now

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 1 October 2026 18:10 (two weeks ago)

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/oct/06/african-music-afrobeats-tyla

Article regarding how limiting it can be when western music biz calls everything “afrobeats “

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 7 October 2026 04:47 (two weeks ago)

Limiting especially for African musicians and audiences

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 7 October 2026 04:48 (two weeks ago)

i think when we've had like, burna boy doing arena tours all across na/europe/australia then you can actually say afrobeats has meaningfully 'broken through' in the west, even if that hasn't translated to the same level of chart success as the biggest kpop acts have had

― ufo, Wednesday, 7 October 2026 05:40 (two weeks ago)

i hadn't really seen tyla get lumped in as afrobeats before, it's disappointing but it's not really surprising when she's the only south african act to have any sort of western crossover success, with pretty much all other african pop acts that have had recent crossover success being nigerian or occasionally ghanaian

― ufo, Wednesday, 7 October 2026 05:58 (two weeks ago)

but idk this piece is a bit odd. it's definitely a problem when 'afrobeats' gets used to refer to unrelated african pop genres instead of just the nigerian pop scene (and i don't think having a broad term there is really possible to avoid) and i agree it would be great if western coverage was better at contextualising the particular subgenres nigerian acts have come from, but i don't think it's really western journalism's fault that some of those sounds haven't developed into longer lasting scenes. not every new subgenre is long-lasting and that's going to be way more about the local music industry than anything else.

― ufo, Wednesday, 7 October 2026 06:34 (two weeks ago)

maybe you all have already heard this, but if not, a gift for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4aLN_GwpQU

Solana & Killertunes - OkunKun

― rob, Thursday, 8 October 2026 20:58 (one week ago)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/lagos-hypemen-redefining-afrobeats-music-afrohype

hypemen

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 18 October 2026 21:15 (three days ago)


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