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- Africa has always delivered exciting and innovative music, but regularly gets overlooked.
- Artists like Burna Boy, Ayrra Starr and Tyla have put the continent's music in the spotlight.
- Spotify highlighted some emerging artists from sub-Saharan Africa, forming part of the continent's new wave of music.
Africa has always delivered exciting and innovative music, but regularly gets overlooked. Artists like Burna Boy, Ayra Starr and Tyla have put the continent's music in the spotlight, particularly the genres of afrobeats and amapiano.
However, Africa has so much more to offer beyond those major artists. Genres like lekompo, asakaa, dancehall, fuji, gqom and countless others also deserve just as much love.
Here's a look at some emerging artists Spotify has highlighted from sub-Saharan Africa, forming part of the continent's new wave of music.
READ | Amapiano: Revolutionising South Africa's music scene and empowering the youth
Lwah Ndlunkulu
South African singer/songwriter Lwah Ndlunkulu infuses her music with traditional elements, mixing styles such as maskandi and afropop. She is known for her songs, Eyami and Ngiyeza, with her 2023 album, Imizwa, seeing overall streaming success.
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Mr Thela
Mr Thela is a gqom DJ and producer from Cape Town, having independently released the album, Tronics Land Series 2, this year. His debut album, Make Cape Town Great Again, released in 2020 also earned him a SAMA.
Kharishma
Considered one of the leading figures in the lekompo scene, South African artist Kharishma has gained a strong following, consistently dropping projects since 2022. She is known for her songs, Matome and Sekoloto. Lekompo is a lesser-known dance genre emerging from Limpopo, with a distinct local DIY sound.
Filah Lah Lah
R&B artists and BET Africa Soul Cypher alum Filah Lah Lah has seen rising prominence over the years and signed a deal with Sony Africa. Since 2019, she has dropped several EPs and singles with consistent streaming numbers. The South African artist released her latest single, Call Me, in February.
Kaestyle
Nigerian artist and producer Kaestyle blends R&B and soul for a relaxed sound. The artist has made a slew of small releases since 2021, with the single, Egberi, being his most recent.
Kold AF
Emerging artist Kold AF hails from Nigeria and takes influence from soul, dancehall and R&B. She has dropped two EPs - Kold SZN in 2022 and Kollide in 2023.
Sigag Lauren
Producer, singer and songwriter Sigag Lauren mixes various genres into his EDM framework. Having dropped numerous singles and a few EPs on streaming services since 2018, the artist released his latest single, Parachutes, on Friday.
Kah-lo
Nigerian artist Kah-lo is a rising star, who has scored significant popularity through collaborations and solo works. She has already received a Grammy nomination for her collaboration with British DJ Riton on Rinse and Repeat. She also released her debut solo album, Pain/Pleasure, in 2023.
Yaadman
Also known as Yung L, Yaadman is a dancehall and reggae artist from Plateau State. Having dropped music for over a decade, Yaadman's popularity continues to grow, consistently dropping projects year after year.
Lemon Adisa
Lemon Adisa mixes traditional African rhythms with modern sounds and influences. His blend of genres includes fuji, afro beats, R&B and hip-hop. He dropped his newest project, Yeebo, in February.
Lasmid
Ghanian artist Lasmid is part of a rich tradition of hiplife music, which is one of the country's most well-known musical creations. The artist saw breakout success with his song, Friday Night, and has continued to see chart success with his other singles.
Jay Bhad
Ghanian artist Jay Bhad makes Asakaa music, which is Ghanian drill, featuring elements of hiplife. His songs, Condemn and Y3 Y3Dom, have been hits on different platforms.
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