The Songs You Need to Hear This Week
The best African music of the week featuring Gyakie, Ladipoe, Seyi Vibez, Oriiginelle, Francis Bebey, and more.
Ghanaian singer Gyakie shares her new single “Sankofa” and features as a guest on the latest episode of our Afrobeats Intelligence podcast.
Every week, OkayAfrica highlights the top Afrobeats and African music releases through our best music column, Songs 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.
Gyakie – “Sankofa”
Gyakie wields her voice like the most fluid instrument, unlocking sweet vocal pockets on "Sankofa," her latest single. Listen closely, and you can also pick out the song's intricate songwriting as Gyakie paints the familiar image of an ex-lover still waiting at the gates of redemption, unable to move on.
Watch Gyakie on the latest episode of our new Afrobeats Intelligence podcast. - Emmanuel Esomnofu
Oriiginelle - “Nguwe” (feat. Jay Jody)
On "Change," Eswatini emcee Oriiginelle traded lavish bars with South Africa's Zulu Mecca, effectively marking the 'real rap' register with one of 2024's underrated releases. "Nguwe" carries the same jazzy, lo-fi feel and finds a vulnerable Oriiginelle singing her lungs out, stacking harmonies with lines like "still got so much work, I'm ill-prepared" before busting into meticulous raps using flows integrated into some form of a higher power. Jay Jody stays on topic and elevates the song to a super saiyan level, rapping: "But I ain't perfect, ke na le diphoso (I have my own flaws)." This is elegant rap music that will resonate now and forever. - Tšeliso Monaheng
Ladipoe & Styl Plus – "Olufunmi (The Missing Recipe)"
With the original "Olufunmi" by Styl Plus being a foundational Afro R&B record, it's no surprise that different artists have felt the need to reimagine it in a modern context. This time, the rapperLadipoe, whose cool stream-of-consciousness style meets the perfect backdrop in the group's harmonizing vocals. Just some lines in, there's the feeling of masterful handling as Ladipoe does what he does so well, bringing to life the colorful flesh of an imagined relationship. Given the stellar delivery, his brag of this being' the missing recipe' lands on the right note. - EE
Francis Bebey - “Immigration Amoureuse”
The release ofTrésor Magnétique is rooted in a profoundly personal discovery. Patrick Bebey, the son of Cameroonian icon Francis Bebey, found a trove of fragile magnetic tapes stored in his home. These tapes, which had sat untouched for years, were painstakingly digitized and restored at London's famed Abbey Road Studios. The result is a collection that radiates both historical depth and contemporary resonance. "Immigration Amoureuse" captures the emotional toll of love strained by geographic and bureaucratic borders for many Africans who migrated to Europe during the post-independence. - TM
Ntate Stunna - “Robari, Pt. 2”
With his debut offering, Sesotho Fashioneng, Ntate Stunna ushered a new age of Lesotho rappers, ones who drew from the innovations of both Famo musicians and rappers of an earlier time, such as Kommanda Obbs and Skebza D. The original "Robari," taken from that album, is a vivid tale of a robbery gone wrong. A series of unfortunate events ends up with the protagonist at odds with himself, wondering how he'll get out of a situation that now has police officers involved. On the Flash Cortez-produced follow-up, Ntate Stunna disregards imminent danger and tries to negotiate with the hostages. "Toronko kapa mokhohlane/ ke re nka mpa ka baleha/ lebaka le nke keng ka tšoaroa, ke tsoile ka parole ene ha ke sa itlaleha, ("Jail or funeral/I'd rather run away/ I can't be arrested, I haven't been reporting for parole/")" he raps, while the cinematic soundscape only elevates the song's impact. This is how you do a follow-up. - TM
Seyi Vibez – "Pressure"
"Only a diamond can come from all this pressure," singsSeyi Vibezon "Pressure." As a man who sometimes calls himself Loseyi Professor, there's an intricate wedging of philosophical themes in Seyi Vibez's music. On this low-tuned salvo, "Pressure," it's the illuminating experience of accepting life's trials paired with the details of a love story. Seyi Vibez's singing here follows the R&B stylings of his early music, highlighting an artist who can move impressively across the sonic touchpoints of their career. With the high-energy, Fuji-indebted style seeming to have been kept in the background, a song like this signifies a new era for one of Afropop's most talented artists. - EE
The Majeek, Shoday & Camidoh – "Face My Fears"
Aspiration is a cornerstone of Afropop, and on this record, the talented trio of The Majeek, Shoday, and Camidohexpress it from different perspectives. Interpolating a famous line from2Baba's"Fly," the record finds the middle ground between Nigerian and Ghanaian sensibilities, utilizing percussions that belong to the former country and pairing them with the laidback soul that characterizes the latter. It's a fine song that reminds one that bleak times tend to pass and that keeping an eye on future possibilities is the best perspective. -EE
Raybekah & Tha Boy Myles – 'Birds Of A Feather (B.O.A.F) [EP]'
On B.O.A.F, the talented Nigerian duo of Tha Boy Myles and Raybekah blend energies to curate a distinct short project. Both artists are united by their soulful tendencies, and the six-track project honors Afropop's introspective and sultry side. Most of the records fall within the mid-tempo range, giving the artists enough space to flex their vocals and songwriting, as they mostly deliver on themes of love and life. It's not every day that two rising artists put in the work to create a project, and efforts like these highlight the potential of deliberate collaboration across the scene. - EE
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