In curating the list of 25 emerging African artistes to watch in 2025, we—as always—scoured every corner of the continent’s sonic landscape, uncovering voices that are shaping the present and daring to redefine the future.
By Afrocritik’s Music Board
One of the enduring backbones of African music’s ascent is its endless capacity for renewal. Year after year, the continent proves itself to be an unrelenting incubator of new talent, producing voices that challenge conventions, reimagine traditions, and expand the possibilities of its sonic palette.
As the mainstream broadens and more genres find space to flourish, the next wave of artistes becomes even more crucial in pushing the boundaries of creativity and ensuring the sound’s momentum remains unbroken.
At Afrocritik, we’ve always prioritised amplifying the continent’s vast pool of untapped talent. In curating the list of 25 emerging African artistes to watch in 2025, we—as always—scoured every corner of the continent’s sonic landscape, uncovering voices that are shaping the present and daring to redefine the future.
The criteria were clear: We examined impactful or groundbreaking singles from 2024—those that spark conversations or cement an artiste’s arrival. Debut EPs also played a significant role, as they often serve as an artiste’s first major creative statement. Lastly, we focused on cult followings, no matter how small—because where there’s genuine devotion, there’s often a spark of something special.
However, if you’re wondering why some already familiar names are noticeably absent, it’s simply because this list isn’t focused solely on the already established or widely celebrated artistes. Instead, it shines a spotlight on emerging voices shaping the future of African music—bold, inventive, and uncompromising in their artistry.
Khalil Harrison (South Africa)
Signed to Tyler ICU’s Baby Blue Entertainment, Khalil Harrison is a rising star whose musical journey is taking flight at a meteoric pace. In the past year, he’s shared the stage with global icons like Jason Derulo and Diamond Platnumz, planting his flag on the summit of hits such as “Jealousy,” “Komasava,” and “Dalie.” With a co-sign from Chris Brown echoing his approval of Harrison’s talent, this prodigy from Mpumalanga is quickly becoming a torchbearer for Amapiano, and a beacon of South African and African music.
With his debut album, Uzwile Bathwini, set to drop on January 31st, 2025, Khalil Harrison is a force poised to shake the musical landscape. As he steps into the new year, he carries the weight of well known potential, promising to carve a legacy and possibly set the cornerstone for a journey to the very zenith of African music.
tg. blk (Kenya)
Born and raised in the vibrant coastal city of Mombasa, tg.blk first made waves with her viral debut single “Love Being Used,” a raw DIY creation — recorded, mixed, and mastered in the confines of her university bedroom. This self-crafted anthem spread, igniting hundreds of thousands of streams in just a matter of weeks.
After a two-year pause, tg.blk returned in 2024 with her debut EP IT’S NOT THAT DEEP, swiftly reclaiming her fanbase and drawing in new listeners. Her streams soared, positioning her as the second most listened-to artist on Spotify in Kenya. As her numbers rise, tg.blk stands as a trailblazer, charting a bold course for a new era of Kenyan underground rap, where alte rap is emerging as the future of Kenyan Hip Hop.
Deela (Nigeria)
The saying, “Good girl no dey pay,” is a popular phrase that resonates deeply among many, reflecting societal observations and shared experiences. Nigerian-born but United Kingdom-based Alté artiste, Deela, has cleverly chosen this phrase as the title for her new project, encapsulating the bold and unapologetic energy she brings to her music.
The EP has not only received impressive airplay on various radio stations but has also garnered streams on DSPs, solidifying Deela as a rising star to watch.
With the momentum gained from this release, Deela is set to take the music scene by storm in 2025. Fans and music lovers alike can look forward to a catalogue of daring, carefree songs that challenge conventions while celebrating individuality and self-expression.
Fares LÜNN (Algeria)
At the core of Fares LÜNN’s musical expression is the seamless fusion of tradition and innovation, manifested through his ability to blend Moroccan sounds with the rhythms of Afro-Pop and Hip-Hop.
While he predominantly operates within these genres, he effortlessly incorporates elements of local Moroccan music to create rich sonic experiences that resonate on both personal and universal levels.
His standout singles, “NOD” and “Daman”, featuring Loun, showcase his unique ability to build soundscapes that transcend the conventional. As he continues to redefine the sound of Afro-Pop and Hip-Hop, it’s clear that he’s here to stay.
FOLA (Nigeria)
FOLA’s rise to prominence in 2024 had all the trappings of a breakout moment. Aided by a viral TikTok challenge, his collaboration with Bahd Boi OML on “Alone” became a sleeper hit, gradually creeping into the mainstream consciousness.
The buzz surrounding the track reached another level when BNXN jumped on the remix, pushing it to the top of the charts.
That momentum carried Fola straight into the arms of Bella Shmurda’s label, Dangbana Republik, a signing that brought with it a wave of skepticism. Could Fola live up to the hype, or would he fade as just another TikTok-era sensation?
His debut EP, What A Feeling, provided an emphatic answer. Across its six tracks, Fola demonstrated a knack for versatility, borrowing from Afro-Pop, Amapiano, and R&B while keeping the songs anchored by a raw, emotional weight that makes his music feel deeply personal.
As whispers of a full-length project grow louder, FOLA stands poised to solidify his place in the Afro-Pop landscape. If his EP, What A Feeling, is any indication, there’s plenty more to anticipate from an artiste determined to keep us all leaning forward, waiting to see what he’ll do next.
4Mr Frank White (Kenya)
4Mr Frank White, the trailblazer of Swahili Afro-Swing rap, is the rising star in Kenya’s Rap scene, who casts a light and promises to guide the next wave of the country’s talent.
In less than two years, he has established a unique iteration of Afro–Swing music through three major projects, with the recently celebrated Taigwa Goma standing as an indication of artistic prowess. There is a steadfast dedication and consistency he has established a reputation for, setting a golden standard for other young artistes to follow.
His breakout single, “Alicia Keys”, was the spark that ignited his unique sound, and introduced the world to his signature Afro-Swing rap.
Through creative sampling and masterful interpolation, his music is like a canvas painted with echoes of past musical giants, blending the old with the new in a symphony of influences.
Kenny Sol (Rwanda)
Under the banner of Igitangaza Music, Bruce Melodie has become a guiding light for emerging artistes, while Kenny Sol is rapidly establishing himself as one of Rwanda’s brightest prospects in music.
With powerful collaborations alongside African heavyweights such as Nigeria’s DJ Neptune and Tanzania’s Marioo and Harmonize, Sol is steadily carving a niche for himself in Africa’s music scene, positioning himself as Rwanda’s gift to the continent.
His single, “No One”, became Rwanda’s melodic anthem in 2024, signalling that Sol is merely scratching the surface of his boundless potential. He promises a future filled with waves of unforgettable music in 2025.
Ayo Maff (Nigeria)
The strong grip of Street-Pop music on Nigerian music is undeniable. Every year, a new Street-Pop artiste emerges, captures the pulse of the streets, and makes their mark. Among the latest to join this lineage is Ayo Maff—born Mafoluku Ayorinde Ayodele. However, Ayo Maff brings something different.
This young Bariga native distils his life’s gritty truths into music that cuts deep, resonating with every hustler who has ever fought to rise from the trenches.
His breakthrough track, “Dealer”, featuring Fireboy DML, and his cohesive EP, Maffian, both released in 2024, have solidified his place among the most exciting talents in the scene. With an authenticity that resonates deeply, Ayo Maff is poised to stake his claim as one of the most thrilling voices of 2025.
D Voice (Tanzania)
D Voice, born Abdul Hamisi Mtambo on October 10, 2004, is a rising star in the Singeli music scene. At just 20 years old, he has quickly become a force in the Bongo Flava scene and has been crowned the latest jewel of WCB Wasafi Records, the label owned by Diamond Platinumz.
With collaborations alongside musical titans like Zuchu and Mbosso, D Voice is already etching his name into the fabric of Tanzanian music. His songs, including “Tunapendana”, “Nani”, and “BamBam”, are the rhythms of a new wave, resonating across East Africa as major hits.
Kali Mija (South Africa)
Kali Mija, a visionary artiste from Johannesburg, South Africa, has been captivating audiences with her unique fusion of R&B and modern influences.
In 2024, she collaborated with several acts on notable tracks, including “Run From Home” with Cazt and Flip; “Control” with Seb Wildblood; “Delusional” with Memblem, and “Reminds Me of You” with Tim Hughes, cementing her position in mainstream consciousness.
She also released her scintillating EP, Fractured Reflections, which showcased her versatility and lyrical depth, solidifying her status as a rising star in the contemporary R&B scene. Kali Mija is undoubtedly an artiste to watch out for this year.
Lifesize Teddy (Nigeria)
In the second half of 2023, Mavin Records, one of Nigeria’s homegrown record labels, unveiled Lifesize Teddy as their new artiste. She became the second female artiste signed to the label.
Two years on, she has been steadily making headway, showcasing why she is regarded as one of the next big names in the music industry.
With approximately thirteen thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, there is certainly room for growth for the Port Harcourt-raised singer and rapper. Her two songs released in 2024, “Selina” and “Many Men”, continue to garner impressive streams on digital platforms.
Serøtonin (Nigeria)
A fine blend of Victony and Oxlade, Serøtonin’s vocals have a soothing allure that could lull you to sleep. His two songs stand as a testament to the beauty he has to offer. “May 10th”, his hit track, captures a sensuous moment between a man and a woman.
One striking attribute of the singer is that, despite having only a handful of songs to his name, his skill and talent are impossible to overlook. 2025 promises to be an exciting year for him.
Oluwamillar (Nigeria)
In August 2024, OluwaMillar caught the attention of many fans with his track “Alubarika”, receiving co-signs from industry heavyweights. The track finds the rapper spitting lines and setting things straight—“I am here to stay”, he seems to declare.
His highly anticipated debut project is slated for release on January 22, 2025, titled Agbalagbi. More than six months after the release of “Alubarika”, OluwaMillar continues to capture fans’ attention.
If anyone doubted his potential, his announcement video clips—which have garnered thousands of views—show that fans can’t wait for what he plans to offer. With about eleven months left in the year, a lot should be expected from this first-class graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Yammi (Tanzania)
Yammi is a rising star in Baibuda music—her melodies blend the rich spices of Taarab from the East African coast with Tanzania’s Bongo Flava. Signed to the label, The African Princess, under Nandy, Yammi stands as a force in the Tanzanian music industry, traditionally dominated by male artistes.
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In the male-dominated Bongo Flava scene, Yammi has carved out a potential throne, claiming a seat at the forefront. Her debut EP, 3 Hearts, was a storm of emotion, with the heartbreak anthem “Naumia” resonating deeply within the hearts of music fans.
In 2024, she continued to weave her magic, capturing a growing fanbase with hits like “Kukupenda” and the evocative “Nitaduma Nae”, featuring Mbosso.
Zeze Kingston (Malawi)
Zeze Kingston, a rising star in Afro-Piano music, has spent years building his legacy as a television personality and producer, but now he’s casting his net deeper into the artistic ocean, eager to carve his own path as an artiste.
With his debut EP, In My Zone, as his launching pad, he achieved success, with the track “Mvetsela” — a collaboration with Temwah and Jillz — becoming a wave that swept across the airwaves. In 2024, Kingston released three chapters of his mixtape series, For the Streets, a sonic journey that echoed the heartbeat of Southeastern Africa, solidifying Zeze Kingston’s place as one of Malawi’s rising stars.
Morravey (Nigeria)
After Davido’s much-anticipated return to the music scene in 2023 with his fourth album, Timeless, he also unveiled the revamped DMW 2.0 record label. At the heart of this reimagined powerhouse was Morravey, a young female act whose voice carried the promise of something truly special. Her standout contribution to “In the Garden”, a breezy, Amapiano-inflected track on the album, was a striking introduction to a voice brimming with potential.
The momentum didn’t stop there. Later that year, Morravey unveiled RAVI, her debut EP. With Davido as the sole guest feature, the project felt both intimate and ambitious, presenting a talent determined to carve out her space in the Afro-Pop scene.
But it was her 2024 two-track release that pushed her further into the spotlight. Among the pair of tracks, “Ifeneme” emerged as the undeniable standout, riding a wave of virality thanks to its irresistible hook and the amplification of a TikTok trend that brought her music to countless ears.
Still, there’s a sense that Morravey is only beginning to scratch the surface of her potential. Her delivery is polished, but there’s room for more daring leaps. As 2025 unfolds, all eyes—and ears—are tuned to see how she shapes the next chapter of her journey. The foundation is there, and with Morravey, the possibilities feel limitless.
Hala (Egypt)
Hala has excelled at everything she has set her heart on, and this is evident in her music. While the Egyptian Hip-Hop scene, like many others on the continent, is male-dominated, Hala has emerged as a force to be reckoned with.
Throughout 2024, she dominated the scene with singles like “Hena Wala Henak”, “Bat3ala2”, “Shok W Sakakeen”, and her EP, Tlef Wetdoor. These releases, in many ways, indicate that Hala shows no signs of slowing down this year.
Shoday (Nigeria)
With close to nine million streams on Spotify, Shoday’s “Casablanca” was one of the biggest hits for an underground artiste in 2024. He smartly leveled up with “Queen N More”, which features the catchphrase, “All Power Belong to You.”
With nearly half a decade of experience in the music industry, Shoday seems poised to finally make his mark as an Afrobeats artiste. Lyrically, he may not be exceptional, but he has found a way to craft relatable and easy-to-remember hooks. It has been working for him, and right now, it seems like it will continue to do so.
Zafaran (Uganda)
Zafaran, once the voice that gracefully blended into the background for Ugandan icons like Jose Chameleone, King Saha, and John Blaq, has recently stepped into the spotlight. Discovered by Swangz Avenue, she was signed, and her debut single, “Sweetheart”, quickly blossomed into a solo career that captured the attention not only of Uganda but of East Africa.
Her features on the Swangz Avenue All Star Volume 1 album in 2024, alongside some of the finest vocal talents from Uganda and East Africa, helped cement her status as Uganda’s rising musical prodigy. In 2025, her name echoes throughout the industry, with music fans eagerly anticipating the greatness she is set to deliver.
Tageel (Sudan)
The Sudanese music scene has been buzzing for a while, shaping the sonic narrative of North Africa. One of its newest warriors worth mentioning is the masked Hip-Hop maestro, Tageel. His story has been particularly intriguing.
From one of his earliest singles, “Bl3ks”, released in 2020, to “Langa” in 2023, Tageel had been flying below mainstream consciousness. But all that changed when he released the sensation “Kolo Muthandil” in early 2024 and followed it up with his critically acclaimed double-disc LP, Kitab, his emblematic stamp on the Sudanese rap scene.
With deft delivery paired with brilliant compositions, Kitab showcased Tageel at his most introspective, creating a body of work that is both a statement of art and a promising indication of what 2025 holds for the artiste.
Fido (Nigeria)
It’s easy to see why conversations about Fido often draw comparisons to Kizz Daniel. There’s a clear influence in the way he blends tender Afro-Pop sensibilities into melodies that feel tailor-made to linger in the listener’s mind. But Fido’s music carries a charm that is entirely his own, rooted in a breezy, unhurried approach to crafting songs.
Fido’s breakout moment came in 2024 with “Awolowo,” a track that sparked conversations due to its provocative theme that unapologetically celebrated weed culture. It marked the arrival of an artiste intent on leaving his mark on the Afro-Pop landscape.
Towards the end of 2024, he released “Joy Is Coming”, a song that encapsulates what makes Fido’s artistry so compelling.
Built around an effortlessly catchy hook and ad-libs delivered with an ease that’s difficult to ignore, it’s formulaic, but it works. As his momentum builds in 2025, it’s easy to imagine Fido positioning himself as one of the leading voices shaping Afro-Pop’s future.
Anaïs Cardot (Gabon)
Anaïs Cardot, the multilingual French-Gabonese R&B/Soul chanteuse, has proven herself as a standout act with her velvety, soulful ballads.
Her 2024 album, Pink Magnolia (Deluxe), shone as second best in Afrocritik’s Top Music Projects of 2024, marking an incredible year where she solidified her presence through features in Asake’s Lungu Boy and Wizkid’s Morayo.
Anaïs Cardot’s gift lies in navigating the tempestuous seas of love, heartbreak, and yearning: her music serves as the guide listeners use through these emotional waters.
BahdBoi OML (Nigeria)
In 2023, Bahd Boi OML released his debut extended play, aptly titled Bhadriyum. The third track, “Tomford,” quickly became a fan favorite and a signature tune. On the song, OML steps into the role of a street disciple, rapping about the struggles of ghetto youth. Over a simple yet classy beat, he sings while expressing his desire for a better life.
Two years later, OML’s career has taken shape. With support from Dapper Music, he has shot music videos and collaborated with artistes like Tee Dollar, Dbanj, and Jamopyper. He is set to kick off his 2025 sonic journey with the release of an eponymous EP.
JZyNO (Liberia)
If the artistry of the multi-talented Liberian artiste, JZyNo, was ever in doubt, 2024 was the year he silenced those doubts. His unique blend of Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, and contemporary R&B has carved out a distinct niche for him. While the region’s music scene is often dominated by Nigerian and Ghanaian heavyweights, JZyNo has emerged as a force capable of holding his own on the global stage.
After dominating 2023 with the sensation “Butta My Bread”, JZyNo lit up playlists in 2024 with songs like “Since 97”, “Finally”, and “Mood” featuring Khaid. These tracks, alongside his EP Liberian Boy, showcased his versatility, lyrical depth, and knack for crafting infectious melodies.
With a dedicated fanbase growing rapidly across the continent and beyond, JZyNo is an artiste to keep firmly on your radar.
Koast (Tunisia)
Tunisian singer, composer, and songwriter Koast has been making substantial inroads with her music, a diverse blend of Arabic influences combined with Hip-Hop and R&B sensibilities. While she has been on the rise since 2019 with her EP BTOWN, Vol. 1, Koast has steadily built a cult following around her music.
Delivering most of her songs in English, Koast isn’t shy about embracing her Arabic roots, with Maqam scales bursting to life and setting her artistry apart. In 2025, Koast is an artist everyone should keep an eye on.
Emmanuel ‘Waziri’ Okoro is a content writer and journalist with an insatiable knack for music and pop culture. When he’s not writing, you will find him arguing why Arsenal FC is the best football club in the multiverse. Connect with him on X, Instagram, and Threads: @BughiLorde
Listed twice by “Black Pride Magazine” as one of the top 5 Music Journalists in Nigeria, Emmanuel Daraloye has over 600 album reviews in his archive.
Abioye Damilare is a music journalist and culture writer focused on the African entertainment Industry. Reading new publications and listening to music are two of his favourite pastimes when he is not writing. Connect with him on Twitter and IG: @Dreyschronicle
Frank Njugi is a Kenyan Writer, Culture journalist and Critic who has written on the East African and African culture scene for platforms such as Debunk Media, Republic Journal, Sinema Focus, Culture Africa, Drummr Africa, The Elephant, Wakilisha Africa, The Moveee, Africa in Dialogue, Afrocritik and others. He tweets as @franknjugi.