Rajab Abdul Kahali, also known by his stage name Harmonize, is a Tanzanian Bongo Flava recording artist, and entrepreneur. harmonize dream was to play football. He says this in his song called matatizo
Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper. He gained initial recognition with his 2019 song "Dumebi". That same year, he signed with D'Prince's record label, Jonzing World. He achieved international recognition with his 2022 single "Calm Down", which spawned a remix with American singer Selena Gomez that peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also led Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing, is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing out of Nigeria and Ghana. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Amapiano is a subgenre of kwaito and house music that emerged in South Africa in the mid-2010s. It is a hybrid of deep house, gqom, jazz, soul and lounge music characterized by synths and wide, percussive basslines. The word "amapiano" derives from the IsiZulu word for "pianos".
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Starr achieved mainstream international recognition in 2022, with the release of her song "Rush". The song charted in several territories, including Switzerland, Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 24. It earned Starr a nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance.
Richard Olowaranti Mbu Isong, known professionally as P2J is a Nigerian-British producer from London, England. He has produced for high-profile pop artists including Beyoncé, Wizkid, Stormzy, FKA Twigs, Burna Boy, Tems, and Doja Cat, among others.
Omary Ally Mwanga, known professionally as Marioo, is a Tanzanian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is known for his hits such as Bia Tamu, Mama Amina, Dear Ex, Raha, Mi Amor and Naogopa, songs that have made him a household name in Tanzania and East Africa in general.
Ahmed Ololade, known professionally as Asake, is a Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter. He is signed to YBNL Nation and Empire Distribution. His stage name "Asake" is his mother's name.
Tyla Laura Seethal, known mononymously as Tyla, is a South African singer. Her musical style is characterised by a fusion of the pop and amapiano genres, with many publications dubbing her "Queen of Popiano".
"City Boys" is a song by Nigerian singer Burna Boy, released on September 22, 2023, as the fifth single from his seventh studio album, I Told Them... . It was produced by MD$ and Ruuben and samples Jeremih's February 2009 single, "Birthday Sex". "City Boys" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Water" is a song by South African singer Tyla from her debut studio album, Tyla (2024). It was released on 28 July 2023 by Fax and Epic Records as the album's lead single. An amapiano song with elements of pop, R&B and Afrobeats, it sees Tyla expressing a desire for a passionate, intimate tryst. Remix versions of the song by American rapper Travis Scott and record producer Marshmello were released on 17 November 2023.
"Truth or Dare" is a song by South African singer Tyla from her 2024 self-titled debut studio album. It was released by FAX and Epic Records as a promotional single from her 2023 self-titled extended play, before impacting rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on 13 February 2024, as the second single from the album. Written by Tyla, Ariowa Irosogie, Imani Lewis, Corey Marlon Lindsay-Keay, Jamal Europe, and its producer Sammy SoSo, "Truth or Dare" is an amapiano track infused with elements of afrobeats and contemporary R&B influences.
The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2024 in African music.
"Girl Next Door" is a song by South African singer Tyla and Nigerian singer Ayra Starr. It was released on 12 May 2023 through Fax and Epic Records as a standalone single. Production of the song was handled by P.Priime and Corey Marlon Lindsay-Key. It is a blend of amapiano, contemporary R&B, pop, and afrobeats.
"Amapiano" is a song by Nigerian musician Asake and Nigerian rapper Olamide. The song is a single from Asake's second studio album, Work of Art, and was produced by Nigerian producer Magicsticks. The music video, shot by Jyde Ajala, was released on 24 May 2023. The song was a surprise release and gained over 100,000 streams within less than 24 hours of its release and debuted at number one of the Spotify Top Songs Nigeria Daily Chart. The song was nominated for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Grammy awards. It was one of the most streamed songs of 2023 on Audiomack, garnering 87.7 million streams on the platform. Former US president Barack Obama listed the song among his favorite music of 2023.
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards were held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 11, 2024. The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on September 10, 2024, but was rescheduled to a day later to avoid conflicts with the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The show was hosted by rapper, Megan Thee Stallion, marking her hosting debut.
The discography of South African singer and songwriter Tyla consists of one studio album, fifteen singles, three promotional singles and ten music videos. Tyla released her debut self-titled studio album on 22 March 2024, consisting of her digital extended play (EP) of the same name released on 1 December 2023, it debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was supported by four singles; "Water", which peaked within the top 10 in multiple countries and was awarded multi-platinum certifications in many countries, "Truth or Dare", "Art" and "Jump", and a promotional single "On and On".
The Billboard Year-End U.S. Afrobeats Songs of 2024 ranks the best-performing Afrobeats songs in the United States. Published by Billboard magazine on December 13, 2024, it showcase the aggregated metrics compiled by Luminate from October 28, 2023, through October 19, 2024.
"Push 2 Start" is a song recorded by South African singer Tyla. It was released in tandem with the deluxe edition of her self-titled debut studio album on 11 October 2024, by FAX and Epic Records. It is a reggae-infused Afro-pop, afrobeats and amapiano-R&B song about Tyla imploring her partner to give her affection. For the chart dated December 21, "Push 2 Start" charted at number two on the U.S Afrobeats Songs chart while "Water" was at number one simultaneously, marking the first time a solo artist held the top two spots in the same week.
