On club dancefloors and festival fields across the world, speakers are pulsing with the low-slung, layered sounds of the African diaspora. In the last five years especially, popular culture has begun embracing genres from across the African continent, folding sympathetic elements of those genres into R&B, hip-hop, dance and pop hits.
The rise of African music in the global consciousness and pop music charts is a knotty subject. After decades of uncredited and appropriated influence, and Westernization of musical signifiers and language, there’s been a sea change towards a great understanding and championing of African music — and an embrace of African artists writing and performing their own music, in their own languages.
Though African is not a sonic monolith, much of the success of African music in the West has come from two countries and their respective sounds: Nigeria and South Africa, with Afrobeats (as an evolution of Afrobeat) and amapiano, respectively. Originating in the 1970s with the late Nigerian vocalist, musician and bandleader Fela Kuti, Afrobeat blends American jazz and funk with West African live instrumentation, vocalizations and song structures, and leads with politically-charged lyrics that narrate Black African life.
Today, Afrobeats, also sometimes known as Afro fusion, is the grandchild of Afrobeat: a broader term that encompasses Western pop, dancehall, reggae and R&B with Nigerian and Ghanaian musical styles; mixing languages like Igbo, Yoruba, Akan and English. The genres’ most prominent artists — Burna Boy, WizKid, Asake, Davido, Ayra Starr and Tems — are platinum-selling, Grammy-winning touring artists, and have introduced a new generation of music fans to the evolving sounds of the continent.
In South Africa, one sound booms out across townships, raves and street parties. Amapiano is also a blend of Africa and the West, where South African styles gqom and kwaito are fused with house and jazz to create its hypnotizing, loop-based sound, which is led by the signature percussion of the log drum and almost-eerie downtempo synth lines.
Thanks to a wildfire spread on social media in recent years, amapiano has turned homegrown acts like DJ Maphorisa and Major League DJz into local heroes, breakthroughs like Uncle Waffles a major festival draw, and vocalists like Tyla into stars; the latter’s undeniable 2023 hit track “Water” brought amapiano to a global audience.
An effect of this African wave is how British, European and American artists are, in turn, drawing from African sounds to make their music feel elevated and contemporary to the moment. In the UK, rap acts like J Hus, NSG and Pa Salieu have blossomed with this direction, while dance producers like KILIMANJARO bring amapiano into uplifting house beats. Additionally, sounds like Afroswing — a mix of UK rap and grime with African styles — have become influential as well. In France, Aya Nakamura is a runaway success story, bringing her Malian heritage into her sensual Francophone rap.
Dive into this collection of fresh tracks ripe for summer parties — featuring Jorja Smith, Olamide, Fireboy DML, Rema and more — and discover the expansive, evolving sound of African music.
LISTEN TO THE AFRO SUMMER JAMS PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
Tyla, “Is It Love”
The chart-topping South African vocalist who brought amapiano to the global stage, Tyla dropped this track from her latest album, July 2026’s ‘A*POP.’
Ayra Starr, “Tornado”
The Beninese-Nigerian vocalist and songwriter hones her R&B style of Afrobeats on this latest track, ahead of her forthcoming album ‘Starr Girl,’ which is slated for release on August 14, 2026.
Jorja Smith, Wizkid, “Alive”
It’s a romantic link up on this 2026 collaborative track with British R&B-jazz vocalist Jorja Smith and Afrobeats figurehead WizKid.
Asake, “Forgiveness”
Nigerian Afrobeats pioneer Asake released his latest album, April 2026’s ‘M$NEY,’ on his newly launched independent label, Giran Republic.
J Hus, “Moonlight”
A pioneer in the Afroswing sound, mixing UK rap and West African sonics, London’s own J Hus is back with this 2026 track.
Phyno, NSG, “Pinterest”
Black British vocalist Phyno and Afroswing group NSG bring a summertime, g-funk energy to this 2026 collaborative track.
Major League DJz, Jorja Smith, “Come With Me”
Identical twin brothers and DJ/producer duo Major League DJz are trailblazers in the South African amapiano scene.
Skyla Tylaa, Kitty Amor, Ruger, “Mean 2 Me”
Kitty Amor, a tastemaking DJ/producer in UK Afrohouse, works with South African vocalist Skyla Tylaa on this hypnotic dancefloor track.
KILIMANJARO, RAHH, “Stumble”
Zambian-Scottish vocalist, DJ and producer KILIMANJARO is a rising name in the Afro house music scene. This latest track soars high.
Olamide, “Rock Me Gentle”
Known as the Nigerian Afrobeats kingmaker because of his successful record label YBNL Nation, Olamide dropped this latest track in 2026.
Young Jonn, “Elumelu”
On this 2026 track, Nigerian Afropop vocalist Young Jonn gets into a deep, catchy groove. His latest album is 2025’s ‘Blue Disco.’
Victony, “SLICK”
Nigerian artist Victony grew his audience through SoundCloud, posting mixtapes. His latest release is the 2025 EP ‘Very Stubborn.’
Tems, “Mine”
One of Nigeria’s most recognisable contemporary vocalists, Tems blends Afrobeats and R&B to soulful effect on her 2025 album, ‘Love Is A Kingdom.’
FOLA, “fine ting $hit”
On his latest track, Nigerian vocalist FOLA mixes Yoruba and English lyrics into his R&B atmospherics.
FS Green, Karen Nyame-Gyamfi, “Melanin”
Dutch DJ/producers FS Green and Dave Nunes continue their evolution of Afrohouse and Afro pop on this earworm track.
MOLIY, Tyla, “Body Go”
Ghanaian-American vocalist MOLIY — known for her pulsing breakout 2024 track “Shake It To The Max” — links up with South African hitmaker Tyla on this Afrobeats track.
Hagan, M.anifest, Rcee, “Mfantsefo Dance”
British-Ghanian electronic DJ/producer Hagan dropped this track on his April 2026 EP, ‘Hagan’s Calling.’
DJ Maphorisa, DJ Tunez, Wizkid, Mavo, “MONEY CONSTANT”
South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa uses amapiano’s signature log drum and moody synths on this 2026 track.
Aya Nakamura “Sexy Nana”
Malian vocalist and songwriter Aya Nakamura is refiguring Black Francophone rap with her catchy, diasporic-inspired tracks.
Joki, Pa Salieu, Daecolm, “Never Never”
British-Gambian rapper Pa Salieu’s unmistakable vocals lend weight to this 2026 track. His latest album is 2024’s ‘Afrikan Alien.’
BNXN, Sarz, “Back Outside”
Taken from his May 2026 EP ‘The Game Needs Us,’ this track by Nigerian artists BNXN (AKA Buju) and Sarz is pure summertime Afrobeats vibes.
Lila Iké, Joey Bada$$, “Fry Plantain”
Jamaican reggae vocalist Lila Iké was Grammy-nominated for her 2025 album, ‘Treasure Self Love.’ Here, she collaborates with NYC rapper Joey Bada$$.
Yemi Alade, “My Bébé”
Nigerian artist Yemi Alade gets into an Afropop-R&B groove on this 2026 track. Her latest album is 2024’s ‘Rebel Queen.’
Fally Ipupa, Guy2Bezbar, “Pepele”
Known as “The Prince of Rumba,” Congolese artist Fally Ipupa turns up the energy on this track from his April 2026 album, ‘XX.’
Fireboy DML, Pheelz, “ILWY”
Nigerian artists Fireboy DML and Pheelz move in a deep house direction on this driving Afrobeats track. Listen to their episode of Voice Notes, on their collaborative 2025 EP, ‘Piece By Piece.’
Rema, “FUN”
After breaking through with his massive 2022 track “Come Down,” Rema has been a rising act in Nigeria. His latest is 2025’s ‘Rave & Roses.’
Black Sherif, “Find a Way”
On his 2025 album ‘IRON BOY,’ Ghana’s Black Sherif showcases his blend of highlife, hip-hop and Afro trap.
King Promise, Mr Eazi, “See What We’ve Done”
Ghanaian artist King Promise taps into a spiritual vibe on this 2026 track with seasoned collaborator Mr Eazi, with sonic elements of highlife.
Ayo Maff, “TENSION”
The rising Nigerian vocalist gets into a tender mood on this 2025 track. His latest album is 2025’s ‘Prince of the Street.’
Oscar Mbo, JAZZWRLD, Thukuthela, “Vuka”
DJ/producer Oscar Mbo leans into his jazzy deep house style on this track with fellow South African artists JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela.
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