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Category: Afrobeats

  • Ally Fresh, DJ IV and Braines honour Kenyan football culture on “Kadenge”

    Ally Fresh, DJ IV and Braines honour Kenyan football culture on “Kadenge”

    Ally Fresh has teamed up with DJ IV and Braines for “Kadenge,” a collaborative Afro House single inspired by Kenyan football culture and the legacy of football icon Joe Kadenge.

    The track blends electronic dance music with Kenyan rhythms, Swahili lyricism and elements of Swakacha, a style that combines electronic production with coastal East African musical influences.

    Drawing inspiration from street football and childhood games familiar to many Kenyans, “Kadenge” reflects on creativity, confidence and community through music rooted in local culture. The song also pays tribute to Joe Kadenge, one of Kenya’s most celebrated footballers, whose name has become synonymous with football skill and flair.

    For Ally Fresh, the release is both a tribute to a sporting figure and a celebration of the everyday football culture that shaped generations of young players across Kenya. The collaboration with DJ IV and Braines brings together contemporary Afro House production with rhythms and melodies influenced by Kenyan musical traditions.

    “Kadenge” serves as the first single from the forthcoming Swakacha Deluxe album.

    “Kadenge” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • Gemiini explores a new creative direction on “Jah-Eli”

    Gemiini explores a new creative direction on “Jah-Eli”

    Gemiini has released “Jah-Eli,” a new single that marks the beginning of a new creative direction for the artist.

    The track blends Afrofusion with elements of Afrobeats while reflecting Gemiini’s preference for making music outside of conventional genre boundaries. Rather than following a fixed formula, “Jah-Eli” centres on melody and personal expression, presenting a sound shaped by the artist’s own creative instincts.

    Born and raised in Nigeria, the 24-year-old artist describes his approach as one that prioritises authenticity over trends. “Jah-Eli” continues that philosophy, combining melodic songwriting with themes that aim to resonate across different audiences while remaining rooted in his musical identity.

    Gemiini says the release represents the start of a broader shift in his music, as he continues to develop an Afrofusion sound informed by Afrobeats and other influences without limiting himself to a single style.

    “Jah-Eli” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • Sydney Sharp continues Resonate rollout with “PeaceMan”

    Sydney Sharp continues Resonate rollout with “PeaceMan”

    Sydney Sharp has released “PeaceMan,” the second single from her upcoming EP Resonate, a five-track project scheduled for release throughout 2026.

    Written in early spring 2026, “PeaceMan” explores themes of love, peace and human connection. The song is built around Afrobeats-inspired rhythms with elements of R&B and pop, using a reflective approach to tell the story of someone searching for a meaningful relationship.

    The single was created in collaboration with musician, engineer and producer Alex Enamorado, who produced the track using an Akai MPC. The pair previously worked together on “Ghost in My Bed,” the first single released from Resonate.

    Based in Providence, Rhode Island, Sydney Sharp is a singer-songwriter and pianist whose background includes classical piano and songwriting. Resonate marks a shift towards an Afrobeats-inspired R&B sound while continuing to explore themes of relationships, empathy and personal connection.

    “PeaceMan” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • VOS explores Afro House and melodic textures on “UMBA”

    VOS explores Afro House and melodic textures on “UMBA”

    London-based producer VOS has released “UMBA,” a new Afro House single inspired by the Swahili word for “to create.”

    The track combines organic percussion, deep basslines and melodic electronic textures, gradually unfolding through a structure that balances rhythmic movement with more atmospheric passages. Drawing on Afro House while incorporating elements of melodic house, “UMBA” centres on the idea of creation and transformation.

    VOS is an independent artist and producer whose work spans Afro House, Sahara House and melodic house. His catalogue focuses on atmospheric electronic music shaped by rhythmic influences and cross-cultural musical ideas.

    “UMBA” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • Egbontalented and Kwavvy team up on midtempo Afrobeats single “TILLA”

    Egbontalented and Kwavvy team up on midtempo Afrobeats single “TILLA”

    Egbontalented has released “TILLA,” a new collaboration with Kwavvy that blends midtempo Afrobeats with contemporary pop influences.

    Released on June 16, 2026, the song is built around prominent basslines, layered percussion and a measured tempo. The collaboration pairs Egbontalented’s vocals with Kwavvy’s contribution, bringing together the two artists on a record that explores their shared musical direction.

    According to Egbontalented, “TILLA” was created with a balance of nostalgia and modern production in mind, combining rhythmic grooves with direct lyricism. The single also marks the beginning of a wider creative partnership, with the artists currently developing a collaborative EP.

    Egbontalented is an artist and producer whose music combines Afrobeats with contemporary production styles. His work often draws on African rhythmic influences while incorporating elements of modern pop and bass-driven production.

    “TILLA” by Egbontalented and Kwavvy is out now on streaming platforms.

  • Nwaretsang unites artists from France, Réunion Island and Nigeria on “DEAD TREE”

    Nwaretsang unites artists from France, Réunion Island and Nigeria on “DEAD TREE”

    Nwaretsang has released “DEAD TREE,” a cross-cultural collaboration featuring Réunionese singer Evahinaa and Nigerian guitarist DR3VMZ.

    The song brings together French verses from Nwaretsang, an English and Swahili chorus performed by Evahinaa, and guitar melodies from DR3VMZ. Musically, it blends Afrobeats, Afro-fusion and subtle Amapiano influences while drawing on the backgrounds of all three artists.

    Rather than focusing on a single musical tradition, “DEAD TREE” explores collaboration across languages, cultures and regions. The track reflects contributions from France, Réunion Island and Nigeria, with each artist bringing a distinct element to the arrangement.

    For Nwaretsang, the release continues an interest in music that crosses geographical and cultural boundaries. The collaboration places equal emphasis on multilingual songwriting and shared musical influences, resulting in a record shaped by artists working across different parts of the African diaspora.

    “DEAD TREE” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • DAMNØ blends Afro House and live guitar on “Furaha”

    DAMNØ blends Afro House and live guitar on “Furaha”

    Italian DJ, producer and guitarist DAMNØ has released “Furaha,” a new Afro House single that combines electronic production with live guitar performances.

    The title, which means “happiness” in Swahili, reflects the song’s central theme. Built around Afro House rhythms, electronic textures and guitar riffs recorded by DAMNØ himself, the track aims to create an uplifting atmosphere inspired by movement and celebration.

    “Furaha” represents the artist’s musical identity by bringing together his experience as a DJ, producer and guitarist. Rather than relying on sampled guitar sounds, the production incorporates live-recorded riffs and arpeggios alongside Afro-inspired percussion and contemporary electronic elements.

    “In my productions, the guitar is a living instrument, not simply a sample,” DAMNØ says in the press release. “With ‘Furaha’ I wanted to combine the warmth of acoustic strings with the grooves of club culture to create a song that encourages people to dance while conveying a sense of joy.”

    “Furaha” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • Makaya Studios and Olawale Opayinka revisit highlife traditions on “Homecoming Lovers Lane (Radio Edit)”

    Makaya Studios and Olawale Opayinka revisit highlife traditions on “Homecoming Lovers Lane (Radio Edit)”

    Makaya Studios Ltd has released the Radio Edit of “Homecoming Lovers Lane,” featuring vocalist and composer Olawale Opayinka.

    The track combines contemporary Afrobeats rhythms with melodic elements drawn from Nigerian highlife. Built around acoustic textures, guitar-led instrumentation and a mid-tempo groove, the arrangement reflects what Makaya Studios describes as its approach to “Modern Afro-Eclecticism,” blending heritage sounds with contemporary production.

    The song opens with a restrained instrumental before Opayinka’s vocal performance draws on the storytelling traditions of Yoruba music. The Radio Edit streamlines the arrangement while retaining the song’s focus on melody and atmosphere.

    “Homecoming Lovers Lane (Radio Edit)” forms part of Songs of Makaya Plantation, a 17-track catalogue released by Makaya Studios in 2026 under the patronage of the 3E Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports education and cultural development across Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

    Makaya Studios Ltd is the music and creative content division of Makaya Group Ltd.

    Featured artist Olawale Opayinka is a composer, producer and development finance professional based between Ibadan and Lagos. His contributions to the Songs of Makaya Plantation catalogue draw on Yoruba oral traditions alongside musical influences shaped by his experiences in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

    “Homecoming Lovers Lane (Radio Edit)” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • MAARAY expands his dark cinematic world with “Lagos Dopamine II”

    MAARAY expands his dark cinematic world with “Lagos Dopamine II”

    French independent artist MAARAY has released “Lagos Dopamine II,” a new single taken from his project La Confiance Coûte Cher.

    The song continues the dark, cinematic direction that defines the project, blending Afro-inspired rhythms with atmospheric production, emotional storytelling and elements of mystery. Rather than following a conventional song structure, “Lagos Dopamine II” builds an immersive soundscape that reflects the broader narrative MAARAY is developing across the project.

    According to the accompanying press release, La Confiance Coûte Cher explores themes of trust, ambition and personal transformation through interconnected stories. Within that framework, “Lagos Dopamine II” serves as another chapter, combining cinematic textures with contemporary African musical influences.

    MAARAY describes his music as a meeting point between emotion, storytelling and visual imagination. His productions draw on dark, atmospheric sound design while incorporating Afro-inspired rhythms that give his work both movement and depth.

    “Lagos Dopamine II” reflects that approach, pairing moody production with rhythmic foundations that create space for both introspection and momentum.

    With the release, MAARAY continues to develop the artistic universe introduced through La Confiance Coûte Cher, using music to connect narrative, atmosphere and contemporary production.

    “Lagos Dopamine II” is available now on major streaming platforms.

  • Don Dala explores love, timing and letting go on “Last Dance”

    Don Dala explores love, timing and letting go on “Last Dance”

    French DJ and producer Don Dala has released “Last Dance,” a melodic Afro House track that reflects on love, separation and the acceptance that two people can move in different directions despite their feelings for one another.

    Built around organic percussion, melodic passages and a gradual rhythmic progression, the song combines emotional storytelling with a dance-oriented production. “Last Dance” centres on the idea that relationships do not always end because someone is at fault, but sometimes because life leads people along different paths.

    At the heart of the record is the image of one final dance before saying goodbye. Through its blend of melody and rhythm, the song transforms a reflective moment into one designed for both listening and the dancefloor.

    “I wanted ‘Last Dance’ to capture a feeling that many people have experienced at some point in their lives,” Don Dala says. “Sometimes, two people can still deeply care for each other, but life takes them in different directions.”

    Don Dala’s work moves between Afro House, Afropop and electronic music, with an emphasis on balancing rhythm and emotion. His productions are intended to function both in DJ sets and as standalone listening experiences.

    “Last Dance” is available now on major streaming platforms.