Emerging artist Samamii released “Closer” on August 21, 2026. The Afrobeats and R&B-influenced track explores the desire to be near someone you love, regardless of distance.
Running for two minutes and 25 seconds, the song combines melodic vocals with an Afrobeats groove. Its lyrics focus on attraction, chemistry and wanting to move closer to someone.
Samamii also launched a creator challenge around the release, inviting dancers, actors, comedians and other creators to interpret the song through their own content.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has announced the Starrgirl World Tour, with shows planned across Africa, Europe and North America between December 2026 and April 2027. The tour follows the release of her third studio album, Starrgirl, which arrived in August 2026 through Mavin Records and Republic Records.
The announced itinerary begins in Africa in December before moving to Europe in January 2027. The European and UK leg is scheduled to open in Cologne, Germany, on January 20, with further stops listed for Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Zurich, Brussels and London before concluding on February 2.
Ayra is then scheduled to begin the North American leg on March 18 in Houston, Texas. Other listed cities include Dallas, Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and San Francisco, where the run is expected to end on April 14.
Ticketmaster has listed a Brussels date for January 31, 2027, under the tour name “Starr Girl Tour,” with Live Nation Belgium named as promoter.
The tour extends the Starrgirl era, following an album featuring collaborations with ZAYN, Wizkid, Rema, Leon Thomas, kwn, Danny Ocean and Theodora.
The track became associated with the emerging “nepopiano” wave, a term combining “nepo baby” and Amapiano to describe music linked to young artists from privileged or well-connected backgrounds. “HOW FAR” gained attention through TikTok snippets before reaching streaming charts, helping bring NO11 to a wider audience.
NO11 later released a remix of “HOW FAR” on March 3, 2026, featuring South African artists Focalistic and CIZA alongside Nigerian artists Famous Pluto and Ayjay Bobo. The remix brought together artists from Nigeria and South Africa, combining their contributions on a new version of the track. An official music video followed later that month.
Last year we had the UG scene take over Afrobeats. But it seems like 2026 is the the year of nepopiano: the rich kids who’ve never experienced sapa & are not ashamed to flaunt their private jets & Ferraris@noteveneleven the face of the sound has been co-signed by Davido & Zlatan pic.twitter.com/J1w4ExTqD5
The Grammy submission is for consideration, not a confirmed nomination. The Recording Academy’s first-round voting determines the nominees, who are scheduled to be announced on November 16, 2026. The 2027 Grammy Awards will take place on February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles.
Keriah has released “Mother Sea – Zi44 Moody House Mix,” a house track shaped by atmospheric textures and electronic production.
Keriah is an international music project involving musicians based in different parts of the world. Its catalogue draws on a range of musical styles and influences rather than following a single genre.
The project’s studio is based in Dresden, Germany, where its music is mixed and mastered. Keriah also uses analogue synthesizers from the 1980s to achieve the sound it seeks in its productions.
