Undoubtedly, 2022 proved to be one of the most successful years for African and diasporic artists. Afrobeats, as a genre, achieved remarkable success and amassed huge numbers worldwide. The global recognition of African artists has created opportunities for younger talent to join this growing movement. The buzz surrounding Afrobeats continues to attract people from all over the world to the African music scene, and everyone wants a piece of the action.
Last year, we saw a fusion of sounds, both amapiano and afrobeat, that were created and owned by Africans. This groundbreaking revelation has resulted in the creation of unique sounds that artists from all over are experimenting with. For instance, CKay, a rising artist, has coined his sound as “emo-afrobeats,” while Asake, one of the biggest acts of 2022, incorporated fuji into his music. Additionally, Niniola, a leading female Nigerian artist, describes her sound as Afro-house. While this is not new to the music scene, it highlights the dynamic nature of Afrobeats, as it can be anything. This also demonstrates the versatility of African artists.
Furthermore, we must not overlook the contributions of Black Sheriff and Yaw Tog, who are pushing the Drill narrative from Ghana, as well as Zakes Bantwini and Nomfundo Moh from South Africa. As we move into 2023, we can expect even greater success. The rise of content-creating platforms like TikTok, Triller, and Instagram has significantly influenced the wider reach and increased popularity of artists and their sounds.
If 2022 taught us anything, it is that hard work and consistency pay off.
Ria Sean
Born and bred in Nigeria, Ria Sean is carving out a unique career for herself with the help of her distinctive sound, which combines Afropop, R&B, and Lo-Fi undertones. Sean has worked with multiple artists like Leriq, Moelog, Adekunle Gold, and Goodgirl LA. With the release of her Love Station EP in 2022, she is an artist to watch out for.
Blaqbelieve
Nigerian artist, Blaqbelive, has released a new single titled “Leave Me” featuring rapper Jason Nkanga. The song is a heartfelt offering that showcases Blaqbelive’s ability to craft a timeless hit, with rich, soulful, and confessional delivery over airy synths and a catchy guitar-led melody. Jason Nkanga also adds his lyrical prowess to the song, giving it an enticing vibe. This release marks Blaqbelive’s entry into a new era of Afro-RnB sound and speaks to his desire to forge deep connections with his significant other and those around him. Blaqbelive cites selflessness as a key inspiration for the song, not just in its sweet lyrics but also in how it was made.
Oladapo
The afro-fusion act Tonade Oladapo Adetunji, often known as Oladapo, is a multi-talented musician who creates Afro-fusion music using a mix of local languages such as English, Yoruba, and Pidgin English. In 2018, he began releasing freestyle videos, for which he got popular. Empawa Africa, Mr Eazi’s music project, shortlisted his first track, “Mango,” in 2019, giving him an excellent platform to pursue his music career. His musical style, which he characterizes as “Afro-fusion,” is a blend of highlife sounds with unique modern components, delicately adorned with his local inspirations, which include Yoruba, his mother tongue, and Nigerian Pidgin.
Ajet 2F
Ajet 2F is a rising artist from East London, who was influenced by the drill genre but creates clean content that sets him apart from others. He gained a following on social media through casual freestyles and his inclusion in the viral 2021 Blackbox Hardest Under 18s Cypher. One of his freestyles reached #61 on the UK Official Singles Charts and he has seen strong radio support. Ajet 2F’s unique blend of catchy flows, melodic beats, and clever wordplay have garnered him success, and it is expected that he will achieve great things in 2023.
Preyé
The power-house Nigerian Soul artist Preyé, is known for her impressive, dynamic, and enchanting vocals and arrangements in addition to her soothing poetic songwriting style. Her sound is a fusion of her western influences and elements from her African roots. She has had an influence in the contemporary music space in Nigeria ever since her first single ‘Mortia’. Inspired by a wide array of incredible artists such as Yanni, Jill Scott, Enya, Brenda Fassie and Lauryn Hill just to name a few, Preyé’s music shows mature, intense and soulful attributes.
Daisy
A multi-talented artiste out of Nigeria and here to up the ante. She is passionate about music and continues to write and make music from the deepest of inspiration. Aspires to be an inspiration to women and other upcoming artists.
Besa Pharaoh
Besa Pharaoh is a 23-year-old Hip Hop and Afro musician based in Kempton Park, South Africa. He is a talented storyteller and performer who demands attention from his audience. Despite his parents’ separation, his mother has been his support system and influenced his values and beliefs. Besa Pharaoh began making music in 2011 and has since released several works and performed alongside famous acts such as Flvme, A-Reece, Solo, and Blaklez. He has also appeared on shows like ‘Mzansi Insider’ and was a contestant on ‘One Mic’ in 2020.
Ogranya
Ogranya is a phenomenal lyricist and up-and-coming recording artist from Nigeria whose music fuses jazz, afro-soul, and R&B. Ogranya’s music leans toward soul, but it also has indie-pop undertones and vocals that are tuned low to a devastating emotional range. The former architect-turned-Afro-soul musician has a future that is incredibly bright and exciting and is poised to introduce Afro-soul to the globe.
Molazzi
Solomon Ifeanyichukwu, with the alias Molazzi, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who has been making waves in the music industry. His music blends Afrobeats, hip pop and traditional Nigerian sounds with a heavy focus on lyrical content. He is known for his unique vocal delivery and is currently signed to the Universal Music Group Nigeria. He has collaborated with several notable artists including, Wizkid, Davido, and Tiwa Savage
Stefy Z
Stephanie Ikazuagbe is a Nigerian singer-songwriter who was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Her music career began officially in 2018 with the release of her debut single, “Loving,” which was mixed and mastered by Kronix. In 2020, she returned to the music scene with a new single, “Raba,” and has since been on a roll, consistently releasing new music.