Afrocritik’s Weekly Music Spotlight: Touch of Gospel
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Hello again, my music explorers.
Welcome to Q2! Wow, this year is flying by. But as they say, time flies when you’re having fun—and you know it’s always a good time when I bring you the Weekly Music Spotlight! (I may be indirectly suggesting that I’m the reason the year’s speeding by, but let’s not dwell on that for now.)
Instead, let’s focus on the packed playlist coming your way. Last week was brimming with releases, and honestly, so many were list-worthy. But alas, not everyone can be a winner—so rest assured, you’re getting the best of the best this week. That includes some standout gospel tracks, just as we approach the peak of the religious seasons.
Before we dive in, don’t forget to follow us on socials @Afrocritik to stay updated with the latest Spotlights. For instance, if you were following us, you’d already know that the Weekly and Monthly Spotlights are now available on Audiomack too! If that’s your go-to platform—well, you’re welcome!
We’d love to hear from you. Let us know which other platforms you’d like to see the playlist on, or even share your own playlists with us. And if you (or someone you know) is releasing music that deserves to be discovered by our adventurous listeners, drop me a line at yinoluu@afrocritik.com for details on how to get featured.
Now, without further ado, let’s get into this week’s playlist, featuring a subtle hint of gospel. Here’s what we’ve got:
GOSPEL GEMS: We’re going to begin by lifting up our spirits, after all we always hear that music is spiritual so why not take a dip into spirit-filled music. We have Ono’s moving cinematic single “Adoration”, K3ndrick’s new album METANOIA gives us “Ore Mi”, Calvary” and the energetic “I’m Ready”. Emandiong makes a strong impression with her new single, “Ridiculous”, and Ghanaian rising songstress, Veola, blesses us with “All Over Me”.
EMOTIONS ON DISPLAY: Moving past spiritual music, we take a dive into the music of emotions as artistes lay their innermost feelings bare. Kenyan R&B songstress Maya Amolo features Ywaya Tajiri on “Sweetest Time”, Dboi’s new album AEnima gives us the introspective “New Horizons: Olorun”, Ejoya music’s new R&B release Velvet gives us the smooth and sensual “Meet Me Halfway” as well as “Tingly”, while Eli jae channels the classics on “Sexual Healing”. “Johnbull” is a heartfelt narrative from Erigga’s G.O.A.T album which also gives us “Abeg” and “DSC”, and Francophone newcomer, Moise Wodome, gives us his debut single, “Bye Bye”.
ALTERNATIVE & AFROFUSIONS: Probably the most diverse genres blossoming right now due to their broadness and versatility, we always get some very interesting offerings fro outside the box. Africaine’s “Live Life” sets the tone, which is matched by Tanzanian newcomer Royazdad on his new EP, THE CURE which gives us “Kioo”, “Waseme” and “Differ”.
Kenyan singer, Lovince Mckenzie, gets nostalgic on “Home”, Ghanaian budding sensation, Raevin, exudes passion on “Fire”, Tesh Carter gives us her sultry single “Options”, Ugandan singer, Jon Muq, gives us a country ballad in “Hear My Voice” and DAPTheContract teams up with singer OSA for “LYD”.
AMAPIANO: Finally, we take our usual trip to the south of the continent. Today we also get some rap in “Mongameli” from Gigi Lamayne’s Hip-Hop project, Doves and Scones, before we dive into our electronic music. We kick off with Lunga’s “Ngeke Sizzwe Ngawe”, Piano City gives us “Impilo Emnandi”, Baby Momo enlists a star-studded cast for “Ngizophumelela” and DJ Maphorisa and Xduppy combine for a lengthy album in NGOMOYA from which we extract “Imiyalo”, “Ukuphumula” and “Akekho Ofana Nami”. We also dabble in some AfroHouse with Busiswa’s “Grace” and Sun-EL Musician’s “You’re Light”.
And there you have it—this week’s cross-section! I encourage you to play through the full playlist—either straight through for the curated experience or on shuffle for a fun surprise. That way, you might just discover a few unmentioned gems along the way.
It’s also worth exploring the albums and artists we’ve highlighted—you never know what personal favourites you might uncover! And if you’re a budding musician with a sound worth sharing, don’t hesitate to reach out and find out how to get your songs considered for the Spotlight.
Speaking of updates—keep an eye out for the revamped Monthly Editorial Playlist, as March’s edition is currently in the works. Follow us on socials to stay in the loop, and let us know which tracks from this week were your favourites.
Wishing you all the best for the coming week—may it be filled with great vibes and even better music. I urge you to go exploring on your own, and if you stumble upon something special, share your finds with me! Enjoy the journey, and here’s to a blessed week full of musical highs.
Warm regards,
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.