In 2025, the Alté movement continues to evolve, with an inventive new class of African artistes pushing the culture forward in exciting, unexpected directions.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
In recent years, there have been conversations about why the Alté genre has seemingly struggled to expand and grow beyond its current status, despite its decade-long presence in Nigerian Pop. However, many advocates of this argument often fail to grasp the ideology that gave rise to the Alternative sound now known as Alté.
The genre, with all its experimentation and futuristic fusions, was designed to break away from the uniformity and the formulaic structure of mainstream pop sound when it first emerged in Lagos in the late 2000s. But beyond being a sound, Alté is a cultural ethos that champions individualism, non-traditional modes of self-expression, and radicalism in fashion and style.
By the mid-2010s, Alté had solidified itself as a subculture, led by pioneers such as DRB LasGidi—the music collective comprising Boj, Fresh L, and Teezee—alongside Blackmagic, Ajebutter22, and Show Dem Camp (SDC). Later, frontrunners like Odunsi The Engine, Lady Donli, Cruel Santino, and others elevated the movement by blending Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, R&B, and funk into a stylish, nostalgia-tinged, laidback sound. Since then, a new crop of Alté artistes has emerged, armed with otherworldly fashion aesthetics and sounds that sharply contrast the dominant currents of the mainstream.
In 2025, the Alté movement continues to evolve, with an inventive new class of African artistes pushing the culture forward in exciting, unexpected directions. Here, we spotlight 10 names you should be paying attention to.
Mavo
Depending on who you ask, you’ll get different answers about which Nigerian song has dominated TikTok in recent weeks. But chances are, you’ll keep hearing about “Escaladizzy” by Mavo, featuring rising rapper, WAVE$TAR.
Mavo, also known as Mavoswago, is a 21-year-old artiste gaining attention for his distinctive fusion of indigenous slang and dynamic Afro-Pop rhythms. He first made waves in late 2023 with his debut single, “UKANIGBE”, which also doubled as the title of his first project.
While he occasionally taps into Afro-Pop, it’s Mavo’s eccentric lyricism and unconventional approach that set him apart, making him one of the most intriguing new voices in Nigeria’s Alté space.
Deela
Deela is one of the most inventive rising voices in the Alté scene, fusing dreamy nostalgia with a contemporary sensibility. Her sound draws heavily from early-2000s to 2010s Nigerian Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, and the bounce-heavy rhythms popularised by Cruel Santino’s signature style.
But it’s not just in sound that Deela channels nostalgia; her aesthetic often references vintage Nollywood, especially the fashion and attitude of iconic female characters. In 2024, she paid homage by releasing a standout track titled, “Patience Ozokwor”, featuring Teni and Genio Bambino.
With her latest bounce-laden single, “Supreme Dee,” Deela continues to push forward. And in a scene defined by constant reinvention, she’s proving to be one of the more exciting artistes redefining what it means to be Alté.
Anabel Rose
Anabel Rose is a genre-defying artiste whose music mirrors the richness of her Ghanaian upbringing and her emotional depth. Her 2023 debut EP, Something About a Rose, threads together psychedelic Pop, Soft Rock, and bass-heavy textures to create a deeply personal soundscape.
Songs like “DND” and “Love Me or Die” display her bold fusion of sentimental balladry with gritty edge, while “Too Friendly” explores the quiet frustration of being taken for granted. Her lyrics are raw and reflective, turning everyday emotion into intimate storytelling.
In Ghana’s rising Alté scene, Anabel Rose is carving out space with one fearless and genre-defying track at a time.
Rigo Kamp
It’s almost surreal to imagine Afro-Juju—a genre popularised by Shina Peters in the late 1980s—fused with R&B. But for Rigo Kamp, that genre-bending comes naturally. On “Marathon”, a standout track from his self-titled EP released earlier this year, he effortlessly melds distinct influences into a sound that feels fresh and rooted.
Though relatively new to the Alté scene, the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer evokes the dreamy essence of the movement’s early days, drawing sonic parallels to artistes like Odunsi (The Engine). Rigo Kamp’s ability to experiment without losing coherence positions him as a refreshing addition to the genre’s evolving landscape.
Sewà
Princess Sharon Awoyeni, known professionally as Sewà, is a multifaceted artiste whose music gracefully fuses Afrobeat, Soul, Folk, Jazz, and R&B to convey emotion and depth. Think of her as a hybrid of Asa’s Afro-Soul storytelling and Angélique Kidjo’s Pan-African rhythms.
In February, Sewà opened for Asa in Toronto, where she delivered a heartwarming performance of her song “Carry Your Love”, with Asa accompanying her on guitar for a moment that captured the beauty of musical kinship.
Her latest release, “Lagos Lovin”, is a breezy Folk-Jazz tune that reveals her growing influence in the Alté scene.
RayTheBoffin
RayTheBoffin, real name Joseph Chikak, is a genre-bending singer, producer, and sonic storyteller whose music channels the emotions and experiences of himself and those around him. A firm believer in the power of community, Ray’s collaborations (with collectives like Riverays and Dancing in the Desert) reflect the honesty that defines his creative process.
Following the reflective Freckles EP, Ray deepened his exploration of feeling and form on his 2025 album You Make Me Feel, featuring Alté luminaries like Sute Iwar and Tim Lyre. His music fuses R&B, Hip-Hop, and Afrobeats with an experimental edge, offering soundscapes that feel deeply personal and beautifully universal.
Chipego
Zambian-born Chipego is an artiste whose soundscape stretches across borders and genres. Her music flows through R&B, Hip-Hop, and Jazz-laced Pop, weaving rich textures and rhythms into every composition.
In February, she released Don’t Forget to Remember, a nine-track album that blends Neo-Soul, Amapiano, and Afro-Soul to stunning effect. The project showcases her ability to hold onto traditional African rhythms while reimagining them with dreamy, experimental layers, creating an immersive sonic world that feels grounded and otherworldly.
Joeyturks
In just a few tracks, Joeyturks has built a sound that’s impossible to ignore. As a founding member of Ghana’s SuperJazzClub, the singer, drummer, and producer has been instrumental in shaping the group’s genre-blurring fusion of R&B, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and Neo-Soul. But when he steps out solo, Joeyturks trades grandeur for intimacy.
His debut single, “Always”, released in 2020, introduced listeners to a softer side—subtle, textured, and soaked in mellow emotions. It’s less about heavy lyricism, more about feeling.
His latest track, “COCOA BUTTER” featuring fellow SuperJazzClub member, Øbed, stays true to that ethos. It’s a breezy Afro-Soul jam, smooth and sultry, with delicate guitar licks that shimmer beneath his vocals. With each new release, Joeyturks quietly reinforces the sonic values at the heart of Alté.
Xowié
South Africa’s Alté scene is going strong, thanks to artistes like Xowié who are using genre-fluid expression to make sense of love, life, and everything in between. Hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, the rising singer threads influences from R&B, Pop, and Reggae into a warm, textured sound that feels personal.
On her 2025 debut project, A Little Long Overdue (A.L.L.O), Xowié comes into full bloom. The tape captures her reckoning with vulnerability, desire, and identity. Like many of her contemporaries reshaping the Alté soundscape in Southern Africa, Xowié channels raw feeling into her sound.
Iver Rivers
One of Iver Rivers’s most distinctive gifts is his voice—soft, sultry, and deeply emotive. As an artiste and skilled songwriter, he draws from classic Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, and Alternative R&B to create a sound that feels familiar and fresh.
A member of Nigeria’s growing crop of indie talents, Iver thrives on heartfelt storytelling and vulnerability. His song, “Spotlight”, is an R&B bop that puts on display his gripping vocal delivery and ability to craft emotionally resonant music.
Abioye Damilare Samson is a music journalist and culture writer focused on the African entertainment industry. His works have appeared in Afrocritik, Republic NG, NATIVE Mag, Culture Custodian, 49th Street, and more. Connect with him on Twitter and IG: @Dreyschronicle