Afrocritik Music Spotlight: April Mega Spotlight
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Greetings to all the fearless seekers of sound, the patient wanderers who chase melodies through hidden corners, and the rhythm addicts who never stop searching for the next song capable of changing the colour of a day. Welcome back to our little corner of musical discovery, where curiosity is rewarded, and every playlist is another journey waiting to unfold.
First of all, I apologise for the long hiatus. The realities of life slowed my progress for a while and pulled me away longer than I would have liked. But nothing can keep me away from you forever. I will always find a way back here. I hope you have all been doing well, and hopefully, this first month of Q2 has not been too stressful and has set a positive tone for the months ahead. I am genuinely sad to have been gone so long, but I also have to admit that music carried me through much of that period, and these are the songs that kept me sane through it all.
This edition is a massive one, and rightfully so because it covers multiple weeks of releases and discoveries. The breadth and depth of the treasures uncovered during this period mean we have an incredibly dense selection this time around, fueled by unique and interesting songs stretching across different styles, moods, and genre expressions. Putting this together was an absolute blast. There is something deeply satisfying about stumbling upon music that surprises you, challenges you, comforts you, or completely rearranges your expectations, and this edition is full of those moments. I truly hope this collection expands your tastes, tickles your ears, and leads you toward artists and sounds that stay with you long after the playlist ends.
Before we begin, make sure you are following us across all our socials because there is a lot of exciting work coming from Afrocritik very soon. And as always, the artists among you can send your music to [email protected] so you also stand a chance to be spotlighted here in a future edition.
Without further ado, we go into this week’s brilliant selection, which comes in the form of:
SOFT & SENSUAL
We begin this sprawling edition in softer territory, easing into emotional honesty, gentle grooves, and tender songwriting. South African singer-songwriter Nomfundo Moh delivers heartfelt vulnerability on Farm Julia through “Malume”, “Uzophumelela”, and “Ikhaya”, warm and richly melodic songs that balance classic Soul sensibilities with smooth contemporary Afro-Pop textures. Nigerian singer Charmaine L A explores romance, frustration, and self-expression across All The Girls Are Angry, bringing us “More”, “Too Much”, “My Time [My Tab]”, and “Darlim”, emotionally charged RnB and Afro-Fusion cuts built on sweet melodies and expressive vocals.
Ghanaian singer Mellissa glides through smooth and dreamy Afro-R&B on Diamond Baby, with “Genie Baby”, “Tattoo”, and “Catch Me If You Can” showcasing her soft vocal texture over polished production. Nigerian veteran Ice Prince also appears with warm and easygoing cuts from Testimony of Grace, giving us “Baby Boy”, “Nice One”, and “Person Like You”, balancing melodic Rap and breezy Afrobeats with veteran charisma. Elsewhere, Strei presents atmospheric Alternative RnB on the NIGHT EP through “Catapult” and “Surplus”, while Amadi Blue’s A Tribute To The Baddies supplies “Kuku Love Me”, “Lotus”, and “Tonado” featuring Minz and Shorae Moore, sultry Afro-Fusion steeped in smooth melodies and flirtatious energy. Priesst’s KURIMA TOO rounds things off beautifully with “11:11”, “Ife”, and “Akonuche (Remix)” featuring Victony and Shoday, fluid genre-bending Afrobeats that glide between softness and rhythm with ease.
A number of standout singles also make their way into this section. Anaïs Cardot delivers emotional vulnerability on the stripped-back “Second Hand”, while Keziah Mallam and Iver Rivers combine beautifully on the gentle and reflective “One Rule”. Taves leans into yearning emotion on “Isn’t It Beautiful”, and Morravey continues her impressive rise with the warm and sensual “My Lover”.
From tenderness, we gradually move toward rhythm and bounce.
ASSORTED AFRO-FUSION
This next stretch of the playlist embraces the many faces of Afro-Fusion, where groove, melody, experimentation, and regional influences collide in exciting ways. Ghanaian artist Pappy Kojo injects personality and swagger into Cantata through “Masallaci”, “Tina Fom”, and “Bonanza”, playful and charismatic records that blend Highlife influences with modern Afrobeats bounce. Ghanaian rapper Rcee also impresses on the Young Daddy EP, giving us “Tooli”, “Money Makes The World Go Round (MMTWGR)”, and “Atiaa”, smooth melodic Rap and Afro-Fusion driven by catchy hooks and confident delivery.
Nigerian veteran Korede Bello leans into romance and melody on the Another One EP through “Another One”, “Sweet Melody”, and “Not Romantic”, polished Afropop cuts rooted in easygoing songwriting and infectious rhythm. Moses Luka delivers emotionally grounded Afro-Gospel and Bongo Flava on the self-titled Moses Luka EP with “Nawe”, “Moja”, and “Higher”, uplifting songs powered by rich vocal performances and warm instrumentation.
Suté Iwar and RayTheBoffin continue exploring sleek, futuristic Alternative music on the Modern Fantasy EP through “Modern Man”, “Prime”, and “Travelling”, fluid records that blur the lines between RnB, Rap, and electronic experimentation. Fally Ipupa reminds listeners of his effortless musicality on XX, bringing us “Cinéma”, “Deuxième maman”, and “Jam” featuring Wizkid, vibrant Congolese rhythm meeting smooth Afrobeats polish.
A collection of compelling singles further broadens the palette here. Hildah Watiri and Femi One combine for the lively and melodic “Pole Pole”, while KiDi and Lasmid bring infectious chemistry on “Signature”. AYLØ delivers emotional Alternative textures on “Too Many Things”, while Noon Dave’s “Condo” and Øbed’s “Twin Peaks” continue the section’s commitment to genre fluidity and fresh sonic direction.
And finally, we head toward the dancefloor.
ELECTRONICAFRIQUE
We close this comeback edition with a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of African electronica. From Soulful AfroHouse and Private School Piano to hard-hitting Log Drum workouts and emotionally immersive Amapiano, this section pulses with layered percussion, hypnotic synth work, rich vocal performances, and rhythms designed equally for introspection and movement.
Thatohatsi and Tracy lead the charge with UHAMBO, delivering “Iy’ndaba zomndeni”, “Injabulo”, and “Ekhaya”, warm, vocal-driven Amapiano built on layered production and emotionally expressive songwriting. Zee Nxumalo joins forces with Dlala Thukzin and a host of collaborators across Izinja Zam: Vol. I through “Bawo”, “Awe Mah 2.0”, “Guqa (My Prayer)”, and “Ngithathiwe”, emotionally expressive Amapiano packed with booming drums, sticky hooks, and infectious vocal performances.
Nandipha808, Caaza, and collaborators bring gritty underground energy on Who Made Who through “Liqui Fruit”, “Closer”, and “The End (Insane)”, hypnotic Log Drum-driven production layered with dark club atmosphere and hard-hitting rhythm. Darque closes things out beautifully on OPEN YOUR EYES with “Thula Thula”, “Khuzwa”, and “Open Your Eyes”, sweeping AfroHouse powered by spiritual melodies, entrancing synths, and emotionally immersive rhythms that linger long after the music fades.
A handful of standout singles complete this journey. Felo Le Tee, Miikey Ndlovu, and Mlooda combine with Q Bonke for the groove-heavy “Ithuba”, DJ Jaivane, BitterSoul, Wesley Keys, and Tots SA immerse listeners in the richly textured “Cel’ Uk’buza”, while OmarTheDJ, YKB, and SHINY crash through with the aggressive club-ready “KAMASUTRA”. Earful Soul, Sabz, and Kabza De Small glide through the Soulful “Empilweni”, Maline Aura, DJ 2K, DJ Maphorisa, and Mluiscian keep the dancefloor moving with “Sukumemeza”, and DJ Neptune alongside Black Fab inject rhythmic momentum into the breezy and infectious “keeponmovin”.
As always, these songs are just a cross-section of the full playlist. There are many more gems waiting for you, and this is a big one, packed with a full range of vibes that deserve your time and attention.
Remember, we are not just about the biggest names. We are here to make sure you do not miss the noteworthy offerings that might have flown under your radar. Hopefully, we have put you on to some new artists and helped you find new favourites to carry forward.
Send us your recent favourites from this past wave of releases, and I hope you’re as happy to have these back as I am to have put them together. I kept promising a Monthly Editorial, so here you go with this doubling as the April Editorial as well. Once again, apologies for the delay. Thank you for staying with us.
For the next two weeks, keep exploring, keep listening, and keep your ears open to the unexpected. We wish you the best of what the month of May has to offer.
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.
https://audiomack.com/afrocritik-music/playlist/afrocritik-wms