Afrocritik Weekly Music Spotlight: Mega Catch-Up
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Hello!
Greetings to all the brave listeners navigating the ever-changing waves of sound — the musical voyagers who sail through rhythms in search of discovery and delight. How are you doing? How is October treating you so far? I hope your month has begun well, filled with warmth and music.
I must begin with an apology for the recent quiet spell. The Spotlight should have arrived much sooner, but I’ve been quite unwell for a while and needed time to recover. Thank you for your patience and for staying tuned. This week’s playlist is my attempt to make it up to you — a grand catch-up brimming with new music that arrived while I was healing. So much has been released over the past few weeks that we were truly spoiled for choice, and this edition is a massive one, packed with highlights from a myriad of projects deserving your time and attention.
Before we begin, make sure you follow us on all our socials so you never miss a beat. It may take me a little while to get fully up to date with the Monthly Spotlight, but the last edition is still there, waiting for your enjoyment. And to the artists among you, as always, our doors remain open for submissions. Don’t hesitate to send them to yinoluu@afrocritik.com: we’re eager to spotlight your work as well!
Without further delay, let’s dive into this week’s brilliant selection, which comes in the form of:
MOOD & EMOTION:Some songs soaked in feeling and full of tender energy.
South African Gen Z newcomer, Una Rams, gives us Meet Me At The Altar, an album of soulful, layered R&B enriched by star-studded features. “Ndi A Mufuna”, “Nguwe”, and “I Do” flow with lush instrumentation and heartfelt delivery that showcase his unmistakable touch. Nigerian 18-year-old phenom, Rayona, offers Ray of Sunshine, an impressive project where “Moi” and “Jeje” blend Pop, Afrobeats, and R&B with a calm confidence that belies her age. From Ghana, the multidisciplinary collective, 99 Phaces, presents The Kids Are Just Fine, a project rich in narrative songwriting and experimental tones, with standouts “Way Back”, “Melody”, and “Composure”, pushing the boundaries of what Afrofusion can sound like.
South African songstress, Nomfundo Moh, continues her streak of elegant releases with Out The Box, where “Ixesha” and “Soze” stand out as soulful RnB confessions sung with tenderness and power. Nigerian singer, Josiah Bassey, delivers purebred, warm, layered R&B on Nervous, with “Can’t Keep Loving You”, “Future”, and “One Chance” displaying his breathtaking range and refined musicality. Joda Kgosi’s Me, Myself and Mind offers a punchy blend of Neo-Soul and RnB, with “Fix Me”, “Oh No”, and “Reaching” revealing both vulnerability and grit. Tanzanian star, Kusah, rounds out this section with Bumbuki Boy, where “Feelings”, “Umekonda”, and “Pombe” sparkle with smooth vocals, sweet grooves, and emotional resonance.
AFRO-FUSIONS: A colourful range of energetic Afrobeats and Afrofusions that pulse with rhythm and swagger.
Spyro leads with The Men, The Boys and Your Guy, a varied, star-studded project filled with energy and groove. “No More”, “Irreplaceable”, “Para”, and “Sweet” highlight his ability to merge melody with accessible Afro-Fusion warmth. Bella Shmurda’s Sanity keeps the pulse racing with “Bygone”, “Pretty Girl”, “Dangbana Riddim”, and “Bounce”, all delivering that familiar Bella mix of street pop and introspection. The super creative Nigerian singer-producer Yarden drops Muse, a buttery collection where “Julie”, “Me & U”, and “Ifeoma” melt into smooth rhythm and sleek production.
Cazulee’s Hustle Mode / Boss Mode carries storytelling energy and attitude with “Hallelujah”, “Hooligan”, and “Juru”. Yung Alpha’s Freeway keeps the energy bright and emotional through “Billings”, “Right or Wrong”, and “Sober”. FirstKlaz’s Dejavu blends Northern Nigerian flavour and Afrobeats verve with “Soyaiya”, “Lili”, and “Alhaji”, proof of his pathfinding sound that finds unity in contrast.
SOUTH AFRICA TRIP: Our usual journey to South Africa for their ever-evolving takes on Amapiano and AfroHouse.
Thakzin’s God’s Window Pt. 1 is an Afro-House masterclass, with “Hamba Nami Utlwa” and “Imali Yephepha” thumping with infectious rhythm and lush melodies. Shakes & Les bring the groove alive on Estradini, a percussive, energetic Amapiano record highlighted by “Zambuk”, “Plug Str”, and “Lekazi”. Macasset’s Jack of All Trades adds another flavour with “Yekela Umona”, “Sashi Scathulo”, and “Gun Jack”, songs that balance smoothness and grit through vocal-driven Amapiano. The group Ancestral Rituals close out our trip with Badumetse, a spiritual, powerful AfroHouse album that finds transcendence in rhythm. Tracks like “Kumnyama”, “Badumetse”, “Yohai”, and “Ungfa” move like chants, filled with texture, intensity, and atmosphere.
These songs are only a small taste of the full playlist, which overflows with gems and discoveries waiting to be heard. Remember, here at Afrocritik, we are not about the big names alone. Our mission is to make sure you never miss the noteworthy offerings that may quietly slip past your radar. We hope we have helped you find new artists to love and songs to soundtrack your days.
As always, we invite you to send us your recent favourites from this week’s wide release slate, and to revisit the August Monthly Editorial while waiting for the next update. We hope you enjoy this Mega Catch-Up as much as we enjoyed putting it together, and that your October continues on a bright, musical note.
Take care of yourselves, stay curious, and keep listening deeply until we meet again in two weeks.
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.