Afrocritik’s Weekly Music Spotlight: Afrobeats Summer
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
Hey there, music lovers,
Hope you’re easing into June with good vibes and brighter days. Can you believe we’re already approaching the halfway mark of the year? Time’s flying, but the music never stops—and neither do we.
For those who celebrate, a very Happy Eid to you and yours. May this season bring joy, peace, and a full plate of delicious Sallah meat!
This week, we’re turning up the heat and leaning into the rhythm of the season with a full dose of Afrobeats energy. From buttery ballads to vibrant genre-benders, the playlist is warming up right on cue.
Before we dive in, don’t forget to follow us and check out the newly updated Monthly Editorial playlist, featuring the best of the soulful goodness we experienced in May. And as always, if you’re an artist—or know someone cooking up magic—send your music my way at yinoluu@afrocritik.com. We’re always listening.
Now, without further ado, let’s get into the tracks lighting up our week in the form of:
NOTABLE PROJECTS: This week’s playlist features a goldmine of standout projects, each packed with enough gems to warrant a double-take.
On his new album MELÖVIA, rising talent, Savage hits a sweet stride with melodic, well-crafted tracks like “Who”, “Magician”, and “Casanova”, blending sharp songwriting with polished production. Over in South Africa, singer, Rowlene, teams up with producer, Christer, for Moments After, a soft, soulful collection shaped by R&B tones and Afro warmth on which “Losing Sleep”, “Let Me Be” and “Don’t Give Up on Me” shine with heartfelt restraint.
Nigerian act, Runda, returns with Behind Closed Doors, serving up thoughtful and emotive afrobeats on “Sometimes”, “SenzZ”, and “Roma”, while Uganda’s Reggae veteran, Bebe Cool, continues to evolve on Break The Chains, especially on “African Love” with Yemi Alade, “Cheque” with Joshua Baraka, and the upbeat “Circumference”.
And of course, no list is complete without something a little left-field; Fuji legend K1 De Ultimate delivers Ganusi, full of stylistic fusions that refresh the Fuji tradition, with highlights like “Ẹ Rọra Sáré”, “Àlùjó Gbẹ́sẹ̀”, and “Better Dey Come”.
SMOOTH SINGLES: It’s not all bounce and bustle; there’s plenty of smoothness to go around.
Maya Amolo sets the tone with the slick R&B glide of “Guidance”, while Samthing Soweto returns with the gentle, sensual “Deda”. Bloody Civilian dials up the fun on the catchy and layered “Ladida”, and Lyrxx offers up a danceable pulse with “Wajo”.
Ghanaian favourite, Camidoh, blesses us with a double dose of emotive soul on “Yur Ghost” and “Ayekoo”, while the ever-impressive Tim Lyre links up with Boj on “Lock In”, building excitement for Tim’s upcoming album. Rounding out the section is DJ Latitude and Major AJ, who give us a clean, classic Afrobeats offering with “Steady”.
UNIQUE FUSIONS: In the fusion zone, the creativity flows without borders.
Braye makes a bold first impression on his I Wish I Had More Time debut EP, fusing acoustic and alt energies on “Slipping Out Of Time”, “Stuck”, and “Bring You Home”. Outgun Onkar’s The Journey gives us jazzy instrumental Afrobeats with standouts like “Sunrise”, “Wind”, and “Torrents”.
Lady Donli breaks the mould once again with her This Feels Like An Interlude EP, infusing rock energy into alt-afrobeats on “Supposed 2 Do”, “I No Know”, and “Time Heals”. Rising producer, Wademix, shows promise on his debut EP, The First Tape, shining through with soulful female features on tracks like “Terror-py” and “Question”.
Newcomer, Lemon Adisa, blends grit and heart on Scheming, especially on “Ben Ben Ben” and “Ogun Tio Je”, and Brown Joel rounds out the section with the guitar-driven “Omo Temi”, a soft, heartfelt fusion ballad.
SOUTH AFRICA FIX: A brief but bright flash from the south this week.
Kelvin Momo returns in fine form on Thato Ya Modimo, with jazzy, deep-house leaning amapiano on “Uvalo”, “Jaiva”, and “Bubbles”. On the more energetic side, we get hard-hitting bangers like “Manje Clean” from Mr JazziQ and Mema_Percent, “Afa Kennedy” from Outsyd Eddie, and the infectious “Kirikiki” by Yaans and crew.
Closing out the section is a powerful Afrohouse collab: Batundi, Tresor, and Msaki deliver on “Naliya”, a moving blend of voice, groove, and emotion.
And there you have it. Just a handful of the gems waiting to be uncovered on the full playlist.. Be sure to explore the entire Spotlight playlist to uncover even more sonic gems. If you’re a budding artist hoping to get featured, or if you’ve just stumbled across a sleeper hit that deserves more ears, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at yinoluu@afrocritik.com. Let’s keep the circle of discovery growing.
Here’s to a new week: may it be full of light, soul, and sound. Keep showing up, keep showing love, and let the music keep you centred. Eid Mubarak again to all those celebrating. May the season bring softness, strength, and a soundtrack that lifts your spirit.
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.