5 Rising Stars Ushering In A New Wave Of African Sound

Nigerian artistes have proven over time to be masters at shapeshifting genres, while infusing foreign sounds with African percussions to make music that not only tug at the hearts of billions of listeners worldwide but has led a new wave of African sound.

African music continues to captivate audiences worldwide, with artistes like Burnaboy, Fireboy DML and Wizkid achieving major milestones like Grammy performances, high-profile collaborations and record-breaking chart dominance. The opportunities available in the space are endless.

Today, we’re diving into the world of 5 rising stars who are redefining the new wave of this space.

Taves

Toluwanimi Aluko popularly known as Taves is an acclaimed genre-bending artiste from Ibadan, Nigeria who has taken the Nigerian music chart by storm with his two new singles titled “Bodija” and “Folake”.

With online fans terming his sound “realm teleporting”, as he that transports them to new sonic landscapes, Taves has found a way of distinguishing himself within the Nigerian coined genre. Taking influences from Nigerian and international stars like Asa, Wande Coal, Khalid, Post Malone, Bryson Tiller and Ed Sheeran, Taves has forged a progressive signature style fusing together Soul, Pop, and Hip-Hop. His experimentation with melodic rap creates a unique sound that pushes the genre into an unprecedented territory.

Must hear song: Folake

Amaeya

Catching the attention of acclaimed artist Ayra Starr, Amaeya is a rising star with a bright future ahead of her. After singing backup vocals for a number of Nigerian artistes including Tems, Ric Hassani, Tiwa Savage, Lojay, Tomi Thomas, Skiibii, Show dem Camp, and Asake, the talented singer has launched off on her own musical path.

Her recently released song, also her second single “Delusion” has a promising play count of 43k. Her inspiration of R&B, and Soul music shows through in her sound, and lyrics which have a heart tugging concept to it. Describing her style as a reflection of her mood, Amaeya’s music stands out for its seamless fusion of emotive vocals and vulnerable lyricism

Must hear song: On My Own

Yarden

Walking on the path of past musical talents in his lineage, Yarden, whose real name is Okereke Jordan, professionally kicked his music career off in 2019. He garnered 45 million listens on his song “Wetin” released under Erin Records, a Nigerian record label, and has continued to amass a large following and devoted listenership.

Owing his sound and style to international artistes like Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Daft Punk, and African musical star, Wizkid, his captivating music style can be attributed to his self described approach of being a “discography” artiste. In an interview with PM News, he noted his belief in putting out solid projects for everyone to enjoy and this was proven in his recent album release titled “The One Who Descends”. Using the trifecta of layered production, vocal effects, and cross-genre lyricism across different sounds, Yarden sets himself apart as a true innovator.

Must hear song: Wait

Qing Madi

Hailing from Benin City, Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma has listeners swaying to the melodious tunes of her songs. Qing Madi burst into the limelight with the release of her song “See Finish” in 2022 which gained her a future collaboration with the Nigerian soulful artiste, BXNX. Taking over all social media and audio platforms, her songs have earned her a growing monthly listenership of 1.4 million persons.

She reached the number one spot on both the Ugandan and Nigerian Top 100 Apple Music charts with her song “Ole” and received credits for background vocals on Wizkid’s S2 EP. Qing Madi continues to prove her dynamism and is on track to becoming a household name, redefining the African music landscape in the process.

Must hear song: American Love

Llona

Fast rising star Llona, real name Micheal Ajuma Attah, finds it effortless to blend contemporary African music, R&B, and Dancehall to produce songs that take its listeners on a captivating journey. Drawing inspiration from revered artists like Olamide, Llona began releasing music in 2019 after which he built a dedicated and ever-growing community of listeners.

Since his first release title “Nobody” to his collaboration with Bella Shmurda, Llona’s approach of delivering impactful storytelling mixed with the velvety command of his voice leaves listeners stuck in a state of entranced awe and expands the boundaries of African music into uncharted territory. Llona’s versatility and willingness to experiment is supporting the evolution of the genre.

Must hear song: Comforter

• Written By Alalade Eniola Abigail, a writer based in Lagos Nigeria.