Costa Titch

Hometown: Nelspruit, South Africa

Twenty-five-year-old Nelspruit native Costa Titch has been making waves as a dancer in South Africa’s music industry for some of its biggest stars. He started recording music as a way to get more people to watch his dance videos, ultimately receiving recognition as a rapper in 2020. His December 2021 single “Big Flexa” enjoyed a viral moment following the release of its video in and brought Africa’s attention to his deft flow in isiZulu, Sesotho, English, and Afrikaans.

Rayvanny

Hometown: Nzovwe, Tanzania

In a pool of musical talent in Tanzania, Rayvanny stands out. Prominently known for his ballads mostly sung in Swahili, Rayvanny progressed from the small town of Nzovwe to signing with Tanzania’s biggest record label, WCB Wasafi, in 2015. On “I Miss You,” Rayvanny pairs up with 10 African Artists You Should Know alum Zuchu to bare their souls over the ones that got away.

Tanasha Donna

Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

Tanasha Donna’s journey through music in Kenya moves from her Bongo Flava origins to her more familiar Afropop present. She started off as a model, participating in the national Miss Kenya pageant, which led to a stint at a radio station before she started releasing music. She gradually picked up steam in Kenya, until her 2021 collab with Nigerian artist Bad Boy Timz “Complicationship” increased her footprint across the continent. “Mood” is an Amapiano track with one simple message: keep the party going.

Twitch 4EVA

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Blending Afrobeats and alternative R&B into a sound he calls “coastal music,” Ghanaian singer-songwriter Twitch 4EVA crafts relatively tender African tunes. “Moko” spreads the gospel of consistency even when it feels like your back is against the wall, and Twitch recently did a remix contest with Audiomack for the tune. His latest offering “Sweetie” follows suit in his description of coastal music: airy, melodic, and sweet.

Mimi Mars

Hometown: Arusha, Tanzania

Born Marianne Namshali Mdee, Mimi Mars is no stranger to the spotlight. Whether she’s hosting a TV show, acting, or creating online content, the Tanzanian singer-songwriter is constantly finding new ways to channel her creativity. Musically, you’ll find her making either Bongo Flava, R&B, or pop. She is currently signed to Mdee Music, which is managed by her older sister, Tanzanian pop star Vanessa Mdee. Her latest track “La La” is bubbly Afropop featuring fellow Tanzanian talent Marioo.

Aymos

Hometown: Tembisa, South Africa

Aymos’ grand reveal to the mainstream South African audience came via a performance on DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small’s soulful “eMcimbini” in 2020. The nationwide lockdown that followed didn’t allow him to put a face to the name in the way he’d have liked, but as soon as things cooled down a year later, the self-proclaimed “Prince of Amapiano'' dropped his EP, Yimi Lo. “The purpose of Yimi Lo is to convey to the audience that I am the face behind the music,” he tells Audiomack. As Amapiano takes over the world, Aymos commands a huge force among a new guard of stars.

Raebel

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Eighteen-year-old Raebel (Rebel) burst onto the Nigerian scene late last year following the release of her second official single, “Miniskirt.” Her music, which mixes dancehall with Afrobeats, caught fire on TikTok, and Raebel is committed to letting her light shine. “For the most part of my life, I’ve been told how to be, how to behave, and their picture of who I am and who I really am just didn’t align,” she tells Audiomack of the single. “So I said no miniskirt, I’m gonna be who I want to be.”

Moliy

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Moliy’s voice took center stage on Amaarae’s “SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY,” a song that broke long-standing records in Ghanaian music. Her 2020 debut WONDERGIRL positioned her as one of the leading women in a crop of rising Ghanaian artists. “I’m so unashamed, like if I smoke, or if I’m in a toxic relationship, or I fucked up, it’s real, it happens,” Moliy told Audiomack World in May. “I just want girls to see that and almost learn from my mistakes.” On recent single “9 to 5,” Moliy lays out why a conventional work shift just isn’t for her.

Jess ETA

Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria

On the effortlessly melodic “Skata,” Jess ETA’s vocals make a smooth entrance with words of adulation and promises to gain a woman’s attention. The Abuja native describes his music as an “Afro and R&B fruit mix.” In 2021, he won the Audiomack x Afrochella Rising Star Challenge via his single with BNXN, “Body on Fire.” An earlier standout (“Resistance”) with 10 Rappers You Should Know alum SgawD put Jess ETA’s name firmly on the map as an artist who wears his heart on his sleeve, and needs no permission to dominate a beat.

Juno Kizigenza

Hometown: Kicukiro, Rwanda

Juno Kizigenza has been making waves since an early age, finding fame in schools and neighborhoods along the course of his adolescence. In 2019, he transcended hyperlocal stardom when Rwandan artist Bruce Melodie brought him on as a mentee under his label. His first song under the imprint was “Mpa Formula,” a jubilant Kinyarwandan R&B song that stamped his name across the country. His recent 2022 single “Loyal” is a loud and clear expression of fidelity to his partner, regardless of what his star status would have her perceive.

10 African Artists You Should Know (June 2022)