Black Sherif

Hometown: Konongo, Ghana

Black Sherif is one of Ghana’s most exciting young prospects. Armed with piercing vocals, his music, sung in Twi and English, speaks to the realities of young Ghanaians trying to find their way out of the difficult situations posed by everyday life. 2021’s “First Sermon” set the stage for the fitting sequel “Second Sermon,” which transported Black Sherif’s name across West Africa. Shortly after, Burna Boy jumped on the remix, solidifying the Konongo native as a staple of emerging African musicians.

FAVE

Hometown: Uyo, Nigeria

Many listeners came to know FAVE from her two cameos on Nigerian rap legend Olamide’s 2021 UY Scuti album. But much of her core fanbase first caught wind of her in 2020 from the sultry Afropop single “N.B.U.” Last year saw some big wins for the young artist; “Beautifully” exhibited her vocal range and ability to make songs with mainstream appeal while her smash hit “Baby Riddim” established her as one of Nigeria’s biggest breakouts of the year. Her January 2022 EP Riddim 5 is a succinct mixture of Afrobeats, dancehall, and pop.

AV

Hometown: Benin, Nigeria

Born into a family well-known for music and entertainment, it’s no longer a mystery why it’s so easy for AV to glide on complex beats. “Big Thug Boys,” however, was Nigerian music’s 2021 enigma. The single held its own among industry heavyweights and had everyone asking, “Who is AV?” His most recent release “Confession” proved there’s more where that effortless flow came from. Citing Asa, Kendrick Lamar, Future, XXXTENTACION, and Chronixx as major influences, AV’s stardom has just begun unfolding.

T’Neeya

Hometown: Douala, Cameroon

Soul is the genre that first comes to mind upon hearing T’neeya’s music. However, the Cameroonian singer prefers to call her sound Afro-fusion. Subject to pan-African influences, her lyrical delivery fluidly navigates French, English, and Pidgin. “Up” is a relaxed ode to the relationships that could be and the temporary forevers we will come to cherish. T’neeya has set up shop in Ghana but is often present across West Africa. “I create music from everywhere,” she says. “Accra is one of my favorite places to do that, it’s like my second home.”

Nviiri The Storyteller

Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

Aptly named, Nviiri The Storyteller paints vivid pictures and immerses his listeners in the world of a theme he’s trying to express. His 2019 release “Pombe Sigara,” sung in Swahili and English, is rich in metaphors alluding to his addiction to women. His latest single “Nikita” follows the same vein and suggests he might not be over that addiction just yet. Nviiri The Storyteller’s skills on the guitar and piano add to the scope of music he’s capable of, making him one of Kenya’s most promising exports right now.

Kelvyn Boy

Hometown: Assin Fosu, Ghana

Kelvyn Boy has been present in the Ghanaian scene since his 2017 single “Na You” with Stonebwoy, to who he was signed until 2019. His 2020 album Blackstar dipped into social commentary on his country, simultaneously letting out party songs such as “Tele” with Crayon. “Don Ding” sees Kelvyn Boy lean into tried-and-true West African sounds once again. “Africans have an identity and that is why I love to infuse African rhythms into my music,” he says.

Mbosso

Hometown: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Mbosso’s music is unabashedly romantic, the consistency of this theme closely associating him with love among East African listeners. Following the lead of his label boss, Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz, Mbosso is among a fresh crop of Tanzanian artists putting great effort into exporting their sound across the continent and beyond. “For Your Love,” with label mate Zuchu, is a slow-tempo acoustic ballad sung in English and Swahili, proclaiming deep-rooted emotions for a romantic interest.

Guchi

Hometown: Imo, Nigeria

Guchi is one of Nigeria’s best-kept secrets. The Imo-state native oscillates between upbeat and solemn to make catchy Afrobeats melodies. She started 2021 on a high with “Jennifer,” which attracted Tanzanian star Rayvanny to hop on a remix. Her latest single “Scatter My Head” with Zlatan placed her in view of the upper hemisphere of Nigerian stars. With over 30 million streams on Audiomack to date, Guchi is well on her way to becoming a household name in Nigerian music.

Bien & Aaron Rimbui

Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

Bien-Aime Baraza of Sauti Sol and seasoned pianist Aaron Rimbui came together in 2021 to form another formidable Kenyan duo. Their first project Bald Men Love Better is a soul-reaching project with themes that touch on coming of age, the reward for hard work, and acceptance of others and self. Standout track “Bald Men Anthem” playfully speaks on self-love for bald men, the liberation that comes with a clean cut, and the superiority of bald men’s affection.

Focalistic

Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa

Focalistic is making a name for himself by defying the odds, mixing and matching Sepitori rap with South African dance music. He released an impressive three bodies of work in 2021, one of which had the hit single “Ke Star” featuring Vigro Deep. In 2021, he and Afrobeats superstar Davido came together for the “Ke Star (Remix)” which took the song from a South African hit to a continental hit. His signature line “Ase Trap Ke Pina Tsa Ko Kasi” translates to “This is not Trap, it’s from the ghetto.”

10 Questions With Focalistic

10 African Artists You Should Know (February 2022)