Marioo

Hometown: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Marioo’s rise to fame in Tanzania is something dreams are made of. After dropping out of high school, he pursued his music dream while he worked as an apprentice in a garage. His persistence paid off when 2019 single “Wauwe” took off. His debut album The Kid You Know, released in December 2022, is a pleasant journey through amapiano, Afrobeats, R&B, and Bongo Flava. Supplemented by Kiswahili amapiano, “Dear Ex” is a statement of triumph over lost time on an ex-partner.

Kamo Mphela

Hometown: Soweto, South Africa

Kamo Mphela has performed all her life. As a child she’d follow her dad to music events with enough confidence to jump on stages and entertain crowds. A video of her dancing in the street to her own music went viral in 2019, after which she was signed to Major League Music. Now known fondly by fans as the “Queen of Amapiano,” her latest single “Ghost” assures her opposition that she is a force to be reckoned with.

Khaligraph Jones

Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones is a staple in the East African country’s rap scene, having made a name for himself as a frequent contender in hip-hop cyphers and cultural events since he was 13. His music possesses a duality that enables him to address social issues and provide relaxed songs ready for the clubs. “Blue Ticks” with 10 African Artists You Should Know alum Femi One is all about paying no attention to frivolous messages.

Ariel Wayz

Hometown: Rubavu, Rwanda

Ariel Wayz is a 23-year-old Rwandan music prodigy gaining mainstream attention with soothing yet provocative music. An alma mater of the prestigious Ecole D’Art de Nyundo in Rwanda, she represented her country in The Voice of Africa 2020 as a teenager. Her two EPs Love & Lust and TTS (Touch The Sky) embrace experimentalism, treading the lines of rap, Bongo Flava, R&B, EDM, trap, and more. On “You Should Know,” she reassures her lover of her undying love and asks the same of him.

ODUMODUBLVCK

Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria

Abuja-based ODUMODUBLVCK raps with a ferocity that cannot be manufactured. A member of the hip-hop collective Anti World Gangstars, ODUMODUBLVCK is adept at wielding drill, Afrobeats, and highlife melodies while delivering candid but strongly-worded bars. He’s almost always spotted wearing a hat associated with warriors of the Igbo people (Okpu Agu), which signifies a particular menace. Pairing up with Nigerian Street hop icon Zlatan on his December 2022 release “Picanto,” ODUMODUBLVCK speaks his grim truths.

Fior 2 Bior

Hometown: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Ali Djomosoukpa Ake, better known as Fior 2 Bior, is an Ivorian artist who embellishes Coupé-Décalé, Zouglou, and trap with touches of humor. Social media caught wind of his parodies and freestyles in 2017 and Ivorian listeners haven’t been able to get enough of him since. Fior 2 Bior uses enigmatic language that mixes slang and satirical quips in a manner that has defined his artistic identity. “YE SUIS KPIN” follows in the vein of his paradoxical expression.

Jay Rox

Hometown: Lusaka, Zambia

Jackson Banda, aka Jay Rox, first found popularity in 2009 as a member of the now-defunct hip-hop group The Zone Fam. He continued as a solo artist with 2015’s Outside The Rox, and followed up with a sequel three years later. The two albums successfully introduced his style, which embraces sociopolitical themes. On his latest album Poetry in Motion, he expresses lighter themes such as on “Love is Blinded”—an Afrobeats song about the things he would do for love.

Bey T

Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

One of Kenyan rap’s youngest entrants, 23-year-old Bey T represents a fresh form of the genre. Transitioning from poetry to rap, she blends multiple musical influences into a style she calls “rap fusion.” Her break came through “If They Dunno” in March 2019, which grabbed the attention of the Empawa 100 program a year later, putting her on the map continent-wide. Loosely translating to “you play me,” her song “Unanicheza,” with South African singer Boohle, is a soul-reaching amapiano record about yearning for genuine affection.

Winky D

Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe

Winky D is shortened from “Wicked DJ,” a nickname bestowed upon Wallace Chirumiko at rap battles and street cyphers growing up. Winky D is considered a pioneer of reggae and dancehall in Zimbabwe, and has also delved into gospel music while remaining consistent with addressing contemporary Zimbabwean culture. Much of his music revolves around proper representation of underserved youth in the country. “Dzimba Dzembabwe” brings his love of country to the fore, and implores its people to unite to build a better future for coming generations.

SuperJazzClub

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Ghanaian creative collective SuperJazzClub is a self-serving mix of sonic and visual creators. Their goal is to carve out an alternative niche amidst Afrobeats’ dominance in West Africa, and reach listeners with diverse tastes and wants. Their 2020 debut For All the Good Times was an artistic statement that showed a willingness to be different amidst the noise. “MAD” is a soft-rock song that speaks to the notice of anger as a precursor to violence.

10 African Artists You Should Know (January 2023)