By Daniel Adebajo
It’s undeniable that Africa has significantly impacted the global music scene over the years. Recently, artists like Tyra, Amaarae, and Odumodublvck have rapidly transitioned from rising stars to major forces, injecting the music industry with their unique flavours. The dominance of short-form video content has made it increasingly challenging to capture audience attention while creating fresh sounds organically. Nevertheless, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 emerging African artists poised to shape the future of African music, eventually joining conversations of legendary status.
Yiizi & TMZY
Originating out of Ebute Metta, Lagos, the Obi brothers, Yiizi and TMZY, burst onto the scene with Money Over Love, a mellow drill production masterclass perfectly layered with raw heartfelt lyrics of compassion for their respective lovers. Shortly after the release of their follow-up effort Omalicha, the duo went on to deliver their debut joint EP. Spanning over 8 tracks, Money Over Love brilliantly displays the brothers’ shared gift for crafting addictive melodies enriched with compelling storytelling and a bubbling chemistry that makes for a pleasant listening experience. With such big strides in just their first few stages, could Nigeria be witnessing its next best duo?
Kam K
A descendant of the polarising entity that is Rage rap (a punk-inspired subgenre of Trap popularised by Atlanta’s Playboi Carti), Kam K wears his influences on his sleeve unapologetically. Seamlessly intertwining the accent, slang, and references from his Lagos upbringing with the futuristic, bass-heavy production synonymous with the stylings of rage rap, Kam K’s music feels like a step into an unearthly direction for Nigeria’s rap scene.
Tracks such as Those Assisted by Maison2500, GMG, or Foreign see Kam in an effortless headspace, enticing listeners with the earworm of a production performance. However, paying close attention, they will find further layers of interest in Kam’s use of deeper vocal inflections and choppy flows. Nigeria’s underground scene is currently making rapid headway, and Kam K deserves high praise for his contributions.
Khaya DoomAKU
We consistently hear ‘old-heads’ utter sentiments about the new generation’s disregard for meaningful lyricism and how new rappers only want to sing. With Khaya DoomAKU coming straight out of South Africa, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. As stated on Good Morning, track 1 off the perfectly named I Can Rap EP, the first thing one will notice about Khaya’s work is that he is most definitely “animated like a comic,” boldly displaying an essence of conviction with every rhyme.
Layered over production, which sees him never restricting himself to a specific ‘comfort’ sound but instead exploring over beat selection that places him in various soundscapes, Khaya can be most likely associated with the likes of new age pioneers such as Smino and Saba or even yesterday’s 90’s boom bap icons, a testament to his range. At just 23, Khaya DoomAKU’s presence embodies the symbolisation of the potent spirit of hip-hop, and for any doubters of the current state of the genre, just press play.
Anabel Rose
Since emerging solo in 2023, Filipino-Ghanian Anabel Rose, member of the collective 99Phaces, has been making clear efforts to break barriers in Ghana’s music space. Well-deservingly earning a spot on OkayAfrica’s Best Afrobeats Songs of 2024 Lungs, Annabel Rose provides her audience with music that can only be described as unique and ethereal, infusing a foundation of alt-pop with sounds of rock, R&B, alté, and house. Anabel has kicked off 2025 with the dreamy, intimate record entitled How I Want It, a look into a new level of evolution for her, and much like Anabel’s musical inspiration in Amaarae, Anabel’s art serves as a vessel for those rooted in self-assurance and fearless artistic freedom.
Cheruu
If you have ever wondered what a love potion in human form sounds like, Cheruu’s music is the right place for you. Hailing from Thika, Kenya, Cheruu is an undeniably strong vocalist with an evidently strong pen, which, throughout her discography, she has shown to execute in unbelievable cases. 2024 was quite a busy year for the rising talent as she would release both Apt.14 EP with producer SHLM, along with her own solo debut, Soul.
With these two projects, which have a distinct contrast with one another, Cheruu was able to demonstrate her additional strength of exuding confidence regardless of sonic environment. Now with her new 2025 release, Pewa, we are on the edge of our seats with utmost excitement for what major successes await the crafty soul disciple.
