Covering African music throughout 2025 only reinforced, at least in this writer’s mind, that the depth of musical talent across the continent is unmatched. With each passing weekend of new releases, the number of must-listen artists continued to grow exponentially. From Kenya to Tanzania, South Africa to Egypt, Ghana, and beyond. Across Amapiano, Singeli, Hip-hop, and Afrobeats, the African talent pool is brimming with gifted artists eager to make their mark on the global stage. African Folder remains committed to spotlighting these talents and providing them with a platform.
At the start of 2025, we noted acts like Arathejay, Firstklaz, Taves and TML Vibez on our African artists to watch list in 2025. Many of those acts went on to have incredibly successful years, so it’s fair to say we have some credentials to give you a clear list of African artists to look out for in 2026.
Here are the African artists we are rooting for in 2026.
Priesst (Nigeria)
Since 2021, Priesst has been knocking on the door of mainstream success. Singles like Osimhen, Kurima, 11:11 and Shayo, which earned an Adekunle Gold remix, flexed his storytelling and captivating pop-rap style. He has kicked off 2026 with a bang thanks to his viral hit single, Akonuche, which has quickly become a fan favourite thanks to its prophetic and aspirational lyrics. With so much momentum pushing him forward, it will be exciting to watch how far the artist goes in the coming months.
Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
A 2025 Rolling Stone Africa article hailed the 24-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer as the “pride of Uganda,” a tag befitting the insanely talented Joshua Baraka. The Kampala-born trailblazer has been on an impeccable run since his viral hit single Nana took off two years ago. Since then, Joshua Baraka has journeyed from his humble beginnings in Kampala to global playlists, racking up numbers unprecedented for a Ugandan artist: over six billion TikTok views, 20 million Spotify streams, and becoming the first Ugandan artist to reach one million monthly listeners, to name a few of his accomplishments. He released his debut album Juvie late last year to critical acclaim, and his single off the album, Morocco, has kicked off the year strong, enjoying virality and massive streaming attention. Joshua Baraka is one of the finest voices in African music today, and all signs point to him causing a major storm in the near future.
Kojo Blak (Ghana)
From the streets of Dansoman in Ghana, Kojo Blak is one of the brightest stars in Ghanaian music. Since his 2024 EP 757, the talented star has steadily cemented his imprint on Ghana’s pop scene, thanks to his rich melodies and captivating storytelling. Guided by a clear artistic vision and steadfast devotion to his craft, evident in his consistent releases, Kojo Blak is poised to make his mark on the global stage.
Toxic Lyrikali
Toxic Lyrikali is a 20-year-old Kenyan rapper and storyteller who has quickly gained fame for his genuine, unfiltered hip-hop that tells stories from his real life growing up in Eastlands, Nairobi. Throughout 2025, the young artist achieved major milestones, becoming Kenya’s fourth-most-viewed musician on YouTube. Spotify also named him Kenya’s most-discovered artist of the year, with two of his popular tracks, Chinje and Backbencher, ranking as the platform’s most-played Kenyan songs of 2025. After releasing hit songs like Magnificent and Chinje that went viral in 2025, the rapper looks set for another successful year ahead.
Nobuhle (South Africa)
Listening to Nobuhle’s music reveals her strong connection to her roots and culture. The singer, songwriter, and performer has spent years shaping her perspective as a South African woman and sharing it with her audience. In 2025, she released several singles Sodoma, Umusa, Amakhosi, Khuleka and made guest appearances, including on the hit single Kabza’s Chant 2.0, showing her ability to move and connect with listeners emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
Shoday (Nigeria)
Throughout 2025, Shoday was on a hot streak. His 2024 collaboration with Ayo Maff, Casablanca, set the tone for an explosive year. His biggest release of 2025, Hey Jago, featuring Poco Lee and Rahman Jago, quickly gained traction, racking up millions of streams and becoming one of the year’s notable smash hits. With other notable singles like Screaming Beauty, Sweet, Gaddem, and Nakupenda, Shoday closed the year as the top street-hop act of 2025. He has already kicked off 2026 with a bang, thanks to the Fola-assisted Paparazzi, which is rapidly gaining traction and impressive numbers. By all indications, 2026 is shaping up to be another major year for the star.
Itaré (Tanzania)
For years, Tanzania’s music scene has been dominated by the same big names, but a new generation is rising to shape the future, and Itaré is leading the charge. In 2025, Apple Music recognised the 23-year-old as one of their “Up Next” artists in East Africa, highlighting his talent, versatile sound, and relatable storytelling. He released his self-titled debut EP late last year, and the seven-track project made it clear that Itaré is on a fast track to the top.
Gonaboy (Ghana)
Gonaboy is a rising 23-year-old Ghanaian musician and storyteller who has quickly gained attention for his raw, honest music that reflects his life growing up in different cities across Ghana. His 2023 single, Abele, became a street anthem, while records like Hustlers Mantra, Same Timbs, Reggae have continued to build his reputation. Drawing inspiration from American hip hop and African drill, Gonaboy mixes gritty storytelling with catchy flows, African rhythms, and local slang, creating Hip-hop that resonates beyond Ghana.
Zaylevelten (Nigeria)
Zaylevelten is the leader of the new wave of underground rap in Nigeria. In 2025, the rap star completed his ascent from obscure sonic alchemist to full-blown cultural phenomenon off the back of his critically and commercially acclaimed album, Then It Got Crazy. The album is a lavish exhibition of his knack for crafting infectious rap bangers, powered by fluid flows, slick bars, sticky ad-libs, and elite production skills and showcases the raw talent and distinct style he brings to the Nigerian music scene. With the Nigerian underground rap scene starting to enjoy mainstream attention, Zaylevelten is definitely one to watch.
Mouka (Tunisia)
Tunisian rapper Mouka is generating attention around him thanks to his rap style that blends modern rap and trap with personal lyrics about love, struggle, and life in Tunisia, helping him connect with a young and growing audience both in his home country and beyond. His biggest single yet, Khousara, hit number one in Tunisia on YouTube, while the hard-hitting Jalsa has racked up over 5 million streams across DSPs. His style can be poetic as well as hard‑hitting thanks to its explosive production grounded in emotionally charged storytelling. With new fans increasingly tuning in as he pushes his music further, it will be exciting to see what he does next.
