African Artists To Watch Out For In 2025
Last year, the African music scene witnessed several rookies take a leap forward and ascend to stardom. We saw the rapid rise of Ayo Maff, Qing Madi, and Uncle Waffles, who collectively delivered memorable projects and hit singles that resonated across the continent.
While 2024 did not produce an obvious breakout artist across all the top genres—such as Afrobeats, alté, highlife, amapiano, fuji, and more—several rising artists had a strong year, positioning themselves for a prosperous 2025.
As we step into 2025, African Folder is showcasing 15 of the brightest African artists we believe have the potential to shine even brighter this year. Here are the African artists we’re rooting for in 2025.
2024 was the year of Llona. The Kano State native, armed with confidence in his craft, took a bold leap of faith by releasing his debut album, Homeless, while still a relative newcomer. Five months later, Llona is no longer a rookie. He has become one of the brightest gems in Nigerian music. Homeless was a resounding success, enjoying permanent residency on the Nigerian charts across all platforms. It catapulted Llona from a niche favourite to a mainstream sensation and expanded his fanbase exponentially.
In 2025, Llona’s stock is expected to continue rising as he aims to blossom into a household name.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Shallipopi’s meteoric rise in 2023 was his brother, ZerryDL. Riding the wave of Shalli’s success, ZerryDL scored his breakout hit with Puff Puff Pass. However, in 2024, ZerryDL proved two critical points: first, that he isn’t a one-hit wonder, and second, that he possesses the talent and artistry to establish himself as a hitmaker in his own right—independent of his brother.
Despite starting the year with the poorly received Wara Wara Szn, ZerryDL bounced back emphatically in the final quarter of the year, scoring two major hit records—Back to Back and the Hausapiano remix—while lending swaggering verses to Bayanni and Ayo Maff. With his debut album in the works, Zerry is poised to leave his mark on Nigerian music in 2025.
READ MORE: AratheJay: The Highlife Spiritual Artist
As music consumers craved something different from the Amapiano fusion that dominated the better part of the last five years, FirstKlaz emerged as a refreshing force, offering a distinctly unique sound. His innovative blend of Afropop with Fuji—coined as Gen Z Fuji and Gen Z Faaji—and Arewa Pop, also known as Gen Z Arewa, injected much-needed vibrancy into the music scene.
Aiming to leave his mark on the Nigerian music industry, FirstKlaz is brimming with potential, especially following the success of his nationwide tour.
Arathejay is the latest Ghanaian talent making waves in Nigeria and across Africa. The multifaceted artist first found success in 2021 when his song Sankofa disrupted Ghanaian airwaves and charts, even earning the attention of King Promise, one of Ghana’s biggest stars. Since then, the artist—who describes his sound as spiritual—has come into his own, delivering music imbued with profound emotional depth.
Now, after releasing the Black Sherif-assisted Jesus Christ 2, Arathejay is determined to leave his mark on the world.
Since its inception, Chocolate City has consistently introduced and nurtured emerging talents, with Tar1q leading the charge as a standout among the latest additions to the label’s roster. While his penchant for love and sex is reminiscent of hismates Blaqbonez and Young Jonn, Tar1q masterfully engineers diverse sounds and topics, presenting them in ways that feel both refreshing and different. With three critically acclaimed EPs to his name, it’s evident that his incubation period has run its course. Now, it’s time for the Son of the Moon to become a superstar.
Winny enjoyed a cool Detty December moment as Grammy award-winning superstar Wizkid showed off his newly acquired MClaren 750s with her song playing in the background. The song is the sultry reggae fusion Suh Good featuring Projexx off her 2024 album Commercial Break. A project described by Rolling Stone as a must-listen. With the awareness of the fact that Big Wiz is a fan of Winny’s music, one would hope the seminal superstar would not mind lending a career-propelling verse to the talented upstart. Regardless, Winny’s career trajectory is steadily climbing in the right direction; there will be no surprises if it all comes to a head in 2025.
While Yarden has enjoyed a well-deserved moment with the success of his viral single Wetin, he remains an artist worth keeping in the spotlight. The Port Harcourt native has yet to solidify his status as a bona fide star, despite his expansive talents. His debut project, The One Who Descends, left a mark on the music industry, while his vibrant performance on Ole—alongside DMW signee Logos Olori and Crayon—further underscores his exceptional talent and undeniable star quality.
After a relatively quiet 2024, Yarden is expected to shine brightly in 2025.
For Taves, the question has never been if but when. His incredible talent is obvious to all, which is why it was no surprise when it was announced that he had signed with Atlantic Records UK early in the year. His debut EP, Are You Listening, houses memorable songs that enforce the fact that Taves is one for the present and the future.
Street Pop’s teenage sensation, Muyeez, had a whirlwind year in 2024. He signed to a label, delivered a smash hit in the first quarter, released three EPs in rapid succession with chart-topping singles, and ultimately parted ways with the label. With the raw talent and unshakeable confidence of Seyi Vibez’s young protégé, it’s safe to say the journey is only just beginning—and it’s bound to get even wilder.
The streets remain a hotbed for emerging Nigerian talents, and TML Vibez is at the forefront of a new generation advancing street pop through a vibrant fusion of sounds. His debut year in the mainstream was filled with EPs, features, and electrifying live performances, as the 24-year-old wasted no time acclimating to the atmosphere of the Nigerian music industry.
With his feet firmly planted, the Vibez Inc. frontman is expected to deliver an album that cements his place in street folklore and propels him to superstardom.
READ MORE: Why Victony Is The MVP Of 2024
Among the vanguard of female Afropop singers, Kold AF shines as a trailblazer, infusing the genre with fresh energy and innovation. Her boundless range, remarkable versatility, and commanding vocals, paired with a sharp lyrical prowess, have positioned her as a disruptive force in the industry. With a touch of feminine angst woven into her artistry, Kold AF is redefining the narrative and making her mark as a standout talent. Her versatility, anchored by her powerful voice, will have her taking over stages around the world.
Serøtonin began to make waves in 2024 with his viral single May 10th, a fresh, groovy, playful Afrobeats record that is distinctly different. The record has racked up over 4 million streams on Spotify alone and earned the attention of Muyiwa Awoniyi, who manages Tems and Omah Lay. With proper backing, it is expected that his output will be significantly better in 2025 as he looks to leave his imprint on the Nigerian music scene. He sounds like he has a lot to offer.
The Kenyan singer-songwriter, Muthaka, has made a name for herself in the last four years with her luxury brand of R&B. She is a sucker for romance, and she wields her enchanting voice to captivate her listeners. The Afrimma award-winning superstar is one to keep an eye on as she continues to grow into one of the continent’s finest musicians.
South Africa remains a hotbed for some of Africa’s finest rap talents, and Usimamane is the newest star on the rise. At just 21 years old, this young upstart is quickly becoming a household name, racking up impressive streaming numbers across multiple DSPs. His penchant for a bouncy and youthful brand of American trap music, delivered in Zulu, is reminiscent of South African rap titan Nasty C in some ways.
Usimamane’s 2024 album, 20th: Days Before Maud, is a must-listen.
J Kree is the latest Cameroonian talent making waves across Africa. The versatile artist first gained recognition in 2021 when his debut track, Salivating, struck a chord with fans and marked the beginning of his journey as one of Cameroon’s brightest stars. Since then, the artist—who effortlessly blends New Wave, Alte, and Afro Fusion—has continued to carve out his own lane in the African music scene.
J Kree’s viral cover of Libianca’s People amassed over 700,000 streams, including 250,000 on Spotify, cementing his ability to connect with audiences on a deeper level. Now, his 2024 single Believe is inspiring a new wave of creativity.
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