Sounds From East Africa
With African music being the centre of attention nowadays, people naturally tend to focus more on west African music but I think it is about time to take a precise look at East African music. With their energic beat and flow, This week’s selection features from Diamond Platnumz to Queen Cha or The Ben, MaMan, Ro x, Sauti Sol, MazMars, Big Tril, Wauve to Yared Negu. Here are the 10 East African songs you need in your life in no particular order.
1. Diamond Platnumz featuring Teni – “Sound”
Sound is what represents the best of both worlds, this is the east and west African collab you need in your life! Diamond platnumz, is one of the best artists in East Africa and has been pushing Tanzanian music on a global scale. In this afro fusion song, alongside the one and only Teni from Nigeria, you will zanku and shaku as they say so. A nice linguistic mix of Swahili, pidgin English, and Yoruba vibes. Wassa!
2. The Ben featuring Otile Brown – “Can’t Get Enough”
If you do not know about Rwandese music well The Ben is definitely an artist you should keep an eye on! Here is his latest track confessing the crazy love he has for a girl alongside Otile Brown from Kenya. A lovely song to jam to, check it out.
3. MaMan featuring roTation – “Ghanja”
MaMan is considered one of the best emerging artists in Sudan and is representing the new face of Sudani hip-hop. “Ghanja” is the 3rd song off his latest album called “Shammasi” alongside Rotation from Sudan as well. Check this song for the afro-chill type of vibes.
4. Ro x featuring Sagalina – “Harimaadee”
Ro x is a Ethiopian rapper based in Zurich, Switzerland, constantly pushing the culture through his verses and his amazing songs, here is his latest song called “Harimaadee” featuring the amazing Sagalina on the chorus. In this song, he is celebrating the culture of the Isaa tribe (found in Djibouti, Somalia, and Ethiopia) by sampling an old traditional chant called « Harimaadee ». He is encouraging the youth to not let the culture die, to inform themselves as much as they can and to stay proud ! if you have never heard Somali rap before I encourage you to check this song out!
5. MazMars featuring Seidosimba – “Kandaka”
Mazmars and Seidosimba is the Sudani collab you need in your life. In this afro fusion type of song, they’re talking about the beauty of a woman from her facial features to her behavior. Kandaka is the name for Nubian Queens (ancient Sudan) and is also the name given to female protesters in Sudan. If you do not know about Mazmars and Seidosimba and want to listen to Arabic on an afro-fusion type of beat this is the song you should listen to!
6. Big Tril – “Parte After Parte”
I know you all definitely know this club anthem but I bet you did not know the artist was East African. Brought to you by the hip-hop star Big Tril from Uganda! This was one of the « Detty December » anthems, wherever you were on the continent, from Uganda to Kenya to Ghana then to Nigeria, it was parte after parte.
7. Queen Cha – “Question”
Queen cha from Rwanda is giving us lovey-dovey vibes in her latest song called « question ». Check this lovely song in Kinyarwanda.
8. Sauti Sol – “Suzanna”
It is undeniable that Sauti Sol are apart of the pioneers of Kenyan music. The group has contributed a lot to making East African music international. Known for their amazing voices, the group recently dropped a song about a girl called Suzanna who apparently changed her skin tone, her body and got longer hair now! Enjoy this joyful track in the beautiful language that Swahili is.
9. Wauve – “Sweet Time”
Check this afrobeat-infused RnB song by Wauve, a London born originating from Eritrea. In this song he is asking a girl from a past relationship to take their sweet time to reconnect and honestly, you definitely want to hear it! Take your sweet time and listen to this gem.
10. Yared Negu feat. Nina Girma – “Yetale Aleqa”
Have you ever heard an Afropop track in Amharic? “Yetale Aleqa” is the best combination and it will make you dance instantly. Yared Negu is one of the leaders of the new school of pop artists in Ethiopia. Outreaching genres in order to push Ethiopian music to the international scene, alongside Nina Girma they have blessed us with a bad girl anthem!
