2024 was a phenomenal year for African music, with artists delivering irresistible beats and unforgettable melodies.
Many established artists and emerging talents released tracks that sparked conversations among music lovers and ruled the charts.
Let’s take a look at the tracks that took Africa by storm in 2024 by regions.
Southern African
2024 was a remarkable year for Southern African music. Amapiano maintained its dominance in the region’s music landscape.
Kabza De Small, one of the genre’s stars, led with his amazing album “Isimo,” which topped charts in places like Botswana and Lesotho.
“Imithandazo“, an Amapiano hit song off the album, ranked as the most-streamed track in multiple countries, demonstrating Kabza De Small’s talent for crafting music that connects with audiences throughout Southern Africa.
In Zambia, Yo Maps’ song “So Mone” featuring Tay Grin was a standout hit, showcasing the country’s unique blend of traditional and modern sounds.
In Zimbabwe, local stars Holy Ten and Jah Prayzah stood out with their hits “Delilah” and “Kana Ndanyura“.
Holy Ten’s “Banga” was another notable mention, demonstrating the artist’s growing popularity in the region.
In Mozambique and Namibia, the fusion of Amapiano and Afrobeat was a huge musical trend in 2024.
Other worthy mentions from Southern Africa include:
‘Tshwala Bam’ by TitoM ft. S.N.E & Eeque (South Africa).
‘Amalobolo’ by Kelvin Momo ft. Stixx, Nia Pearl (South Africa).
‘Kwauri Kure’ by Killer T (Zimbabwe).
‘Hwahwa’ by Freeman HKD (Zimbabwe).
East Africa
As African music surged in popularity in 2024, East Africa wasn’t left out of the trend. The region was ruled by familiar faces who amassed staggering streaming numbers.
In Kenya, Bien, a member of the music band Sauti Sol, continued his reign as the nation’s leading Afropop artist.
Ugandans couldn’t get enough of the catchy remix “Hoozambe” by Mudra D Viral and D Star, which spread like wildfire on TikTok.
Tanzania’s music scene saw fierce competition among top artists Diamond Platinumz, Rayvany, and Harmony.
It’s worth noting that female singer Zuchu held her own alongside the males.
Meanwhile, in Rwanda, Bruce Melodie held on to his spot as the country’s most prominent pop sensation.
The East African region spun hits like ‘Komasava Remix’ by Diamond Platnumz & Jason Derulo ft. Khalil Harisson & Chley (Tanzania)
‘Iyo Foto’ by Bruce Melodie ft. Bien (Rwanda)
‘Extra pressure’ by Bien (Kenya)
‘Hoozambe’ by Mudra D Viral & D Star (Uganda).
Anglophone West Africa
The region was led by Nigeria and Ghana. In Nigeria, Afrobeats remained relevant, with fresh and daring sounds added to the genre.
Grammy winner Tems masterfully merged the emotional richness of R&B with catchy African rhythms and melodies for hits like ‘Love Me Je Je‘.
‘Burning’ was also food for the soul this year.
Other big songs in 2024 included:
‘Favourite Girl’ (Remix) Ft. Rema (Nigeria)
‘Piece of Me’ by Wizkid (Nigeria)
‘Ozeba’ by Rema (Nigeria)
‘Makoma’ by King Paluta (Ghana)
‘Very Soon’ by Fameye (Ghana)
‘Killa Ji Mi’ by Shatta Wale (Ghana)
‘Woman Commando’ by Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
‘Different Pattern’ by Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
‘Kilos Milos’ by Stonebwoy and Ginton (Ghana)
Francophone West Africa
2024 showcased the region’s thriving creative energy and the evolution of West African music.
In Senegal, Wally Seck mesmerized listeners with his high-energy blend of traditional mbalax and modern beats. His song ‘Confuse’ ruled the airwaves.
Mali’s Mariam Ba melted hearts with her soulful sound in the song ‘Ne Wolo la Bamako’.
Ans-T Crazy from Guinea got fans hyped by fusing coupé-décalé and urban beats in the hit ‘3 Fois’.
Togo’s rapper Paki Chenzu proved that he’s such an amazing talent in the song ‘Run For Money’
Burkina Faso’s Amzy Burkina gave us vibrant hip-hop tracks like ‘Lengué’.
Central Africa
Music trends in Central Africa haven’t changed much. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, famous artists like Fally Ipupa are still leading the music scene. With nearly 20 years of success, Fally Ipupa had an amazing year in 2024, performing sold-out shows in Europe’s top venues.
In Cameroon, female artists like Krys M, Charlotte Dipanda, and Blanche Bailly are making a name for themselves in a music scene mostly dominated by men. Artists from the Democratic Republic of Congo living in France, like Gims and Dadju, are helping to popularize African music styles worldwide.
Some top songs from Central Africa in 2024 included:
‘Closer’ by Salatiel ft. Charlotte Dipanda (Cameroon)
‘TIA’ by RJ Kanierra (DRC)
‘Toi d’abord’ by Emma’a (Gabon)
‘I love You’ by Dadju ft. Tayc (DRC)
‘207’ by Fally Ipupa ft. Réné Soso (DRC)
North Africa
North African artists have been able to successfully blend traditional Middle Eastern sounds with modern styles like Afrobeats, pop, and hip-hop, showcasing the rich cultural mix of the region.
Hence, 2024 saw a massive following for North African music.
Singers like ElGrande Toto from Morocco and L’Algerino from Algeria consistently top the music charts year after year.
Moroccan rapper ElGrande Toto (Morocco) and Algerian-French star L’Algerino held their spot at the top of the charts.
Some songs that ruled the North African region include:
‘Diplomatico’ by El GrandeToto (Morocco)
‘Beykalemony’ by Ramy Gamal (Egypt)
‘Ana W Nti’ by Numedia Lezoul & Kader Japonais (Algeria)
‘Roméo’ by Algerino ft. Soolking (Algeria)
‘Joanna’ by Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt)
‘Shkoon‘ by A.L.A (Tunisian)
‘Ana Baba’ by Pousi & Muslim (Egypt)
‘Popo‘ by Stormy (Morocco)
