News
Catch up on breaking stories, entertainment headlines, industry updates, and the conversations shaping the scene.
Across East Africa and Nigeria, 2025 has delivered a series of policy and regulatory moves that sharpen the tension between safety, politics, and artistic freedom. In Kampala, following violent scuffles between rival camps linked to pop stars, police imposed a cap limiting artists to moving with no more than five people to and from shows. ...
October opened with a brand-led love letter to Afrobeats in its birthplace: Spotify’s “Afrobeats: Culture in Motion” program returned—this time in Lagos—running activations through October 19. It’s a playbook that blends artist education, fan experiences, and content that feeds the algorithmic flywheel. For the local ecosystem, having the world’s biggest streamer convene talent and industry ...
South Africa’s awards season arrived with more heat than celebration. At SAMA31 (South African Music Awards), a push to spotlight “Rest of Africa” acts sparked a debate about continental representation and whether South Africa’s premier awards are diluting their core mandate or modernizing it for a borderless streaming era. Nomination lists—heavy with Amapiano stalwarts like ...
Kenya’s long-running fight over creators’ royalties escalated this month after the High Court declined to halt the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) from collecting royalties—despite an unresolved controversy over an alleged Sh56 million (~$433k) shortfall. Two musicians, Justus Ngemu and Saul Esikuri, had sought to freeze MCSK’s role, citing mismanagement and parallel bank/pay-bill accounts ...
Ayra Starr has notched a watershed moment: her breakout hit “Rush” has surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify, cementing the 22-year-old as a standard-bearer for a new generation of African pop stars. Beyond bragging rights, the milestone signals a structural shift that has long been brewing: female artists are no longer the exception in Afrobeats’ ...
South African singer MaWhoo has released “Umona,” a collaborative single with DJ Veek, Criimora b.k.z and ChildDaDJ, featuring Sykes. The track landed on Thursday, 28 August 2025, and arrives as part of MaWhoo’s new project, Amazwi Okubonga. An official audio upload went live on YouTube alongside the digital release, with the single clocking in at ...
Nigeria: Rema’s $10K ‘Kelebu’ Dance Challenge Sets Social Media Alight Nigerian star Rema pushed the boundaries of fan engagement when he released his single Kelebu with a $10,000 dance challenge on social media. The singer invited dancers around the world to post their routines to TikTok or Instagram, promising a cash prize for the best ...
Kenya’s Fresh Hits Fuel Online Buzz Kenyan music fans are embracing a wave of new releases that blend genres and feature dynamic collaborations. Afro-funk group Matata and veteran rapper Mejja have scored a hit with “Tiki Tako”, a rhythmic anthem that has inspired dance videos across TikTok and X. Singer Kethan teams up with hip-hop ...
Burna Boy and Wizkid Dominate Nigeria’s Charts as New Singles Surge Nigeria’s Official Top 100 chart for the week of August 8–14, 2025 shows that established stars continue to command streaming and radio. Burna Boy’s single “Love” holds the number-one position. It is followed by “Forever Be Mine”, a collaboration between American rapper Gunna and ...
Seyi Vibez Trends on X After Fatal Accident Involving Fans Following Lagos Concert On 23 August 2025, Nigerian singer Seyi Vibez held a homecoming concert at Lagos’ Tafawa Balewa Square. After the show, several fans were involved in a tragic road accident while racing on the expressway. As news of the crash spread, Seyi Vibez’s ...