It is appointed unto the first quarter of the year, once to conclude, after which descends a torrent of evaluations by the self or corporate machinery. In simpler terms, Q1 arrives, it ends, and folks take stock. The ‘how’ is negligible in the grand scheme.
To close the quarter, this writer’s contribution to the revisionist cause is spotlighting five African and diaspora projects everyone should definitely check out. These EPs, LPs, and mixtapes represent some of the best music out this year. They also hint at the direction of sounds on the continent as we head into busier release-packed months. So, regardless of your preferences, be rest assured, we’ve got it covered.
Redemption Valley – Kwesi Arthur (Ghana)
The Black Star Nation, as a Hip-Hop institution, has been dominated by the duo of Sarkodie and M.anifest for the better part of two decades. But amidst the duo’s dominance, other, younger rappers have stepped up to the plate, with Kweku Arthur at the forefront of this generation.
On his seventh project and third album—his latest offering since the critically acclaimed Son of Jacob (2022)—the rapper ruminates on personal and societal issues from the perspective of an older, mature rap act. On songs like Yawa (Hosanna), What They Want (Gye), and Okay Switch, Kwesi narrates dealing with black tax and other economic realities, interspersing punchlines with witty Twi. Standout track Immigrant is a melodic diatribe on the experiences of African immigrants in the West—a relevant yet grossly underexplored subject in West African popular music.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5yrqs9rxblxjsZL7FEniJw?si=15E4Pg8PTlODTw0RCc-sYg
gbọ EP – Tsuni (Nigeria)
Years on from releasing singles and appearing on other artists’ projects, including Ejoya’s seminal Class of ‘21 playlist, Alternative music starlet Tsuni finally released her debut project, titled after the Yoruba word for listening.
Her influences on this record are as diverse as they are innovative—blending boastful Yoruba-Pidgin verses over House production on things dey sup, bragadoccious rhymes on jazzy Afro-pop on different, and triple-time flows on aye miami and ready where she channels The Lijadu Sisters and Wu Tang’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Shimmy Shimmy Ya with all the verve of a budding popstar. Tsuni is one to watch in 2026.
https://open.spotify.com/album/2ZbCeniwTHGYpxmKZGq30t?si=gUJXczQTT6iPtVWITW4t7Q
Eternal EP – Karuna, Bigfootinyourface (Kenya)
Earlier in March, Kenyan R&B songstress Karungari ‘Karun’ Mungai teamed up with legendary Nigerian producer Bigfootinyourface (ROOTS – The Cavemen, Theta – Brymo, Culture of Honour – Teeto Ceemos) for a four-song EP on love and all it comes with. Her writing is simple, making for easy listening yet heartfelt lyrics on Still and alluring imagery of longing on the Nana Atta-assisted Hold Me. Long-time fans of Bigfoot, familiar with his more lyrically intense collaborators and voiceless EDM productions, are in for a delight with Eternal.
https://open.spotify.com/album/50LpyVLTSFsbTQTLlFiSz7?si=6oFL-NTGRPimO3VcugsKVA%0A
sounds for someone – Elmiene (Sudan/UK)
British-Sudanese star Elmiene’s third album, sounds for someone, released overnight, is the most recent of all our picks. However, when you’ve been compared to R&B greats like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye—in terms of songwriting, vocal ability, and sheer star power—it simply follows that even your newest work grabs the general public’s attention.
Sitting just under 40 minutes, the album is a kaleidoscope of emotions, right from the forlorn intro, Moment, to the intimate duet with Raphael Saadiq on Light By The Window. Having listened through just once, this writer can’t wait to give the record a lot more time to breathe.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1kGkWn2PHljzeqiOu4wGum?si=uLaOPKbdTYm4fYnPsSHGiA
Free (Deluxe) – Nasty C (South Africa)
For many who stopped paying attention after the mainstream high of 2020’s Zulu Man With Some Power, it might appear like Nasty C isn’t churning out music, talk more of the premium hip-hop many on the continent associate him with. But anyone who’s been listening will tell you that the 29-year-old rapper is not yet at his peak. In 2023’s I Love It Here—the best African rap project that year—he demonstrated refined maturity, coming into his own as a mid-career elder rap statesman. Confuse The Enemy (Reloaded), with producer Lekaa Beats, took a more pop-leaning approach. And who can forget his verse on Stogie T’s super posse cut, Four Horsemen?
Free (Deluxe) is a six-track extension to last year’s Free LP; one that’s sure to have you bopping along.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0WdkpuSc28aYFN8lZLpIKo?si=XmE2VEYwR2C9n4qB_Z-_hA%0A
