In today’s globalised world, the growing appetite for African music has proved to be insatiable. With genres like Afrobeats benefiting from the most visibility, “West Africa is presumed to be at the forefront of Africa’s current global narratives”. Cultural blockbusters like “Black is King” and “Black Panther”, unsurprisingly, prompted “dispora wars” between audiences from the continental West and East. However, as Nigerian-British presenter Fe Oj rightly put, in this episode from The Motion podcast, “it’s not about whose music is better” but who has the power to narrate their story.
The message put forward by the media is that the East African music scene is either undeveloped or that East Africans are complicit in our lack of development but always in need of western representation. Yet, the music we listen to is influenced by many variables, including wide marketing, and good distribution. With informed curiosity, rather than reactionary defense, we can elevate our perception of “good music” beyond commercially successful hits.
Perhaps essentialising indigenous East African genres like Genge, Bongo, Taarab, Lingala may be digestible to the Western ear, but East African music is more than a dilution of Afrobeats. These emerging East African women musicians continue to leave a mark on the continent while denouncing the myth that too many bold flavours spoil the broth.
Highlights of AMAKA’s Live with Victoria Kimani
1. Tg.blk - Kenya
Kenyan-born, now Maryland-based visionary emerges as a rising star of the global hip-hop scene. This rapper, singer and producer’s penchant for blurring hip-hop influences into lo-fi beats has resulted in her distinct emo-rap sound. With the popularity of her single “Love Being Used” on the rise, Tg’s satirical lyricism invokes feelings of heartbreak and existentialism that most 20-somethings can relate to. While it’s still very early in this rapper’s career, this young Kenyan native won’t be “caught swinging in the little leagues” for long.
2. Idman - Somalia
Rising Somali-Canadian artist Idman’s music is imbued with a trademark likeability. She effortlessly levies deep lyricism that inspires without leaving listeners emotionally fatigued. Her multicultural and genre-defying sound continues to cement her roots as one of Toronto’s artists to watch. Released under her independent label and collective Golly Geng, her first single, “Down for it”, is a soothing blend of confectionate melody over bass-driven production. With her forthcoming EP under construction, “Down For It” serves as the appetiser to this maverick’s highly anticipated debut project.
3. Hiba Elgizouli - Sudan
Singer-songwriter Hiba Elgizouli's voice is a stroke of soft-spoken introspection. If her artistry were a blank canvas and her voice a paintbrush, her catalogue would be coloured by speckles of Jazz and Afro folk. During the height of the Sundanese revolution in 2019, her music evolved into a commitment to Sudanese women’s self-preservation. Songs like “Rival” and “Bidaya'' embody lyrics that encourage listeners to aspire towards mindfulness whilst injecting an experimental angle into the current Afro folk climate. To Black women experiencing the promise of independence and self-love, Hiba’s music is food for thought.
4. Ms. Katana - Kenya
Kenyan and Danish singer-songwriter Ms. Katana is the hidden gem emerging out of the Nu Nairobi movement. Though her genre influences span wide, Katana is firmly situating her sound within the Afro R&B wave. Her first single, “JANA ”, in collaboration with JVC, tells you everything you need to know about her ability to dish servings of swahili sanifu over sultry R&B production. Her latest offering, “SAME”, lives up to the hype of “JANA” by transporting listeners into a saxophone induced trance. With two successful singles under her belt and a debut project in the works, we’re famished to hear what she comes up with next.
5. Mucyo - Rwanda
Rwandan singer-songwriter, Mucyo stepped into the spotlight in 2018 with her debut EP “Blur”. She cites forces of love and consciousness as the forces that inspired her latest project “The Waters”. With each listen, elements of jazz, afro-fusion and neo-soul converge to produce the unique, delicate blend that is her music. Though her career is still in its early stages, her discography illustrates a depth in lyricism and breadth in vocal range that belies her age.
6. Naomisia - Tanzania
Naomisia is the Afropop Tanzanian artist whose voice is a tender yet wistful ocean breeze. Like the sweet and sandy beaches in Dar es Salaam, Naomisia’s foremost single “Pumzika” mirrors the city’s easy-going attitude. Like relentless ocean waves, Naomisia’s ambition reminds us that living carefree isn’t synonymous with being careless. A song like “Mishe” is the perfect anthem for city girls whose dreams keep them awake in a city that never sleeps.
7. Xenia Manasseh - Kenya
Through the rise of the current Afro R&B gold rush, singer-songwriter Xenia Manasseh has been dubbed Kenya’s national treasure. Her infectious energy and emotionally charged performances have cemented her place as one of Nairobi’s greatest performers. When she isn’t collaborating with Afrobeats pioneers like Mr. Eazi, she’s singing background vocals for Burna Boy’s Grammy award-winning album African Giant. Her unparalleled pen-game boasts an impressive catalogue of songwriting credits on Teyana Taylor’s acclaimed sophomore album. With poetic lyricism and an expansive vocal range to match, this budding artist’s future boasts a foreseeable opulence.
8. Turunesh - Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya
From the otherworldly lineage of Taarab and Unyago music goddesses, neo-taarab singer-songwriter Turunesh emerges. Born in Nairobi, raised in Dar es Salaam and now based in Vancouver, this songstress personifies East African allure. Her experimentation with indigenous African genres is both homage and celebration of East African women’s sensuality. After a two year hiatus, Turunesh’s latest gift, “Cigarette”, captures the contradictions of both mystery and intimacy that characterise her music. With her debut album in production, her divinity continues to charm and unite audiences from the North to Global South.
9. Saba Abraha - Ethiopia & Eritrea
Ethiopian-born and DMV-based artist Saba Abraha’s music is an earful of modern nostalgia. She cites a spectrum of musical inspirations like Corrine Bailey Rae and Missy Elliot in influencing her music. Her debut EP “How Things Fly”, released in 2016, topped the iTunes top 200 pop chart and solidified her place as a household name amongst DC’s most promising indie stars. To this Habesha singer, music and visual art command mutual sustenance. She’s written the treatment to her music videos to communicate her intentions to her audience. Each listen of her discography foreshadows a decadent debut album to look forward to.
10. Amaal - Somalia
Amaal is the Somali-Canadian artist whose music and accompanying visuals are equal parts ear-candy and soul food. Amaal bears the hallmarks of what it means to be a self-made artist. Growing up in a traditional Muslim family, she wasn’t allowed to listen to “Western” music. Now, she wields her worldliness to explore themes of strength, identity and womanhood. Her latest single, “Honey”, provides insight into her confectionate vocal prowess. Her voice possesses an undeniable sweetness which translates to listeners who may not necessarily have an innate sweet tooth for mainstream R&B.