Audiomack has revealed its African Artists to Watch for 2026, continuing a now well-established tradition of spotlighting emerging talent across the continent before wider breakout moments arrive. If previous editions are any indication, the list has become a quiet but increasingly reliable barometer of what — and who — is coming next in African music.
Recent alumni from Audiomack’s watchlists have gone on to post major streaming growth and regional crossover success, including South Africa’s Usimamane and Zee Nxumalo, Nigeria’s Ayo Maff, and Ghana’s OliveTheBoy — all of whom had defining moments in 2025 after being flagged early by the platform.
The 2026 class reflects the breadth and creative momentum currently shaping African music. South Africa is strongly represented by Afropop and R&B voices including Mawelele, Naledi Aphiwe, and Lordkez, each bringing emotionally driven songwriting and genre-fluid production into the mainstream conversation.
Learn more about each artist:
Mawelele
Country: South Africa
Mawelele is a South African Afropop artist bringing real emotion back into pop music. Since his 2024 debut, songs like “All My Life” with Kwesta and his collaborations with Naledi Aphiwe have connected strongly with listeners across the country.
Shoday
Country: Nigeria
Shoday is a fast-rising Nigerian Afrobeats artist with a street-pop sound. He built buzz in 2025 with tracks like “Purr” and “Shoday Kilode,” making him one of the new wave’s most in-demand collaborators.
Ameka Zrai
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Ameka Zrai is a rapper-singer from Côte d’Ivoire blending hip-hop and Afropop into a style he calls l’ivoire pop. He broke through in 2025 with “HAPPIEST” from his debut album MERCON2BABIÈRE, and expanded his reach across Francophone Africa with “Santé” alongside L’Oiseau Rare.
Paki Chenzu
Country: Togo
Paki Chenzu is a Togolese rapper known for his gritty delivery and genre-fluid sound. His 2025 tracks “ASSAUT” (with Himra) and “SOLDAT” pushed his music beyond Togo and onto the wider Francophone rap scene.
Naledi Aphiwe
Country: South Africa
Naledi Aphiwe is a South African singer known for her heartfelt voice and emotional performances. Her breakout song “Ngiyabonga” and collaborations with Mawelele have made her a rising name in local pop.
Siicie
Country: Ghana
Siicie is a Ghanaian artist mixing hip-hop, dancehall, and Afropop with a street edge. He gained international attention with “Alhamdulillah” and followed up with the Top 10 hit “Do You Know?” featuring Lasmid, ahead of his 2026 debut EP.
Inès Raguël
Country: Tanzania
Inès Raguël is a Burundian-born, Tanzania-based Afropop artist whose 2025 singles “Je Tombe” and “Où étais-tu?” earned her Best Upcoming Female Artist in Tanzania at the EMEA Awards. Her Francophone pop sound is shaped by Caribbean and East African influences.
Kondela
Country: Tanzania
Kondela is a Tanzanian artist blending Bongo Flava and Kompa into romantic Afropop. After breaking through with “Day by Day,” his debut EP Love Mode solidified his reputation as the “King of Love.”
Kevin Kade
Country: Rwanda
Kevin Kade is a Rwandan Afropop artist known for energetic songs blending local rhythms with Caribbean flair. He rose to national fame with “SiKOSA,” a collaboration with The Ben and ELEMENT EleéeH, and continued his momentum with “Nyanja.”
Lordkez
Country: South Africa
Lordkez is a South African singer-songwriter mixing throwback R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop. Her SAMA-winning album Testament and the single “Aweh” have made her a key voice in South African R&B.
Audiomack is a music streaming and discovery platform that connects artists with fans. With 50 million monthly users and over 1 million active creators, the service allows artists to upload unlimited music for free and features a curated library that includes songs from all three major labels and more than 400 independents.
