The Official 2023 Summer African Playlist!

By: Bobby Nishimwe

As I did last year, I have put together the top African songs that are a must for you to know going into the summer season. This year, I curated a total of 100 songs that I believe will set you up for success when you are at any African function. The genres on this playlist range from Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro House, Bongo Flava and Francophone. So, you truly have no excuse to not have at least five African songs that you can start singing at the spur of the moment.

Summer 2022 was all about “Last Last” by Burna Boy and AfroPiano sounds that incorporated a fusion of Afrobeats and Amapiano vibes. The sound dominating this summer has not necessarily changed, rather matured. I believe that last year was more of a discovery period of various African genres for a majority of the diaspora but this year is one of understanding the uniqueness of each sound.

Summer 2023 is all about “Soft Piano,” this is the Amapiano that is accustomed to the ears of most South African groove goers. Outside of Southern Africa, those of us on the West and East side of the continent are a little more accustomed to faster BPMs whereas the South Africans are into more chill BPMs that have a more reflective sentiment to the movements one makes when dancing. I often find that even at African functions where the DJs are not South African, they will increase the BPMs of Amapiano songs during their sets.

Does this mean that fusion Piano sounds are not popular this summer? Not at all, in fact nearly every region of the continent has produced Piano infused tunes that will be dominating the summer African parties. To the West we have the AfroPiano sound, dominated by Nigerians and to the East we have the BongoPiano sound, dominated by Tanzanians. Once you listen to this playlist, you will hear this piano infused sounds right from the get go and throughout.

From top left to bottom right: Asake, Fally Ipupa, Davido, Marioo, Murumba Pitch, Tyler ICU, Ayra Starr

In Nigeria, we have a lot of acts leading this AfroPiano sound with the likes of Asake, Bnxn, Mohbad, Rema, Davido, Rema, Adekunle Gold and more. Some of the hottest AfroPiano tracks for the summer are the following:

• “Gwagwalada” by Bnxn, Kizz Daneil, Seyi Vibez

• “Unavailable” by Davido feat. Musa keys

• “Party No Dey Stop” by Adekunle Gold, Zinoleesky

• “Amapiano” by Asake, Olamide

In Tanzania, there is one man who leads the pack in delivering BongoPiano sounds and that is Marioo (not to be confused with the American RnB singer, Mario). He has continuously delivered the hottest BongoPiano tracks stemming out of Tanzania and East Africa at large. In the playlist you will see the following songs and more:

• “Amawele” by Marioo, Tyla, Ch’cco

• “Tomorrow” by Marioo

• “Nani?” by Abigail Chams, Marioo

• “Lonely” by Marioo, Abbah

Now onto Msanzi, the land of the great African singer Mariam Makeba. If you are a true Amapiano fan, then you would know that this is the “Murumba Pitch” Piano summer. This dynamic South African Amapiano duo has been dominating Piano scenes this year with the leading act having a smooth and deep voice that’s likened to that of Burna Boy. In fact, most people tend to prefer Murumba Pitch as the South African Burna Boy because of how similar their voices are to one another.

Murumba Pitch songs are defined by a captivating soft Piano sound that makes you want to reflect on where you went wrong in past relationships. They even make you want to rethink relationships that you were the catalyst to their ending.

Listen To Playlist

Beyond this duo, you have the great young South African producer, Tyler ICU. Virtually all the amapiano songs that have been trending on tiktok the past few months have been produced by Tyler. This producer has a keen ear on where the viral dance trends of Piano are headed and just so happens to drop the right tunes to accommodate the needs of those viral currents.

For South Africa, you can expect to hear the following songs and more on the playlist:

• “Hamba Juba” by Lady Armar, JL SA, Cici, Murumba Pitch

• “Amaphutha” by Nkosazana Daughter, Master KG, Lowsheen, Murumba Pitch

• “Ngimoja” by Tyler ICU, Khanyisa, Tumelo_za, Tyrondee

• “Makwande” by Sun-El Musician, Fka Mash, Ami Faku

• “Dali Wam” by Pabi Cooper, Yumbs, MaWhoo, Nkosazana Daughter

Now you know that I would never forget about my Francophone brothers and sisters. I don’t think my Congolese family members would ever forgive me for such an act. On this playlist you will find a wide range of artists representing the Francophone music scene. We have the Congolese legend, Fally Ipupa who dropped a new album called “Formula 7” at the end of 2022. Of course I had to include my guy, “Tayc” who also released a new project as well as Aya Nakamura and Dadju.

Beyond these known names, I included a newer artist who is Belgian-Dutch of Congolese origin named ‘Hulk Van JMF.” His songs have been doing the rounds on Congolese and French tiktok, so it was only right that I include at least one of his tunes so that you become familiarized with the name.

For the Francophone sounds, you can expect to hear the following songs and more on the playlist:

• “Mayday” by Fally Ipupa

• “Carry Me” by Tayc

• “Miss Des Miss” by Hulk Van JMF

Please feel free to share this playlist to your friends and family!