Ghanaian music sensation Gyakie has added another remarkable collaboration to her repertoire, featuring on NBA star Serge Ibaka’s latest release, “Sudwe.” This is their second single together since the release of “Like This” which featured Diplo. (more…)

This Week’s Episode Features a Conversation With Zakes Bantwini, the 5 Hottest Tracks of the Week, Africa Rising and Nandi Madida’s Favourite Track of the Week!

Tune in to Africa Now Radio with Nandi Madida this Friday, December 8th at 9a London / 10a Lagos/Paris / 11a Johannesburg / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 and broadcast on YFM Accra every Sunday at 2pm, YFM Kumasi on Saturdays at 3pm and YFM Takoradi on Saturdays at 6pm.

Cover Star Interview
South African house superstar and Grammy award winner Zakes Bantwini joins Nandi Madida via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his latest track, “Abasekho”. He also discusses his new album, ‘The Star Is Reborn,’ and how artists like Tyla elevate the game for South African performers.

The Big 5
Nandi Madida shares the 5 hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Tems, Seyi Vibez, Libianca, Oxlade & Chlöe, Ch’cco, Pabi Cooper & M.J feat. QuayR Musiq, and Mellow & Sleazy & Focalistic feat. Thama Tee.

Africa Rising
South African amapiano star Tumelo.za is the latest artist featured from Apple Music’s Africa Rising playlist, a campaign which shines a light on the next generation of African superstars, and this week’s show features his singles, the Ceeka RSA and Nandipha808 collab, “Isukile (feat. Tyler ICU)”, and the viral Tyler ICU collab, “Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee).” Listen HERE.

Nandi’s Song of the Week
Each week, Nandi Madida chooses her favourite track from one of Apple Music’s African playlists. This week she spotlights South African hip-hop legend Da L.E.S and his single, “Solo (feat. Gemini Major, ManuWorldStar & Navio), from Apple Music’s Rap Life playlist. Listen HERE.

Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday, December 8th at 9a London / 10a Lagos/Paris / 11a Johannesburg / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow and broadcast on YFM Accra every Sunday at 2pm, YFM Kumasi on Saturdays at 3pm and YFM Takoradi on Saturdays at 6pm.

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Zakes Bantwini Tells Apple Music About His Album, ‘The Star Is Reborn’

My album ‘The Star Is Reborn’ is like a continuation of my last album, ‘Ghetto King.’ I feel like sonically it’s more or less like an extension of that album because that sound I’m still exploring. On that album, ‘Ghetto King,’ it was an introduction to the way Afrohouse and Afrotech – the music, the way now it’s sounding – and I felt like there was still a lot of instruments I still want to use in the sound, so the extension of that culminated in ‘The Star Is Reborn.’

Zakes Bantwini Tells Apple Music How Artists Like Tyla Can Influence South African Performers 

When you look at artists now like Tyla… I feel like audiences need to see a performance and in South Africa we don’t get to see a performance a lot, because most people who are happening in South Africa have to stand behind the decks, because the music is carried by DJs in South Africa and I think that needs to change. We still need to find more artists performing dances, really doing something amazing and that’s why Tyla is so important. She’s saying “Hey” to the world, “We are South Africans and we perform like this.” That’s why I’m loving what is happening right now.

Apple Music has expanded its flagship African Music playlist and radio brand, Africa Now, to include a new monthly DJ Mix created exclusively for the platform.

The next DJ to create an Africa Now DJ Mix is multi-award-winning Nigerian DJ and producer, DJ Lambo (real name Olawunmi Okerayi), whose sound is an eclectic fusion of Afrobeats, Afro-house, Afropop and Hip Hop, and has become known for her engaging live performances and meticulous song selection.

“There’s almost no greater feeling than pushing the African music narrative further while having a party,” DJ Lambo tells Apple Music.

Over the last decade, DJ Lambo has built a thriving career as a forward-thinker and trendsetter, and is currently signed to Burna Boy’s label Spaceship Collective, while also on tour at the moment with the Grammy Award winner. The Africa Now DJ Mix that she has created is a testament to all her accomplishments, fusing Afrobeats and Amapiano to produce a complex tapestry of African music and tribute to the musical diversity of the continent.

Tracklisting:

Victor Thompson, Gunna & Ehis – This Year (remix)

Femi Kuti – Sorry Sorry O

Asake – Lonely at the Top

Fireboy – Bandana feat. Asake

Burna Boy- City Boys

Burna Boy – Dey Play

Omah Lay – Reason

Virgo Deep – Ghost producer

Davido – Feel

Asake – Remember

Magnito – Canada

Shallipopi – Oscroh (Pepperline)

Uncle Waffles & Ice Beat – Peacock Revisit fr Sbuda Ma Leather

Asake – Amapiano feat. Olamide

Mohbad – Ask About Me

Shallipopi – Ex Convict

Davido – Unavailable

Tyler ICU & Tumelo.za – Mnike

Adekunle Gold – Ogaranya

Kizz Daniel – Gwagwalada feat. Seyi Vibez, Bnxn

King Promise – Terminator

Tiwa Savage – Stamina feat. Young Jonn, Ayra Starr

Pheelz – Jelo feat. Young Jonn

Tessa De DJ & DJ Momma The King – Ka Valungu

Killorbeezbeatz – Ngilele E Hotel

Nissi – Higher

J Hus – Who told you feat. Drake

Shallipopi – Obapluto

Kcee – Ojapiano

Tyla – Water

Spyro – Who Is Your Guy feat. Tiwa Savage

Burna Boy – Giza feat. Seyi Vibez

Asake – 2:30

Mohbad – Feel Good

Young Jonn – Sharpally

Crayon & Ayra Starr – Ngozi

Adekunle Gold – Party No Dey Stop feat. Zinoleezky
Apple Music is the ultimate hub to an eclectic array of independently curated DJ Mixes from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana. Apple Music’s African DJ Mix curators also include a wide variety of top-tier names like Balcony Mix Africa, iMullar Sound System, KUNYE, Life Of The Party, Obrigado, Pan African Music, Party In The Jungle, Soul Candi, Spin With Engage and Turntable Entertainment.

 Whenever Mr. More Energy is around the corner, you know you’re in for the thrill of a lifetime! And one listen of his latest single is enough to understand why. The ‘Dey Inside’ crooner pulls on the right heartstrings with a simple yet effective title. He presents ‘Listen,’ a beautiful homage to his hometown and the first preview of his forthcoming EP “House of Energy,” slated for a 2024 release. ‘Listen’ is available on all digital streaming platforms globally here: https://share.amuse.io/track/amartey-listen

A man on a mission to win over listeners, Amartey is a singer-songwriter and performer born and raised in Amsterdam-Zuidoost with Ga- Adangbe blood pumping through his veins. His versatility and knack for producing quality music have not only seen him sell out two headline shows at Melkweg but have spun viral radio hits such as ‘Nobody Like You’ (2015) and recently ‘Dey Inside’ (2022), which has approximately 500,000 streams on Spotify as of November 2023.

Amartey’s versatility has also seen him bounce between Afrobeats, R&B, Pop and now Amapiano–a genre quickly taking over Amsterdam’s nightclub scene by storm. From his splendid showcase at Eurosonic Noorderslag to performing on the Dutch TV program De Wereld Draait Door and winning the Grote Prijs van Nederland, the talented singer has proved himself a big stepper in the Dutch music scene. Largely thanks to his 2017 EP, ‘YBFTS,’ which ranked #1 and #16 on Apple’s iTunes World Music and iTunes Music charts, respectively.

‘Listen’ is produced by Ghana’s StreetBeatz. It is a tribute to Amartey’s roots and a showcase of his ability to switch between genres seamlessly. Don’t miss the chance to experience this thriving sound.

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Instagram: amarteymusic
Twitter/X: @amarteym

After a successful year, Kweku Flick, best known for his “Money” making songs with his hit breaking song “Money” decides to drop a thankful song on which he displayed his vocal priors on a jam rock rhythm.

Kweku Flick, Ghana’s King of Melodies, sets the web ablaze as he decides to praise the Most High for all His guidance as he took to the career of being an artiste.

Praise, is an afro reggae music that is set to put its listeners in a conscious mood and at the same time, send a message of vocal dexterity that makes him live up to the fact that his fans call him the KIng of Melodies.

On this single is a Grammy Award nominee, one of the biggest musical exports from Ghana, Rocky Dawuni, who laid a very powerful verse on this song.

Rocky Dawuni, whose reputation as a reggae artiste exceeds him, has been Kweku Flick’s topmost artist that he had always wanted to work with, just to wake up one day to a story where Rocky Dawuni was praising his talent.

The chemistry between these two acts is amazing when you listen to this single.

This song was produced by Ghanaian Stallion and was mixed and mastered by Apya.

Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-AvM1XA1j8AyZSZ_Qsw1gmkDKKImT2Wm