150 Records by Amazing African Women You Should Listen To

In honor of Women's History Month, check out our list of 150 records made by African women you need to listen to.

Tems performing

Tems performs in London at Lafayette on November 18, 2021 in London, England.

Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage/Getty

The OkayAfrica team took a stab at listing 150 records made by amazing African women for you to discover and rediscover.

We hope you enjoy listening through as much as we enjoyed putting together this list of African women who've shaped African music from the continent and around the world.


Alsarah & The Nubatones (Sudan)  "Habibi Taal" 

Angelique Kidjo (Benin) "Logozo"

Tems (Nigeria) "Free Mind"

Asa (Nigeria) "Fire on the Mountain"

Brenda Fassie (South Africa) "Vuli Adela"

Barbara Kanam (Democratic Republic of the Congo) "Teti"


Cesaria Evoria (Cape Verde) - "Miss Perfumado"


Charlotte Dada (Ghana) - "Don't let me Down Ghana Beatles Cover"


Cold Specks (Somalia/Canada) - "Neuroplasticity"


Efya (Ghana) - "Forgetting Me"


Faarrow (Somalia) - "Chasing Highs"


Mapei (Liberia/Sweden) - "Don't Wait"


Inna Modja (Mali) - "Motel Bamako"


Jojo Abot (Ghana) - "Fyfya Woto"


Ayra Starr (Nigeria) "Rush"


Lebo Mathosa (South Africa) "Ntozabantu"

℗ 2000 Gallo Record Company

Les Nubians (Cameroon / France) - "Princesse Nubienne"


Lijadu Sisters (Nigeria) - "Danger"


Lira (South Africa) - "Something Inside So Strong"

Lola Rae (Nigeria) - "Fi Mi Le"


Mayra Andrade Storia (Cape Verde) - "Storia"


Mbilia Bel (Democratic Republic of the Congo) - Phénomene


Nadia Rose (Ghana) - "Highly Flammable"


Miriam Makeba (South Africa) - "Welela"

Nneka (Nigeria) "Soul Is Heavy"

Nonku Phiri  (South Africa) - Things We Do On The Weekend

Oumou Sangaré (Mali) "Mali Nialé"

Reniss (Cameroon) - "Manamuh"

Alhaja Queen Salawa Abeni and her Waka Modernisers (Nigeria) - "Experience"

Seinabo Sey  (Gambia/Sweden) - "Pretend"

Sibongile Khumalo (South Africa) -  "Mayihlome"

Simi (Nigeria) - "Complete me"

Somi (Uganda/Rwanda)- "Last Song"

Stella Chiweshe (Zimbabwe) - "Njuzu (Remastered)"

Rachel Brown (Ethiopia/US) - "Bumblebee"

Tinashe (Zimbabwe/US) - "Aquarius"

Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)- "Loaded"

Tshala Muana (Democratic Republic of the Congo) - "Biduaya"

Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania) - Niroge

Victoria Kimani (Kenya) -"Wonka"

Yemi Alade (Nigeria) - "Jo Jo"

Yondo Sister (Democratic Republic of the Congo) - "Bazo"

Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa) - "Thank you Mr. DJ"


Sho Madjozi (South Africa) - "Chale"

Megamafia (South Africa) - "Storiez to Tell"

Busi Ncube (Zimbabwe) - "Salulandela"

Zahara (South Africa) - "Loliwe"

Carol Mujukoro (Zimbabwe) - "Magumo"

Hee Magumo!Ah Magumo !Aya Atosvika!Hamuzvioni Here Hama Kuti Magumo AtosvikaZviratidzo Zvemushoko Nhasi ZvoonekwaMukadzi Nemukadzi Vochata! Haaa Zvinotyisa.M...

Dobet Gnahoré (Cote d'ivoire) - "Cote d'ivoire"

Jean Grae (South Africa) - "Black GIrl Pain"

Sathima Bea Benjamin (South Africa) - "WindSong"

Dorothy Masuka (South Africa) - "Lendaba"

Saado Cali Warsame (Somalia) - "Laand Karuusar"

Les Amazones de Guinée (Guinea) - "Samba"

Mampi (Zambia) - "Maloza"

Rokia Traore (Mali) - Mouneisa

Violet Kafua Mwebalume (Zambia)- "Bandi"

Nomfusi (South Africa) - "Kwazibani"

Zonke Dikana (South Africa) - "Dear Child (So Many Ways - pseudo)"

61. Lady Jay Wah (Ghana) - ''Abasem''

Lucie Yenga (Democratic Republic of the Congo) - ''Mwana Mama''

Laurette La Perle (Democratic Republic of the Congo) - ''Love Story''

Khadja Nin (Burundi) - ''Man''

Lorine Chia (Cameroon) -  ''Fly High''

Emel Mathlouthi (Tunisia) - ''Kelmti Horra''

Coumba Gawlo (Senegal) - ''Aldiana''

Chidinma (Nigeria) - ''Fallen in Love''

Barbara Kanam (Congo) - ''Chéri Mupenzi''

Lady Ponce (Cameroon) - ''Amour et folie''

Charlotte Dipanda (Cameroon) -  ''Massa''

Viviane Chidid (Senegal) - ''Yaakaar''

Sessimè (Benin) - Mayavio

Di'ja (Nigeria) - Sowemo

Teeyah (Ivory Coast) -  En Secret

Almok (Togo) - Nononini

Zeynab (Benin) - ''Mogba Ara Da'

Les Amazones d'Afrique (Various Countries) - Mamani Keïta

Zoe Modiga (South Africa) - ''Yakhalinkomo''

Fatoumata Diawara (Mali) - "Bissa"

Little Simz (Nigeria) - ''Point and Kill''

Grace Decca (Cameroon) - ''Appelle-moi Princesse''

Charlotte Mbango (Cameroon) - ''Ayo Mbae''

Monique Séka (Ivory Coast) - ''Okaman''

Dope Saint Jude (South Africa) - ''For You''

Ammara Brown (Zimbabwe) - "Akiliz"

Siti binti Saad (Tanzania) - "Wewe Paka"

Bi Kidude (Tanzania) - "Kijiti"

Gigi (Ethiopia) - "Utopia"

Seyi Shay (Nigeria) - "Right Now"

Najat Atabou (Morocco) - "El Maktab"

Suzanna Owíyo (Kenya) - "Gonya"

Stella Mwangi (Kenya/Norway) - Koolio

Nuela Charles (Kenya/Canada) - "Final Round"

Neyma (Mozambique) - "Arromba"

Lizha James (Mozambique) - "My Love"

Dama Do Bling (Mozambique) - "Bad Girl"

Malia (Malawi) - "Fever"

Nataly Andria (Madagascar) - Something New"

Cecile Kayirebwa (Rwanda) - "Rwanda"

Miss Jojo (Rwanda) - ''Nganirira''

Nina Ogot (Kenya) - "Dala"

Muthoni the Drummer Queen (Kenya) - ''Link Up!"

Wendi Kimani (Kenya) - "Pagawisha"

Ghalia Benali (Tunisia) - Anissia

Rema Namakula (Uganda) - ''Oli Wange''

Desire Luzinda (Uganda) - ''Ekitone''

Mariam Ndagire (Uganda) - ''Ansisitila''

Blu 3 (Uganda) - ''Hitaji''

Patience Dabany (Gabon) - ''Chéri Ton Disque Est Rayé''

Nicole Amogho (Gabon) - ''Africa Tèmè''

Malika Zarra (Morocco) - ''Berber Taxi''

Eneida Marta (Guinea-Bissau) - ''Sunhu''

Onyeka Onwenu (Nigeria) - ''Wait For Me''

Neide Van-Dúnem (Angola) - ''Olá Baby''

Titica (Angola) - ''Mexer Bem''

Bucie (South Africa) - ''Princess of House (Easy to Love)''

Babes Wodumo (South Africa) - ''Wololo''

. Fena Gitu (Kenya) - ''Steam''

Mayonde (Kenya) - ''Magic In the Air''

Karyna Gomes (Guinea-Bissau/Cape Verde) - ''Mindjer I Namê''

Concha Buika (Equatorial Guinea/Spain) - ''La noche más larga''

Hijas del Sol (Equatorial Guinea) - ''Sibèba''

Sona Jobarteh (Gambia) - ''Fasiya''

The Clarisse Sisters (Mauritius) - ''Fire & Ice''

]

126. Hope Masike (Zimbabwe) - ''Tsubvubone''

Chiwoniso Maraire (Zimbabwe) - ''Rebel Woman''

Ivy Kombo (Zimbabwe) - ''Kasi Wawana Jesu''

Safiath (Niger) - ''Tazedar''

Zara Moussa (Niger) - ''Kirari''

Habsou Garba (Niger) - ''Gargadi''

Fati Mariko (Niger) - ''A nin kayna''

Mahali Selepe (Lesotho) - ''Dignified''

Velemseni (Swaziland) - "Barely"

135. Nawal (Comoros) - "Musica"

Chamsia Sagaf (Comoros) - "Nafassi"

Sandra Esparon (Seychelles) -"Laisse Li"

Jenny Letourdie (Seychelles) - "Tanbour

Mounira Mitchala (Chad) - "Talou Lena"

Zaho (Algeria/Canada) - "Dima"

Assia (Algeria/France) - "Nos destinées"

Souad Massi (Algeria) - "Deb"

Dalida Salma (Egypt/Italy/France) - "Salma Ya Salama"

145. Sherine (Egypt) - ''Ana Ketir''

Asma Salim (Libya) - "Asma Saleem"

Umm Kulthum (Egypt) - "Enta Oumry"

Nawel Ben Kraïem (Tunisia) - "Lebess"

Malouma (Mauritania) - "Dunya"

Anziza Salema (Madagascar) - "Ameolalana"

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