Best Music of the Week: Kendrick x SZA, Niniola, Ibeyi, Muthoni Drummer Queen & More
The songs you need to hear this week.
Every week, we highlight the cream of the crop in music through our Best Music of the Week column.
Here's our round up of the best tracks and music videos that came across our desks, which you can also check out in our Songs You Need to Hear This Week playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Follow OkayAfrica on Spotify and Apple Music to get immediate updates every week and read about some of our selections ahead.
Kendrick Lamar & SZA "All the Stars" for 'Black Panther'
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's incredible video for "All the Stars," the lead single from the TDE-produced Black Panther soundtrack finds a way to touch on all corners of the African continent—from Congolese sapeurs to kente from Ghana.
Niniola "Oyin" + "Maradona" SA cover
South African producer Eternal's cover of Nigerian singer Niniola's hit single "Maradona" has gone viral. The cover features Eastern Cape born vocalist Amanda Faku, who was a contestant on The Voice SA last year. She sings her vocals in IsiXhosa. Niniola's also dropped a new addictive video and single for "Oyin."
Ibeyi's Tiny Desk Concert
Ibeyi are the latest artists to appear on NPR's Tiny Desk concert series. The French-Cuban duo performed stripped down versions of four of their songs including "Oddudua," which the twins sing in Yoruba, "Deathless," "Valé," and "Transmission/Michaelion," from their 2017 album Ash.
Kae Sun "Treehouse"
Canadian-based Ghanaian singer and songwriter Kae Sun premiered music video for "Treehouse," a dark-yet-uplifting anthem for late nights and early mornings inspired by his neighborhood in Accra.
LeriQ & Odunsi the Engine "Start All Over"
Nigerian producer and songwriter LeriQ—the man behind the beats on Burna Boy's solid debut albumL.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity and his Redemption EP—teams up with Odunsi for this ultra smooth Nigerian R&B jam, "Start All Over."
Muzi "Chocolate Dreams" feat. Una Rams & Saint Seaba
South African producer Muzi drops the video for"Chocolate Dreams," a catchy afrobeats-meets-pop song that features rising SA singer Una Rams and Nigerian producer and singer Saint Seaba.
Muthoni Drummer Queen "Lover"
"Lover," the new single from Kenya's Muthoni Drummer Queen, is a buoyant, synth-lead anthem that tells the story of a proud and unapologetic transgender woman who, as Muthoni's team writes, "is experiencing the power and beauty of womanhood while basically having the sex of her life."
Kobi Onyame "Still We Rise" feat. Wanlov the Kubolor
UK-based Ghanaian artist Kobi Onyame links up another fellow Ghanaian, Wanlov the Kubolor of FOKN Bois fame, for a hazy trip through the mountains of Ghana in "Still We Rise," a song about staying on your grind.
Patoranking "Available"
Nigeria's Patoranking showcases the ever-growing influence of South Africa's gqom in the new music video for his single, "Available."
Montess "Ma Booi"
Cameroonian diva Montess comes through with "Ma Booi," an addictive, synth-lead single about being in love with her man.
Sean Tizzle "Kpro Kpro"
Sean Tizzle has a song that could sound track any and all of your upcoming parties. The new video for "Kpro Kpro" was shot and directed by Ademola Falomo in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mr P "My Way"
Mr P (Peter Okoye formerly of P-Square) gets his Kanye in "Can't Tell Me Nothing" on his new desert video for "My Way."
