Kotrell Wants To Document Love
Nigerian artist Kotrell, originally known for Afro‑fusion rap, has shifted to soulful R&B, drawing inspiration from Ed Sheeran. His 2024 debut album "And Everything In Between" expands on the love themes introduced in his 2023 and 2024 EPs, documenting romance, heartbreak, and self‑love. The record features tracks such as "Deserve It," which questions the cultural myth that love must endure pain, and "Love Me Slow," which advocates patience and empathy. Critical response highlights Kotrell’s lyrical honesty and his role in elevating Nigeria’s R&B scene.
How DJ Sholz Soundtracked Nigerian Modernism at Tate Modern
DJ Sholz partnered with Native Sound System and Play Piem to stage a live DJ mix at Tate Modern’s Nigerian Modernism exhibition during UK Black History Month. The performance combined digital DJing, live percussion and saxophone, featuring British‑Nigerian artists Ife...
The Best Albums Of The 2020s
The NATIVE roundup spotlights the decade’s most influential African albums, from Wizkid’s protest‑era "Made In Lagos" to Kabza De Small’s Amapiano double‑disc, Burna Boy’s Grammy‑nominated "Twice As Tall" and a host of genre‑spanning releases. Each record showcases how African artists have turned the...
Interview: FOLA Is Fully Loaded
Nigerian Afropop artist FOLA released his debut studio album *catharsis* in September 2025, quickly amassing over 100 million Spotify streams and earning both critical and commercial acclaim. The 11‑track record builds on his 2024 hit “alone” and features fan‑favoured songs such...
Interview: Zee Nxumalo Wants You To Dance
Zee Nxumalo, the Swazi‑South African singer who topped South Africa’s streaming charts for female artists in 2025, is set to release her new EP ‘IZINJA ZAM’ next week. The project, created with Durban’s Dlala Thukzin, aims to deliver dance‑floor anthems...
Vanco Wants to Score the Best Night of Your Life
South African DJ‑producer Vanco’s 2025 hit “Ma Tnsani (Yalla Habibi)” topped Ibiza’s Shazam charts and earned a Tiësto remix, cementing his place in the Afro‑House revival. After a career‑changing trip to the Amsterdam Dance Event in 2018, he quit his...
Senegal’s Draconian Anti-LGBTQ Law Is Starting To Affect Lives
In March 2026 Senegal’s parliament unanimously voted to double the maximum prison sentence for same‑sex relations from five to ten years, and the president signed the bill into law, raising fines to between 2 million and 10 million CFA francs (about $3,600‑$18,000)....
Godwin Is Expanding the Frame With ‘RENDITIONS’
Nigerian artist Godwin is expanding his creative scope with the piano‑driven EP *RENDITIONS*, a reinterpretation of beloved Nigerian classics, while his documentary *Crocodile* chronicles a decade of work with his brothers in The Critics and recently screened at the Berlinale....
How King Saheed Osupa Became A Timeless Pop Culture Icon
Saheed Osupa, the Fuji legend, reinforced his cultural relevance in 2025‑2026 by hosting high‑profile events, collaborating with younger stars, and earning academic honors, positioning him as a Yoruba language custodian. After missing the Olubadan coronation, he staged the Olubadan Appreciation...
Igwe Aka Is Leaning Into Legacy On “EGONOMICS”
Igwe Aka, a Nigerian‑born rapper based in Sacramento, broke through with the viral single “KAPOW,” released on January 9. The track’s fusion of Western hip‑hop, rock elements, and Igbo‑language cadences earned him heightened local buzz. Building on that momentum, he dropped...
Interview: Omah Lay Wants ‘Clarity Of Mind’
Nigerian Afropop star Omah Lay has dropped his long‑awaited sophomore album, “Clarity of Mind,” arriving four years after the critically acclaimed debut “Boy Alone.” The record reflects a period of self‑care, family time, and mental reset, which the artist describes...
Ife Ogunjobi Is Staking His Claim with ‘Tell Them, I’m Here’
British‑Nigerian trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi releases his five‑track EP “Tell Them, I’m Here,” showcasing a confident, genre‑bending blend of Afropop, Hip‑Hop, Afro‑R&B and jazz. The project emphasizes personal autonomy, using trumpet‑led melodies to convey emotion without lyrics, and positions Ogunjobi as...
Mowalola, Soldier Boyfriend, And Obongjayar Discuss The Significance Of Nigerian Modernism
In November 2025 Tate Modern opened the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, showcasing over 50 artists from the 1940s to the 1990s who forged a post‑colonial visual language. A conversation hosted by art historian Alayo Akinkugbe featured three contemporary Nigerian creators—Soldier Boyfriend,...
Best New Music: Egertton Is Channelling Ancestral Rage On “Obokhian”
Benin artist Egertton releases “Obokhian,” a two‑track single merging Rage Rap with ancestral Bini elements. The track, described as “incantation music,” pairs aggressive synth‑driven production with lyrics that chant “Obokhian” and “Tota.” Directed by Cruel Santino, the video blends masquerade...
Interview: Champz Wants To Make A Statement
African music is undergoing a reset, driven by young artists who blend global sounds with local roots. Nigerian teen Champz follows this trend with his new EP "Young Poet," released five months after his debut "Champion’s Arrival." The 10‑minute project...
Best New Music: Kayode’s “Aimoye” Is A Collage Of Old And New Influences
Nigerian rapper Kayode’s latest single “Aimoye” fuses a classic Fuji vocal chop from King Saheed Osupa’s 2020 track “Reliable Pt.5” with contemporary trap production, creating a seamless collage of old and new influences. The song builds on his earlier Yoruba‑infused...
Beats and Nike Collaborate On Powerbeats Pro 2 – Nike Special Edition With LeBron James
Nigeria’s cultural scene sees three major developments. Founder Nelson C.J. launched A Third Space, a multidisciplinary hub that brings together visual, literary, and performance artists in monthly immersive programs. A reflective piece revisits the 2020 EndSARS protests, underscoring their lasting imprint on...
Sony Music West Africa Is Celebrating Women’s Month With ‘Bloom & Bloom’
International Women’s Day 2026 finds Sony Music West Africa expanding its gender‑equity agenda with “Bloom & Bloom.” Aligned with the global “Give to Gain” theme, the initiative treats success as a collective effort, encouraging women to lift each other within...
Charles Onyeabor Is Preserving A Generational Legacy
Charles Onyeabor has dropped his latest single, “You Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” reinforcing the musical bridge between his father William’s electro‑Afro‑funk legacy and his own genre‑blending vision. Since 2020 he has issued three full‑length projects—*Like Father, Like Son*, *Onyekachi*, and...
Ayra Starr Wants Women To Own Their Power
Nigerian pop star Ayra Starr has dropped her latest single “Where Do We Go,” a track she describes as a personal anthem for getting ready and stepping out with confidence. The song continues her pattern of crafting music that speaks...
LYRXX Wants You To Feel Things
Nigerian singer‑songwriter LYRXX, an Ibadan‑born Afropop talent, has teamed up with Apple Music for an exclusive Africa Now Radio interview, spotlighting his debut project “MYSTERY RIDER.” The EP, released after his 2025 breakout single “Balenciaga,” fuses traditional Apala, soul, R&B,...
Best New Music: Mavo and SSSoundgawd’s “Aura Salad” Is Peak Dancefloor Filler
Mavo and South‑African producer SSSoundgawd drop “Aura Salad” as part of the two‑track ‘Breaking’ EP, delivering a high‑energy blend of Afropop, Amapiano and lamba rhythms. The track is praised as a peak dancefloor filler, showcasing both artists’ knack for crafting...
Cosamote’s ‘Files ‘26’ Is A Testament to Collaborative Brilliance
Cosamote’s debut album *Files ‘26* brings together eleven Lagos‑based musicians in a concept‑driven project that maps the stages of love. The record fuses Afropop, rap and R&B, producing standout tracks like “One + One” and “Sweetest Taboo.” Its narrative inspired...