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Explore

Longer reads on the scenes, deals and shifts shaping African music — the context behind the charts, across the continent and the diaspora.

  • Explore

THE HYPE MAN ECONOMY: WHY AFROBEATS’ MOST ESSENTIAL ROLE IS STILL ITS MOST UNDERVALUED

ActiveBoy — resident hype man at Obi's House and one of Lagos's most in-demand voices — says 70% of the industry still undervalues the people who make the

Must Read

DJ Phaphane, Amapiano To The World: Paris Nights
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Behind the White Sunglasses: DJ Phaphane’s Two-Year Rise From Paris Parties to Sony

From Paris party flyers to an RCA deal, a Diamond Platnumz collaboration and a million-view mix: how DJ Phaphane became European amapiano's breakout star
Indian playback singer Benny Dayal
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Tamil Amapiano: How South African DJs Won Over Benny Dayal

South African DJs PriPri and Prito are remixing A.R. Rahman classics over log drums, and Indian playback star Benny Dayal has joined in with
MOGA Festival, the Moroccan electronic music festival heading to Dakar, Senegal
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MOGA Festival Heads to Dakar for Its First West African Edition on 20 November

Morocco's MOGA Festival is taking its oceanfront electronic format to Senegal, with a first West African edition at Maison CSS in Dakar on 20
Ayra Starr official Starrgirl era press portrait
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Ayra Starr Headlines NFL Halftime in London, Then Announces 20-City Starrgirl World Tour

Days after headlining an NFL halftime show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ayra Starr announced a 20-city Starrgirl World Tour across Europe, the UK and
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Kabza De Small and Zawadi Yamungu’s ‘Khanya Njalo’ Passes 5 Million Spotify Streams Ahead of Tutu

Seven months after release, Kabza De Small and Zawadi Yamungu's 'Khanya Njalo' is the first song from the twice-delayed Tutu album to pass 5
Justin 99
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Justin 99’s ‘Restart’ Hits 1 Million YouTube Views, and It’s the One Song on 99 Problems With No Guests

Justin 99's 'Restart', the only solo song on his 11-track 99 Problems, has passed 1 million YouTube views, four months after release.
Uncle Waffles
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Uncle Waffles Marks Five Years With a List of Amapiano Firsts, From Coachella to Parklife

Five years after her viral breakthrough, Uncle Waffles celebrates a list of amapiano firsts, from Coachella and EDC to Brooklyn Mirage, Roundhouse and Parklife.
Thatohatsi
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Thatohatsi Tops Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube as South Africa’s Most-Streamed Female Artist of September

Thatohatsi was South Africa's most-streamed female artist on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube in September 2026, capping a year that began with a run
Mauvais Djo performing Maladie on Planète Rap
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How Mauvais Djo Went From Club MC to One of France’s Biggest Afro Stars in 2026

Two weeks at No. 1 with 'Pilé', a gold 'Maladie', a top-three debut album and his own label: how Triangle des Bermudes' Mauvais Djo
A guest in amber sunglasses and a silver chain on deck at The Beats of Africa's Afro Nation boat party off Portimão
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Inside The Beats of Africa’s Afro Nation Boat Party in Portimão

On 2 July, The Beats of Africa and Troniq Music took the Afro Nation weekend offshore: Dre Tala on the decks, Portimão Marina behind
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Are ‘Nakupenda’ and ‘Money Constant’ Amapiano or Afrobeats?

Are TxC's Nakupenda and Wizkid's Money Constant amapiano or Afrobeats? We break down the beats, the structure and J Gadget's argument.
Piano People Stage
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Amapiano to the World: Inside Afro Nation’s Piano People Stage

From DJ Maphorisa to Uncle Waffles and Kelvin Momo, Afro Nation 2026's Piano People Stage is amapiano's biggest moment on the Algarve.

About the Explore desk

Four questions, answered in plain text, marked up as FAQPage.

What is the Explore desk?

Longer analysis and reporting: scene reports, deal breakdowns and interviews that do not fit the release cycle.

Do you cover the business side?

Yes. Signings, streaming economics, touring and festival programming across Europe and Africa.

How long are these pieces?

Typically eight to fifteen minutes. Reading time shows on every card.

Who writes them?

Staff writers and contributors based in Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Paris and London.

Explore By Sound and country

Afrobeats
Amapiano
Gqom
Coupé-Decalé
Makossa
Fuji
Nigeria
South Africa
Ghana
Kenya
Namibia
Morocco

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