2021 in African music
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The following is a list of events and releases that have happened or are expected to happen in 2021 in African music.
Events[edit]
- 18 June – South African soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha wins the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.[1]
- October – CKay's "Love, Nwantiti" becomes the most-watched music video on YouTube, the first song from Africa to achieve this.[2]
- 14 November – The 8th African Muzik Magazine Awards takes place in Dallas, Texas.[3]
Albums released in 2021[edit]
| Release date | Artist | Album | Genre | Label | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 8 | Monica Ogah | Different (EP) | Christian | Indie | [4] |
| January 22 | Ayra Starr | Ayra Starr (EP) | Afropop, R&B, neo-soul | Mavin Records | [5] |
| January 29 | KaniBeatz & Bella Alubo | Chrystical (EP) | Pop | Lightcastle Music Global | [6] |
| February 4 | Joeboy | Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic | Afrobeats, Contemporary R&B | emPawa | [7] |
| February 5 | Femi Kuti & Made Kuti | Legacy + | AfroBeat/Jazz | Partisan | [8] |
| April 9 | Peruzzi | Rum & Boogie | Afrobeats | DMW | [9] |
| April 23 | Osibisa | New Dawn | High Life/Jazz/FunkRock | Marquee Records | [10] |
| April 30 | Laycon | Shall We Begin | Rap | Fierce Nation | [11] |
| May 21 | Mdou Moctar | Afrique Victime | Electronic | Matador | [12] |
| June 18 | Olamide | UY Scuti | Afropop | YBNL Nation Empire Distribution | [13] |
| July 9 | Les Filles de Illighadad | At Pioneer Works | Tuareg rock | Sahel Sounds | [10] |
| July 23 | Obongjayar and Sarz | Sweetness | Afrobeat | [14] | |
| September 3 | Big Zulu | Ichwane Lenyoka | Rap, Hip hop | Inkabi Records | [15] |
| September 15 | Tems | If Orange Was a Place | alt-R&B, Soul | RCA/Since '93 | [16] |
Deaths[edit]
- January 8 – Dorine Mokha, 31, Congolese dancer and choreographer (malaria)[17]
- January 22 – Guem, 73, Algerian singer, composer and dancer.[18]
- January 23
- Jonas Gwangwa, 83, South African jazz musician[19]
- Ahmed Achour, 75, Tunisian composer and conductor[20]
- January 28 – Sibongile Khumalo, 63, South African singer[21]
- January 31 – Wambali Mkandawire (Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire), 68, Malawian jazz singer and activist.[22]
- February 5 – Abdoul Jabbar, 40–41, Guinean singer-songwriter[23]
- February 16 – Soul Jah Love, 31, Zimbabwean reggae/Zimdancehall musician (complications from diabetes)[24]
- March 7 – Josky Kiambukuta, 72, Congolese singer (TPOK Jazz).[25]
- March 14 – Thione Seck, 66, Senegalese mbalakh singer and musician[26]
- April 5 – Haja El Hamdaouia, 91, Moroccan singer and songwriter, known for Chaabi and Aita[27]
- April 18 – Naïma Ababsa, 51, Algerian singer[28]
- April 27 – Sammy Kasule, 69, Ugandan musician and singer[29]
- May 7 – Jamal Salameh, 75, Egyptian songwriter and composer
- June 21 – Mamady Keïta, 70, Guinean drummer[30]
- June 22 – Mzilikazi Khumalo, 89, South African composer and academic[31]
- June 25 – Wes Madiko, 57, Cameroonian singer[32]
- July 1 – Steve Kekana, 63, South African singer[33]
- July 11 – Sound Sultan (Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi), 44, Nigerian rapper and hip hop pioneer (angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma)[34]
- August 3 – Allan Stephenson, 71, British-born South African cellist, conductor and composer[35]
- August 9 (killed in car crash)
- Khanya "The Voice" Hadebe, 20s, South African amapiano musician[36]
- Killer Kau, 23, South African amapiano musician
- Mpura, 20s South African amapiano musician
- August 28 – Victor Uwaifo, 80, Nigerian ogbonge musician and cultural figure[37]
- August 31 – Nobesuthu Mbadu, 76, South African mbaqanga singer[38]
- September 2 – Alemayehu Eshete, 80, Ethiopian singer[39]
- September 28 – Nana Ampadu, 76, Ghanaian musician[40]
- October 3 – Anouman Brou Félix, 86, Ivorian Akyé musician [41]
- October 8 – Rabah Driassa, 87, Algerian artist and folk singer[42]
- November 7 – Bopol Mansiamina, 72, Congolese guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer[43]
- November 17 – Theuns Jordaan, 50, South African singer-songwriter (leukaemia)[44]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Freya Parr (18 June 2021). "Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha wins Song Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021". Classical Music Magazine. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Lucas Shaw (28 October 2021). "A Nigerian Singer Released the Biggest Hit in African History". Bloomberg. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "SOME ZAMBIANS RESIGNED TO VOTING FOR SLAPDEE IN AFRIMMA ~". 11 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ Naija, Bella (January 11, 2021). "New EP: Monica Ogah – Different". BellaNaija.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ "Don Jazzy Activates Ayra Starr". THISDAYLIVE. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "Kanibeatz & Bella Alubo Make Short Work Of Their 'Chrystical' Joint EP". The Bulletin. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ "Joeboy releases 14-track debut album, 'Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic'". Pulse Nigeria. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (December 1, 2020). "Femi and Made Kuti Announce Double Album, Share New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ "Peruzzi Enlists Davido, Don Jazzy, Fireboy And More For Second Album "Rum & Boogie"". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Les Filles De Illighadad - At Pioneer Works". African Music Guide. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ Alake, Motolani (2021-04-30). "Laycon delivers and shines on, '...Shall We Begin…' [Pulse Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ^ Yoo, Noah (March 2, 2021). "Mdou Moctar Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Alake, Motolani (2021-06-18). "Olamide visits the Caribbean and delivers timeless music for you on 'UY Scuti' [Pulse Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (July 23, 2021). "Obongjayar and Sarz unite on collaborative EP Sweetness". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ Manjo, Theo (September 3, 2021). "Big Zulu Finally Drops 'Ichwane Lenyoka' Album". Slikouronlife.
- ^ "Tems: If Orange Was a Place EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ "Décès du chorégraphe congolais Dorine Mokha à 31 ans". CultInfos.com (in French). 13 January 2021.
- ^ "Abdelmadjid Guemguem, alias Guem, est décédé". Liberté Algérie (in French). 24 January 2021.
- ^ Matangira, Lungelo (23 January 2021). "Jonas Gwangwa, award-winning jazz legend, passes away aged 83". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Le chef d'orchestre et compositeur Ahmed Achour est décédé à l'âge de 75 ans". La Presse (in French). 29 January 2021.
- ^ Matlala, Lerato (28 January 2021). "LISTICLE: Highlights of musician Sibongile Khumalo's life". SABC News. South African Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Malawi mourns one of its greatest musicians: Wambali laid to rest". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "L'artiste Abdoul Jabbar s'en va !!!". Mediaguinee.com (in French). 5 February 2021.
- ^ Chronicle, The. "BREAKING: Soul Jah Love dies". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
- ^ "Veteran Congolese singer Josky Kiambukuta dies in Kinshasa". The East African. 8 March 2021.
- ^ "Mort du chanteur Thione Seck, l'une des stars de la musique sénégalaise". Le Parisien. Retrieved 14 March 2021. (in French)
- ^ Kasraoui, Safaa (5 April 2021). "Iconic Moroccan Singer Haja El Hamdaouia Dies at 91". Morocco World News. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Décès de la chanteuse Naima Ababsa". Algérie Presse Service (in French). 18 April 2021.
- ^ Afrigo Band’s Sammy Kasule dies
- ^ Doré, Tokpanon (21 June 2021). "Bruxelles: Mamady Djembé, un monument de la percussion mondiale s'est éteint". Guinéenews (in French). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Pooley, Thomas (24 June 2021). "Iconic composer Mzilikazi Khumalo defied apartheid odds to leave a rich legacy". News24. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
- ^ "Wes Madiko, la fin d'une histoire". Visages Live (in French). 26 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ Emmanuel Tjiya (1 July 2021). "Breaking: Legendary musician Steve Kekana has died". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "Veteran Singer Sound Sultan Dies After Battle With Cancer". Guardian.ng. July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ "Cellist and conductor Allan Stephenson has died". The Strad. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ Shumba, Ano (10 August 2021). "South Africa mourns amapiano artists Mpura, Killer Kau and Khanya Hadebe". Music Africa. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Sir Victor Uwaifo: Joromi, Guitar Boy artiste and ogbonge Nigerian musician die at di age of 80". BBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ "Mahotella Queens' star Mbadu passes on after fight with kidney failure". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ Admin (3 September 2021). "Alemayehu Eshete, "Ethiopian Elvis Presley", reportedly died". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Highlife Legend Nana Ampadu is Dead". Plug Times. September 28, 2021.
- ^ "Culture : Deuil, Anoman Brouh Félix, pionnier de la musique Akyé est décédé". akody (in French). October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Décès de l'artiste algérien Rabeh Deriassa". Mosaique FM (in French). October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ Diaz, Jonathan (7 November 2021). "Muere Bopol Mansiamina, un grande de la Música Africana". El Heraldo (Barranquilla, Colombia) (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Theuns Jordaan oorlede". Retrieved 17 November 2021.