2022 in African music

The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2022 in African music.

Events

April 3 – Angélique Kidjo wins the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for the second time, with her 2021 album Mother Nature.{{Cite web|url=https://mandynews.com/angelique-kidjo-win-grammy-best-world-music-album-2022/|title = Angelique Kidjo Beats Wizkid to Win Grammy Best World Music Album 2022|website=Mandy News}}
May 9 – CKay's "Love Nwantiti" becomes the first-ever African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Lucas |title=A Nigerian Singer Released the Biggest Hit in African History |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/pop-star-ranking/2021-october/a-nigerian-singer-released-the-biggest-hit-in-african-history.html |access-date=2023-01-23}}
May 17 – Interviewed on Asaase Radio, Stonebwoy responds to criticism of himself and other African artists such as Black Sherif for attending a party hosted by Kendrick Lamar in Ghana.{{cite web|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/stonebwoy-displeased-with-reactions-to-meeting-with-kendrick-lamar/|title=Stonebwoy displeased with reactions to meeting with Kendrick Lamar|date=May 17, 2022|website=myjoyonline|access-date=June 10, 2022}}
July 17 – The 18th series of Idols South Africa is launched, with new judges Thembi Seete and JR.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2022-02-16-thembi-seete-and-jr-join-somizi-as-idols-sa-season-18-judges/|title=Thembi Seete and JR join Somizi as ‘Idols SA season 18’ judges|date=16 February 2022|access-date=16 February 2022|last=Mphande|first=Joy|website=TimesLIVE}}
August 6 – At a political rally in support of Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz endorses Odinga as presidential candidate.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-06 |title=Diamond tells Raila Odinga: You are the next President |url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/entertainment/diamond-tells-raila-odinga-you-are-the-next-president-3905778 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}
September 4 – The 15th edition of Nigerian music awards The Headies is held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.{{cite news|title=Headies 2022: Full list of nominees - The Nation Newspaper|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/headies-2022-full-list-of-nominees-2/amp/| publisher=The Nation Newspaper|date=2022-05-24|first=Fasanmi |last=Abiola |access-date=2012-05-26}}
September 22 – Morocco's Tanjazz Festival is held after a two-year gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://en.hespress.com/46450-tanjazz-festival-to-return-in-september-following-two-year-hiatus.html|title=

Tanjazz festival to return in September, following two year hiatus|website=Hespress|access-date=2 March 2023}}

October 31 – The drowning of Davido's 3-year-old son, in a swimming pool at their Banana Island house,{{Cite web |author=Deborah Ejemeka |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Davido's son Ifeanyi drowns in Lagos swimming pool |url=https://gazettengr.com/just-in-davidos-son-ifeanyi-drowns-in-lagos-swimming-pool/ |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=Peoples Gazette |language=en |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031221951/https://gazettengr.com/just-in-davidos-son-ifeanyi-drowns-in-lagos-swimming-pool/ |url-status=live }} leads to a police investigation.{{cite web |title=Davido son death: Police say they invite eight domestic workers over Davido son death |access-date=November 2, 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c51589j8wl5o |website=BBC.com |date=November 2022 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102015224/https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c51589j8wl5o |url-status=live }}

Albums released in 2022

class="wikitable"
style="width:12%;"\| Release date ! style="width:15%;"\| Artist ! style="width:20%;"\| Album ! style="width:21%;"\| Genre ! style="width:18%;"\| Label ! style="width:3%;"\| Ref
January 28 \| Nomfundo Moh \| Amagama \| Afro-pop \| Universal \| {{cite web\|title=New Music Friday: Nomfundo Moh makes her soulful debut [listen] \|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/music/new-music-friday-nomfundo-moh-amagama/\| date=2022-01-28\| access-date=2022-03-02\| first=Naledi\|last=De Wee\| publisher=The South African}}
March 25 \| Rema \| Rave & Roses \| Afrorave \| Jonzing World/Mavin Records \|
May 13, 2022 \| Obongjayar \| Some Nights I Dream of Doors \| Afrobeat \| September Recordings \| {{cite web \|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/obongjayar-announces-debut-album-some-nights-i-dream-of-doors-shares-new-song-try-listen/ \|title=Obongjayar Announces Debut Album Some Nights I Dream of Doors, Shares New Song "Try" \|work=Pitchfork \|date=February 3, 2022 \|access-date=February 3, 2022 \|author=Corcoran, Nina}}
May 20, 2020 \| Gigi Lamayne \| Set in Stone \| Hip hop \| \|{{cite web\|title=Gigi Lamayne drops long-awaited album ‘Set in Stone’ {{!}} Hype Magazine\|url= https://hypemagazine.co.za/2022/05/20/gigi-lamayne-set-in-stone-album/\| website=Hype Magazine\| access-date=2022-06-04\| date=2022-05-20}}
May 27 \| Nduduzo Makhathini \| In The Spirit Of Ntu \| Jazz \| Blue Note Africa \|{{cite web\|title=Top African Music albums of 2022\|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/2022/g:african-music/\| website=RYM\| access-date=19 September 2022}}
July 8 \| Burna Boy \| Love, Damini \| Afro-fusion \| Atlantic Records \|{{Cite news \|date=July 8, 2022 \|title=Burna Boy Pushes Afro-Fusion Pop Into the Future With Love, Damini \|work=Variety \|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/album-reviews/burna-boy-love-damini-album-review-1235312135/ \|access-date=July 9, 2022}}
October 25 \| Amerado \| G.I.N.A \| Reggae, Afropop \| MicBurnerz Music \|{{cite web \|url=https://www.morebranches.com/amerados-g-i-n-a-album-makes-a-case-for-afrorap/ \|title=Amerado's G.I.N.A album makes a case for Afrorap \|work=Morebranches \|date=October 26, 2022 \|access-date=November 14, 2022}}
November 2 \| Seyi Vibez \| Billion Dollar Baby \| Afrobeats \| Vibez Inc / Dvpper Music \|{{Cite web \|title=TurnTable Charts {{!}} Official Top 50 Albums \|url=https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/2 \|access-date=2023-02-14 \|website=www.turntablecharts.com}}
November 11 \| Gordon Koang \| Community \| \| Music in Exile \|{{cite web\|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/gordon-koang-announces-new-album-community-and-shares-lead-single/\|title= Gordon Koang Announces New Album Community and Shares Lead Single\|website=Music Feeds\|date=21 September 2022\|access-date=22 September 2022}}

class="wikitable"

style="width:12%;"| Release date

! style="width:15%;"| Artist

! style="width:20%;"| Album

! style="width:21%;"| Genre

! style="width:18%;"| Label

! style="width:3%;"| Ref

January 28

| Nomfundo Moh

| Amagama

| Afro-pop

| Universal

| {{cite web|title=New Music Friday: Nomfundo Moh makes her soulful debut [listen] |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/music/new-music-friday-nomfundo-moh-amagama/| date=2022-01-28| access-date=2022-03-02| first=Naledi|last=De Wee| publisher=The South African}}

March 25

| Rema

| Rave & Roses

| Afrorave

| Jonzing World/Mavin Records

May 13, 2022

| Obongjayar

| Some Nights I Dream of Doors

| Afrobeat

| September Recordings

| {{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/obongjayar-announces-debut-album-some-nights-i-dream-of-doors-shares-new-song-try-listen/ |title=Obongjayar Announces Debut Album Some Nights I Dream of Doors, Shares New Song "Try" |work=Pitchfork |date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |author=Corcoran, Nina}}

May 20, 2020

| Gigi Lamayne

| Set in Stone

| Hip hop

|{{cite web|title=Gigi Lamayne drops long-awaited album ‘Set in Stone’ {{!}} Hype Magazine|url= https://hypemagazine.co.za/2022/05/20/gigi-lamayne-set-in-stone-album/| website=Hype Magazine| access-date=2022-06-04| date=2022-05-20}}

May 27

| Nduduzo Makhathini

| In The Spirit Of Ntu

| Jazz

| Blue Note Africa

|{{cite web|title=Top African Music albums of 2022|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/2022/g:african-music/| website=RYM| access-date=19 September 2022}}

July 8

| Burna Boy

| Love, Damini

| Afro-fusion

| Atlantic Records

|{{Cite news |date=July 8, 2022 |title=Burna Boy Pushes Afro-Fusion Pop Into the Future With Love, Damini |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/album-reviews/burna-boy-love-damini-album-review-1235312135/ |access-date=July 9, 2022}}

October 25

| Amerado

| G.I.N.A

| Reggae, Afropop

| MicBurnerz Music

|{{cite web |url=https://www.morebranches.com/amerados-g-i-n-a-album-makes-a-case-for-afrorap/ |title=Amerado's G.I.N.A album makes a case for Afrorap |work=Morebranches |date=October 26, 2022 |access-date=November 14, 2022}}

November 2

| Seyi Vibez

| Billion Dollar Baby

| Afrobeats

| Vibez Inc / Dvpper Music

|{{Cite web |title=TurnTable Charts {{!}} Official Top 50 Albums |url=https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/2 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=www.turntablecharts.com}}

November 11

| Gordon Koang

| Community

| Music in Exile

|{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/gordon-koang-announces-new-album-community-and-shares-lead-single/|title= Gordon Koang Announces New Album Community and Shares Lead Single|website=Music Feeds|date=21 September 2022|access-date=22 September 2022}}

Musical films

Neptune Frost, starring Elvis Ngabo, Cheryl Isheja and Kaya Free, with music by Saul Williams{{cite web|author=Tambay Obenson|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/neptune-frost-saul-williams-cannes-1234650362/|title=‘Neptune Frost’: Saul Williams Confronts Status Quo with East African Cyber Musical|website=IndieWire|date=July 17, 2021}}

Deaths

February 15 – Vivi l'internationale, 75–76, Beninese singer{{cite news |last=Ribouis|first=Olivier|date=16 February 2022|title=Vivi l'Internationale est décédée|trans-title= |url=https://www.banouto.bj/article/culture/20220216-vivi-l-internationale-est-decedee|language=French|work=Banouto|location= |access-date=17 February 2022}}
February 23 – Riky Rick, 34, South African rapper (suicide){{Cite web|date=23 February 2022|title=Shock as Riky Rick takes his own life|url=https://sundayworld.co.za/breaking-news/shock-as-riky-rick-takes-his-own-life/|access-date=23 February 2022|website=Sunday World|language=en-ZA}}
March 28 (death announced on this date) – Mira Calix, 51/52, South African electronic musician and producer{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/mira-calix-has-died|title=Mira Calix Has Died|date=28 March 2022|website=Clash Magazine}}
April 8 – Osinachi Nwachukwu, 42, Nigerian gospel singer (cause undisclosed){{Cite web |last=Nseyen |first=Nsikak |date=10 April 2022 |title=Osinachi: Family reveals cause of death of Ekwueme singer, husband's whereabouts |url=https://dailypost.ng/2022/04/10/osinachi-family-reveals-cause-of-death-of-ekwueme-singer-husbands-whereabouts/ |access-date=11 April 2022 |website=Daily Post |language=en-US}}
April 14 – Orlando Julius, 79, Nigerian Afrobeat saxophonist, singer, bandleader, and songwriter{{cite web|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/523995-veteran-saxophonist-orlando-julius-dies-at-79.html|title=Veteran Saxophonist, Orlando Julius dies at 79|date=15 April 2022|website=Premium Times|access-date=15 April 2022}}
May 15 – Deborah Fraser, 55, South African gospel singer (stroke){{cite web|title=Award-winning gospel singer Deborah Fraser dies |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/amp/news/south-africa/2022-05-15-award-winning-gospel-singer-deborah-fraser-dies/| website=SowetanLIVE| date=2022-05-15|first= Patience |last=Bambalele |access-date=2022-05-15}}
June 11 – Amb Osayomore Joseph, 69, Nigerian highlife pioneer{{cite web|url=https://independent.ng/osayomore-joseph-one-of-nigerias-music-legends-is-dead/|title= Osayomore Joseph, One Of Nigeria’s Music Legends Is Dead |publisher=independent.ng|language=en|access-date=12 June 2022}}
June 12 – Dawit Nega, 34, Ethiopian singer{{Cite news |date=12 June 2022|title=Popular Tigrigna singer Dawit Nega has died |language=en-US |url=https://addisinsight.net/popular-tigrigna-singer-dawit-nega-has-died/ |access-date=14 June 2022}}
June 21 – Pierre Narcisse, 45, Cameroonian singer{{Cite web |last=Юртова |first=Кристина |title=Умер Пьер Нарцисс {{!}} StarHit.ru |url=https://www.starhit.ru/novosti/umer-per-nartsiss-278556/ |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=www.starhit.ru |language=ru}}
August 15 – Tokollo Tshabalala, 45, South African Kwaito musician{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/legendary-kwaito-musician-and-tkzee-member-tokollo-magesh-dies-20220815|title=Legendary Kwaito musician and TKZee member Tokollo ‘Magesh’ dies|date=15 August 2022|author=Mduduzi Nonyane|website=City Press}}
August 18 – Hadrawi, 79, Somali poet and songwriter{{Cite news |url=https://www.somalitimes.co.uk/great-somali-poet-hadrawi-passed-away-in-hargeisa/ |title=Great Somali poet Hadrawi passed away in Hargeisa |work=Somali Times|date=18 August 2022 |access-date=18 August 2022}}
September 12 – Dennis East, 73, South African singer, songwriter and producer{{cite web|url=https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/music-legend-dennis-east-has-died/|title=Music legend Dennis East has died|date=September 12, 2022|website=Jacaranda FM|access-date=September 19, 2022}}
November 6 – Ali Birra, 72, Ethiopian singer{{cite web |url=https://ethiopianstoday.com/2022/11/06/legendary-ethiopian-artist-ali-birra-passed-away/ |title=Legendary Ethiopian Artist Ali Birra Passed Away |date=6 November 2022 |access-date=6 November 2022}}
November 25 – Sammie Okposo, 51, Nigerian gospel singer{{cite web |last=Ella |first=Chioma |date=November 25, 2022 |title=Gospel Singer, Sammie Okposo reportedly dies at 51 |url=https://www.kemifilani.ng/entertainment/gospel-singer-sammie-okposo-reportedly-dies-at-51/ |website=Kemifilani}}
December 5 – Hamsou Garba, 63, Nigerien singer{{cite web|url=http://www.anp.ne/article/deces-de-hamsou-garba-une-des-figures-de-la-culture-nigerienne|title=Décès de Hamsou Garba, une des figures de la culture nigérienne|date=5 December 2022|website=Agence Nigerien de Presse|access-date=December 10, 2022|language=fr}}
December 10
Tshala Muana, 64, Congolese singer, "Queen of Mutuashi"{{Cite web |last=Redaction |first=Mbote |date=December 10, 2022 |title=Décès de la chanteuse Tshala Muana |url=https://mbote.cd/buzz/deces-de-la-chanteuse-tshala-muana/123211/ |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=Mbote}}
Aziouz Raïs, 68, Algerian chaabi singer.{{cite news |last=L.|first=Farid|date=11 December 2022|title=Culture – Algérie : décès du chanteur de chaabi, Aziouz Raïs|trans-title= |url=https://www.algerie360.com/culture-algerie-deces-du-chanteur-de-chaabi-aziouz-rais/|language=French|work=Algérie 360|location= |access-date=11 December 2022}}
December 12 – Ekambi Brillant, 74, Cameroonian makossa singer{{cite news |title=Nécrologie: décès du musicien Ekambi Brillant |url=https://actucameroun.com/2022/12/12/necrologie-deces-du-musicien-ekambi-brillant/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |publisher=Actu Cameroun |date=12 December 2022}}

References

Africa

Category:Music of Africa

African music