New Music Friday is where the African music landscape begins to reveal what comes next.
Some weeks arrive with a single release dominating the conversation. Others are shaped by a collection of artists moving in different directions at the same time. Friday Frequency #011 belongs to the latter, bringing together established names, emerging voices and cross-border collaborations from across Africa.
After reviewing this week’s new releases across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, AceWorldTEAM has selected 15 records that deserve a place in this week’s Friday Frequency.
Leading the selection is bees & honey, Omah Lay, BEAM and Gyptian’s “As We Get High,” a cross-border collaboration that immediately establishes the playlist’s international character. BOJ and Ajebutter22 follow with “Time Of Our Lives,” while Black Sherif and AratheJay’s “Forever” brings one of Ghana’s most compelling collaborations of the week into the conversation.
From there, the playlist moves through Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa before returning to a strong Nigerian and Ghanaian contingent, with Amapiano, dancehall, hip-hop, Afropop and alternative sounds all finding their place.
Omah Lay Leads a Cross-Border Opening
“As We Get High” gives Friday Frequency #011 its opening statement.
bees & honey, Omah Lay, BEAM and Gyptian bring together artists from different corners of the global Black music landscape, but the record remains firmly connected to the African conversation through Omah Lay’s presence.
Released on September 1, the track immediately gives this week’s playlist a broader feel, combining Nigerian star power with Caribbean and international influences.
It is followed by BOJ and Ajebutter22’s “Time Of Our Lives,” a record that represents another side of contemporary Nigerian music.
The collaboration is less about obvious commercial impact and more about chemistry, songwriting and the distinctive alternative Afropop space both artists occupy. Together, the two records establish an important contrast at the beginning of the playlist: one expansive and cross-border, the other distinctly Nigerian in character.
Ghana Takes Centre Stage
Ghana makes one of the strongest contributions to Friday Frequency #011.
At the heart of that showing is Black Sherif and AratheJay’s “Forever.”
The collaboration carries particular significance within Black Sherif’s current chapter. AratheJay becomes the first Ghanaian artist to feature on a Black Sherif project since the rapper and singer’s 2022 debut album, making the collaboration notable beyond the song itself. “Forever” appears on SUN SHERIF, released September 4.
Shatta Wale’s “Catch Me If You Can” adds Ghanaian dancehall energy, while Kweku Smoke’s “Soul Healer” brings the country’s contemporary hip-hop scene into the playlist.
Kweku Smoke’s record is particularly relevant to the week because it arrives alongside his NO DAYS OFF album on September 4.
Criss Waddle and Olivetheboy’s “Fly Girl” continues the Ghanaian thread, pairing an established voice with one of the country’s younger Afropop talents.
The result is a Ghanaian contribution that isn’t restricted to one sound. Instead, it reflects the breadth of the country’s current music ecosystem.
East Africa Brings a Different Texture
Friday Frequency #011 also gives East Africa a meaningful role.
Harmonize and Ya Levis’ “I Do” is one of the week’s most interesting continental collaborations, connecting Tanzania with the Francophone/Congolese side of African popular music.
Harmonize brings his Bongo Flava foundation, while Ya Levis adds a smoother Central African and R&B-influenced presence. The record is part of Harmonize’s 31 album and was released September 4.
Kenya enters through Xenia Manasseh, Ywaya Tajiri and Ukweli’s “AJE?”, bringing a more understated and contemporary R&B-influenced sound into the selection.
Its inclusion is deliberate. Friday Frequency is not designed around country quotas; records earn their place by adding something to the overall listening experience. “AJE?” does exactly that, providing a softer and more atmospheric point of contrast within a playlist otherwise driven by heavier rhythmic records.
Phina’s “Happiness” completes the East African representation, giving Tanzania another voice and ending the selection on a lighter, more uplifting note.
South Africa Brings the Rhythm
South Africa enters Friday Frequency #011 with Nasty C, Tellaman and Lusanda’s “LFTOS” and Focalistic, Optimist Music ZA, Benzoo, Mellow & Sleazy and Mr JazziQ’s “Gumba Fire.”
The two records represent very different sides of South African contemporary music.
“LFTOS” brings the weight of Nasty C and Tellaman into the selection, while “Gumba Fire” gives the playlist its full Amapiano moment.
Released September 4, “Gumba Fire” brings together a formidable collection of South African dance-music names, with Focalistic at the centre of the collaboration.
Its inclusion also reinforces something important about Friday Frequency: African music does not have to fit neatly into one genre to belong here.
Afrobeats may provide the broader editorial context, but Africa’s contemporary sound extends through Amapiano, Bongo Flava, dancehall, hip-hop, R&B and countless other movements.
Nigeria’s New Generation Keeps Moving
Nigeria remains central to this week’s selection, particularly through a number of records from artists operating outside the most obvious mainstream choices.
Darkua and TAR1Q’s “Know You” brings an alternative edge, while Fergiee, YKB and scottyolorin’s “Massacre The Show” represents a younger, more energetic side of the Nigerian scene.
Igho and Smur Lee’s “Settings” continues that discovery thread, giving Friday Frequency another emerging Nigerian record to watch.
These selections are important because the playlist isn’t intended to function as a ranking of the biggest Nigerian artists releasing music this week.
The objective is broader: identify records that deserve attention.
That means established names can lead the conversation, but emerging artists must have room to enter it.
Friday Frequency Makes Room for Discovery
One of the strongest characteristics of this week’s selection is the balance between artists already commanding attention and those still building their audience.
Moffy, Marince Omario and KOO JUNIOR’s “STAY” is one of those records that benefits from the Friday Frequency format. It may not carry the immediate recognition of Omah Lay, Black Sherif or Nasty C, but it contributes another layer to the playlist and helps prevent the selection from becoming predictable.
The same applies to Fergiee, YKB and scottyolorin’s “Massacre The Show” and Igho and Smur Lee’s “Settings.”
These records give listeners a reason to explore beyond the names they already know.
That is an important part of what Friday Frequency is designed to do.
A 15-Track Selection Built to Move
The sequencing of Friday Frequency #011 is deliberate.
“As We Get High” opens with a broad, collaborative sound before “Time Of Our Lives” brings the focus back toward Nigeria.
“Forever” then shifts the conversation to Ghana, followed by “I Do,” which expands the playlist into East Africa and Central African crossover territory.
“AJE?” creates a softer transition before “Know You” and “LFTOS” gradually introduce a sharper contemporary edge.
The middle of the playlist belongs to rhythm and energy. “Gumba Fire” delivers the Amapiano moment, while “Catch Me If You Can” brings Ghanaian dancehall into the sequence. “Soul Healer” then shifts toward hip-hop before “Fly Girl” restores a more melodic Afropop character.
The final stretch leans toward discovery.
“Massacre The Show” brings youthful Nigerian energy, “Settings” continues the emerging-artist thread, “STAY” slows the pace slightly, and “Happiness” provides an optimistic closing note.
The result is not simply a list of 15 new songs.
It is a listening journey across different corners of contemporary African music.
Editorial Highlights
🎵 Cover Story
bees & honey, Omah Lay, BEAM & Gyptian — As We Get High
🤝 Collaboration of the Week
Black Sherif feat. AratheJay — Forever
🌍 Continental Moment
Harmonize & Ya Levis — I Do
🔥 Breakthrough Pick
Igho & Smur Lee — Settings
🇬🇭 Ghanaian Essentials
Black Sherif feat. AratheJay — Forever
Shatta Wale — Catch Me If You Can
Kweku Smoke — Soul Healer
🇿🇦 South African Essentials
Nasty C, Tellaman & Lusanda — LFTOS
Focalistic, Optimist Music ZA, Benzoo, Mellow & Sleazy & Mr JazziQ — Gumba Fire
🇰🇪 Kenyan Essential
Xenia Manasseh, Ywaya Tajiri & Ukweli — AJE?
Friday Frequency Essential 15
- bees & honey, Omah Lay, BEAM & Gyptian — As We Get High
- BOJ & Ajebutter22 — Time Of Our Lives
- Black Sherif feat. AratheJay — Forever
- Harmonize & Ya Levis — I Do
- Xenia Manasseh, Ywaya Tajiri & Ukweli — AJE?
- Darkua feat. TAR1Q — Know You
- Nasty C, Tellaman & Lusanda — LFTOS
- Focalistic, Optimist Music ZA, Benzoo, Mellow & Sleazy & Mr JazziQ — Gumba Fire
- Shatta Wale — Catch Me If You Can
- Kweku Smoke — Soul Healer
- Criss Waddle feat. Olivetheboy — Fly Girl
- Fergiee, YKB & scottyolorin — Massacre The Show
- Igho & Smur Lee — Settings
- Moffy, Marince Omario & KOO JUNIOR — STAY
- Phina — Happiness
Featured Artists
bees & honey, Omah Lay, BEAM, Gyptian, BOJ, Ajebutter22, Black Sherif, AratheJay, Harmonize, Ya Levis, Xenia Manasseh, Ywaya Tajiri, Ukweli, Darkua, TAR1Q, Nasty C, Tellaman, Lusanda, Focalistic, Optimist Music ZA, Benzoo, Mellow & Sleazy, Mr JazziQ, Shatta Wale, Kweku Smoke, Criss Waddle, Olivetheboy, Fergiee, YKB, scottyolorin, Igho, Smur Lee, Moffy, Marince Omario, KOO JUNIOR and Phina.
African music continues to expand without losing the identities that make its different scenes distinctive.
This week’s releases move between Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa, with artists crossing borders, genres and generations while continuing to shape the continent’s evolving sound.
Friday Frequency #011 captures that movement through 15 records selected not simply for their visibility, but for what they add to the week’s musical conversation.
Not every record that appeared on New Music Friday makes the cut. Not every major artist gets a place. And not every country needs the same number of entries.
The records simply have to earn it.
That is what makes Friday Frequency different: 15 records, one weekly snapshot of where African music is moving next.
