There are many distinct qualities that lie at the heart of popular African music, but one easy standout is its chameleonic nature. Drawing influence from a slew of genres across various time periods, mainstream music in this part of the world tends to morph with the moment, borrowing landmark qualities of one genre to birth another.  And despite its contributions to the continent’s varying soundscapes, R&B is one genre that doesn’t get the love it deserves; it often ranking low in a culture where audiences lean towards the flamboyant pomp of Dance and its variants,  the lyrical ingenuity of Rap or even Pop’s fun and digestible nature. 

For many, the crux of true musical ability lies in the vocals and storytelling; and despite being criminally underappreciated by many mainstream listeners, it is R&B that often displays these skills most potently, forming the foundation for much of the fusion. That said, it’s impossible to recognise the best voices in R&B without calling on their most impactful contributions to other sounds, especially considering the genre’s years-long residence in the shadows of mainstream African music. 

Recently, the electric grooves of Dance music have hooked their claws into popular music around the world, and Africa is no exception. Straight from the burbs of South Africa, Amapiano emerged as a descendant of Gqom whose percussive elements pull straight from Dance. While the energetic synths are enough to increase your heart rate and transport you to the dancefloor, the once wordless, production-inclined genre quickly sought the dazzling voice of R&B vocalists to further communicate the emotive messages the basslines couldn’t. Queue the likes of Ami Faku, whose silvery chants laid the foundation for some of the biggest Amapiano songs yet, “Abelele” and “Asibe Happy.”

Both tracks held, the soulful and downright gut-wrenching elements that classic R&B is known for, as Faku delivered a performance so moving and timeless that many consider it responsible for Amapiano’s proliferation to the world. Cut from the same cloth is Nkosazana Daughter, whose feathery execution leads the Deep House-led excursions of Private School Amapiano. From upbeat to gloomy productions, Nkosazana is sure to deliver a heartwarming and memorable performance, leaving a lasting impact as her vocals exit the track. While her discography and innumerable co-signs indicate her domineering presence in South Africa’s Dance scene, her unique techniques evidently pull references from R&B’s hallmark characteristics.  Also in this category are other key players like Sha Sha and Venom and Shishiliza, whose porcelain notes weave a stunning level of rhythm, blues, heart and soul with ‘Piano-indented production.  

In a similar way, R&B scaled its initial boundaries after penetrating Nigerian Pop, going  as far back as the early 2000’s. Think Psquare’s “Am I Still That Special Man” where the lyrical sensitivity and emotional resonance is crystal clear; or Styl Plus’ now-classic stack of emotive tunes as seen on “Imagine That” and “Olufunmi,” or even Paul Play’s unforgettable display of love on “Angel of my Life.” That early class of R&B veterans, popularly believed to be led by 2Face, propelled the genre to the limelight while setting the stage for a new generation of stars to later arrive. Now, R&B-influenced Pop music is the order of the day, after an unquestionable run in the late 2010’s where acts like Fireboy DML showed the makings of a quintessential R&B star after releasing ‘Laughter Tears and Goosebumps,’ an album so unapologetically sensitive, it starkly contrasted the entitled and brazen tone popular Nigerian music typically adopts. Before that, we also had the likes of Nonso Amadi’s “Tonight” and Simi’s “Joromi” gaining mainstream recognition, whileMelvitto and Gabzy’s ‘THENIGHTISYOUNG.’ received similar love for its stark vulnerability. 

Soon after, the likes of CKay, Tems and Omah Lay arrived to take things to the next level, slinging the ropes of R&B well beyond its borders.  Where various iterations of “Love Nwantiti” were gaining traction, Tems’ “Try Me” was also pulling at the heart strings of listeners on home soil, positioning her to later deliver a career defining verse that set her up to release one of 2024’s best R&B albums. Omah Lay hasn’t shied away from global success either, since releasing his debut album and its deluxe, which perfectly encapsulated the angst of an early adulthood riddled with extreme emotions. Because his unbridled honesty and melancholic rhythms resonated so easily with audiences, his new approach on the “Holy Ghost” and “Moving” had fans worried we might have moved past the unfiltered rawness of ‘Boy Alone.’  Whether or not his upcoming sophomore release declares a sonic shift from the tunes we know and love, or his cohorts decide to occasionally dip into the fountain of Pop music more times than R&B fanatics would prefer, the upcoming class of contributors indicate the genre is still in good hands. 

Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Yamiko’s soothing vocals hold the weight of her soul-stirring confessions, stacked with positive affirmations and confidence. From her 2020 debut, “Healing,” to her recently released EP, ‘Rear View Mirror,’  Yamiko approaches music with a trained conviction usually associated with far more experienced artists, while possessing an admirably childlike wonder for exploration and deep yearning. Also pondering life with a similarly melancholic flair and representing a South African R&B renaissance are Nanette and Phiwo, who never falter in telling the harrowing tales of non-committal romance and unreciprocated love of the younger generation. British-Nigerian singer, Odeal, is also traversing the soulful terrain with balmy vocals, earning the title of UK’s Brent Faiyaz for his sonorous vocals and hypnotic renditions that house a unique hit-making ability and undeniable charisma. The commanding presence of Konyikeh cannot go unnoticed, when you consider how well she wears her excruciating pain on her sleeve translating them to tactfully curated melodies that throw her listeners into a tender yet agonising turmoil. From Eswatini’s Manana to Ghana-Burkinabé’s Ria Boss, the inimitable contributors on this list are endless. And in a scene ridden with upbeat chants, reflective R&B melodies always serve as the perfect cleanser, drawing our attention back to the quieter moments that allow us to address the largely shunned emotions.

[Featured Image Credits/The NATIVE]

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