The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2020 in African music.
Events 18 March - It is announced that Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango has tested positive for coronavirus.BBC: Manu Dibango testé positif au coronavirus, 18 March 2020 21 March - The Tenor Foundation for Culture launches an initiative, in collaboration with the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra (OPM), the International School of Music and Dance (EIDM), and the Mazaya Sociocultural Program, to stream live concerts to viewers in Morocco. 30 June - Ethiopia's internet is taken down by the government amid unrest brought about by the shooting of musician and political activist Hachalu Hundessa. 25 December - Nigerian singers Yemi Alade and Naira Marley make their acting debut in the film Omo Ghetto: The Saga, released on this date.
Albums released in 2020
Release date Artist Album Genre Label Ref JanuaryLes Amazones d'AfriqueAmazones Power AfroPop/Funk/BluesReal World Records January 17Yung LJuice & ZimmAfrobeatsZimmlife February 7ObongjayarWhich Way is Forward? (EP)R&B, AfrobeatSeptember Recordings February 10Olamide999 (EP)Hip-Hop, Rap, AfropopYBNL Nation February 14Yaa YaaAgooHighlife, AfropopIndie February 282BabaWarriorsAfropopHypertek Digital March 6M.I AbagaJudah (EP)Hip hopChocolate City MarchTamikrestTamotaitDesert blues /TuaregGlitterbeat March 20A-QGod's EngineeringAfropop, Hip-hopDvpper Music Distribution March 27Sound Sultan8th WondahR&B, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop April 1BrymoYellowAlternative popIndie April 1LayconWho Is Laycon?AfrobeatF.N.E. Ltd April 3DarkovibesKpanlogoHip-Hop, Afropop, AfrobeatsIndie April 3GuiltyBeatzDifferent (EP)AfrobeatsBanku Music April 10EdoheartFor the Love (EP)PopIndie April 15M.I Abaga and A-QThe Live Report (EP)Hip-hop April 17DremoCodename Vol. 2 Afropop, hip-hop, AfrobeatsDavido Music Worldwide April 20Shatta WaleThe Manacles of Shatta (EP)ReggaeShatta Movement Empire April 24StonebwoyAnloga JunctionAfropop, Dancehall, ReggaeBurniton Music Group May 1AsikeyYellow (EP)Folk, EDM, R&B/AlternativeIndie May 5Joey BLava FeelsHip-Hop, R&BWorld Records May 8Deon BoakyeLegendary Journey (EP)Afropop, Highlife– May 8Dr SIDThe Interesting EPAfrobeatsMavin Records May 14Ike MorizDragonsPop, Rock, DanceMosquito Records London May 15WurlDAfrosoul (EP)AfrobeatsImmensum Music May 22Vector & MastaaCrossroads (EP)Hip-Hop, RapGRAP Entertainment May 299iceTip of the Iceberg: Episode 1AfrobeatsAAR May 29iLLBLISSIlly Chapo XHip-Hop, RapMad Solutions May 29Jesse JagzGarba (EP)Hip-HopJagz Nation June 1Jayso0106, Vol. 5Hip-Hop, RapSkillions Global June 5Sauti SolMidnight TrainAfropopSauti Sol Entertainment June 5Yung6ixIntroduction to TrapfroHip-Hop, RapBillionaires Circle June 12Bumi ThomasBroken Silence (EP)Soul528 Music Global June 12IdahamsMan On Fire (EP)Afropop June 19SkalesHealing Process (EP)Afropop, PopOHK Entertainment June 25Kizz DanielKing of LoveAfrobeats, Pop, R&BFly Boy Inc. June 26JaywonAje The MixtapePopNext World Music July 2MedikalIsland (EP)Hip-Hop, AfrobeatAMG Beyond Kontrol July 3Mercy ChinwoSatisfiedGospel, ChristianEeZee Conceptz July 3Keleketla!Keleketla!ElectronicAhead Of Our Time July 3PraizTo the Moon (EP)AfropopCicada Music July 4Fancy GadamDreamAfropop, DancehallSultan Incorporation July 17KrizbeatzAfrican TimeAfropopStreets Legend July 24SeleboboBobo of Africa (EP)AfropopVault Records July 29ReminisceVibes & Insha Allah (EP)Hip-Hop, Rap, AfrobeatsLesrosesrouge Entertainment August 8B-RedThe Jordan AlbumR&B, AfropopThe Plug Entertainment August 14HarrysongRight About NowAfropopAltar Plate August 14Terry Apala and MajorbangzMajor Vibes (EP)AfrobeatWemba Management August 14Burna BoyTwice as TallAfrobeats, Dancehall, Hip HopAtlantic August 16Evi Edna OgholiPeace and LoveReggaeEnorecords LLC August 19Fireboy DMLApolloAfro-fusion, Afrobeats August 20Ismaël IsaacQui va nous sauver?ReggaeObouo Productions August 21DJ LamboA Tale of Two CitiesAfropop, Hip-Hop707 Worldwide August 21CuppyOriginal CopyAfrobeatsRed Velvet Music Group August 21K1 De UltimateFuji the Sound (EP)Fuji, PopK1 Music Entertainment August 21Adekunle GoldAfro Pop Vol. 1AfropopEMI (UMG) August 22KpantoSkinny Boy KpantoHipcoHoly Records August 27Tiwa SavageCeliaAfrobeats, R&B, PopUMG, Motown, Island Records, Capitol August 27PatorankingThreeReggae, DancehallAmari Musiq August 28Kwaw KeseVictoryHip-HopCrux Global / MOVES Recordings August 28SeetherSi Vis Pacem, Para BellumRock August 28Nasty CZulu Man With Some PowerHip Hop, TrapDef Jam September 2Eedris AbdulkareemNothing But The TruthAfrobeats, Hip-Hop, RapBlue Pie Records September 4Apex and BionicNobody HolyPopJFK Resolute Entertainment September 4LKTThe Dark AbyssHip Hop, RapIndie September 10Wande CoalRealms (EP)AfrobeatsStarstruck / EMPIRE September 14JahdielGrace (EP)ChristianHammer House Records September 14MOG MusicThe ExperienceChristian, GospelIndie September 16Mix Naija and T-ClassicAlirat (EP)AfrobeatsMajik Naija Entertainment September 17FameyeGreater ThanAfrobeatsEMPIRE September 25TemsFor Broken Earsalt-R&BLeading Vibe Ltd September 25BANTUEverybody Get AgendaAfrobeatsSoledad Productions September 27Diana HopesonHope (Volume 1)Gospel, ChristianIndie October 2SimiRestless IIR&B, SoulPLATOON October 2NiniolaColours and SoundsAfrobeat, Dance, ElectronicDRUMROLL RECORDS October 8OlamideCarpe DiemAfropop, Rap, Reggae fusionYBNL Nation / EMPIRE October 9DareyWay Home (EP)Afrobeats, R&BLivespot Entertainment October 9Kuami EugeneSon of AfricaAfropop, Highlife, AfrobeatsLynx Entertainment October 16Le Deal, featuring Malick KolyJazz TraficantesJazzA&R October 16Lionel LouekeHHSmooth jazz, JazzEdition Records October 30Rocky DawuniVoice of Bunbon, Vol. 1 (EP)ReggaeAquarian Records October 30WizkidMade in LagosAfrobeats, Hip Hop, PopStarboy (RCA) November 5BrymoLibel (EP)AlternativeClockwyce Distributions November 6Kelvyn BoyBlackstarAfrobeat, AfropopCrux Global / MOVES Recordings November 10King of AccraAdulthoodAfrobeatsIndie November 11Larry GaagaRattle SnakeAfropopPoles Music November 12AmaaraeThe Angel You Don't KnowR&B, Afro-fusion, PopGOLDEN CHILD LLC. November 12DavidoA Better TimeAfrobeats, Pop, DancehallSony November 13DarkovibesThe CornerstoneHip-HopIndie November 20BasketmouthYabasiHighlifeBarons World Records November 20Yemi AladeEmpressAfrobeats, Highlife, Soul, Pop, DancehallEffyzzie Music Group December 10TeknoOld RomanceAfrobeats, Highlife, Soul, Pop,Island Records
Classical Michael Blake Mémoriale, for large symphony orchestra Nattlige Toner/Night Music (film score, arranged for violin and harp)
Musical films LOUD, starring Sophie Alakija and Eucharia Anunobi Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters (animation), with music by DJ Klem and Ava Momoh
Deaths January 19 - Allah Thérèse, age unknown, Ivorian traditional singer February 1 - Kofi B, age unknown, Ghanaian highlife musician (heart attack) February 9 - Abdel Aziz El Mubarak, 69, Sudanese singer (pneumonia)بعد صراع مع المرض.. وفاة الفنان السودانى عبد العزيز المبارك داخل مستشفى بالقاهرة February 11 - Joseph Shabalala, 78, South African musician (Ladysmith Black Mambazo). February 12 - Victor Olaiya, 89, Nigerian highlife trumpeter February 15 - Prince Kudakwashe Musarurwa, 31, Zimbabwean Afro Jazz singer, songwriter, producer and musician February 16 - Erickson Le Zulu, 41 Ivorian disc jockey and singer February 17 - Kizito Mihigo, 38, Rwandan gospel singer. March 18 - Kenneth Kafui, age unknown, Ghanaian composer March 19 - Aurlus Mabélé, 66, Congolese singer and composer, the "King of Soukous" March 24 - Manu Dibango, 86, Cameroonian musician and saxophonist (COVID-19) April 7 - Hudeydi, 91, Somali musician April 14 Akin Euba, 84, Nigerian composer, musicologist, and pianist Kasongo wa Kanema, 73, Congolese musician (Orchestra Super Mazembe).Veteran Congolese musician Kasongo wa Kanema dies April 30 – Tony Allen, 79, Nigerian drummer, composer and songwriter (abdominal aortic aneurysm) May 22 – Mory Kanté, 70, Guinean singer and musician June 1 – Majek Fashek, 57, Nigerian reggae singer and songwriter June 12 Dodo Doris, 71, Congolese musician (Orchestra Super Mazembe) Claude Ndam, 65, Cameroonian singer-songwriter June 14 – Mama Nguéa, 60, Cameroonian singer (diabetes) June 15 Omondi Long'lilo, 37, Kenyan Benga musician (cancer)Omondi Long' Lilo: Popular Benga Maestro Succumbs to Cancer Nana Tuffour, 66, Ghanaian highlife singer June 23 – Xabiiba Cabdilaahi, 58, Djiboutian singer June 29 – Hachalu Hundessa, 34, Ethiopian singer-songwriter (shot) July 10 – Cosmas Magaya, 67, Zimbabwean mbira musician (COVID-19) August 27 – Meridjo Belobi, 67, Congolese drummer, former member of Zaïko Langa Langa and inventor of Cavacha September 21 – Hamdi Benani, 77, Algerian singer and violinist October 18 – Naâma, 86, Tunisian singer November 19 – Mshoza, 37, South African kwaito singer
See also 2020 in music
References