The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2021 in African music.
Events 14 March – At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, Nigerian musician Burna Boy wins the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album and is among the live performers. 18 June – South African soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha wins the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. 9 August – In recognition of South African Women's Day, Apple Music launches the third part of its Visionary Women campaign, celebrating female artists such as Makhadzi. October – CKay's "Love Nwantiti" becomes the most-watched music video on YouTube, the first song from Africa to achieve this. 14 November – The 8th African Muzik Magazine Awards takes place in Dallas, Texas.
Albums released in 2021
Release date Artist Album Genre Label Ref January 8Monica OgahDifferent (EP)ChristianIndie January 22Ayra StarrAyra Starr (EP)Afropop, R&B, neo-soulMavin Records January 29KaniBeatz & Bella AluboChrystical (EP)PopLightcastle Music Global February 4JoeboySomewhere Between Beauty and MagicAfrobeats, Contemporary R&BemPawa February 5Femi Kuti & Made KutiLegacy +AfroBeat/JazzPartisan April 9PeruzziRum & BoogieAfrobeatsDMW April 23OsibisaNew DawnHigh Life/Jazz/FunkRockMarquee RecordsApril 30LayconShall We BeginRapFierce NationMay 16KpantoSound from the XtreetzHipcoIndie May 21Mdou MoctarAfrique VictimeElectronicMatadorJune 18OlamideUY ScutiAfropopYBNL Nation Empire Distribution July 9Les Filles de IllighadadAt Pioneer WorksTuareg rockSahel Sounds July 23Obongjayar and SarzSweetnessAfrobeat August 6Ayra Starr19 & DangerousAfrobeat, R&B, trap, alté Mavin RecordsSeptember 3Big ZuluIchwane Lenyoka Rap, Hip hop Inkabi Records September 3SarahméePoupée russe Rap, Afropop Ste=4 Musique September 9Brymo9: ÈsanIndie9: Harmattan & Winter September 15TemsIf Orange Was a Placealt-R&B, Soul RCA/Since '93 October 26AmeradoPatience (EP)Hiphop/AfrobeatMicBurnerz Music November 5ZlatanResan
Musical films Neptune Frost, with music by Saul Williams
Deaths January 8 – Dorine Mokha, 31, Congolese dancer and choreographer (malaria) January 22 – Guem, 73, Algerian singer, composer and dancer. January 23 Jonas Gwangwa, 83, South African jazz musician Ahmed Achour, 75, Tunisian composer and conductor January 28 – Sibongile Khumalo, 63, South African singer January 31 – Wambali Mkandawire (Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire), 68, Malawian jazz singer and activist. February 5 – Abdoul Jabbar, 40–41, Guinean singer-songwriter February 16 – Soul Jah Love, 31, Zimbabwean reggae/Zimdancehall musician (complications from diabetes) March 7 – Josky Kiambukuta, 72, Congolese singer (TPOK Jazz). March 14 – Thione Seck, 66, Senegalese mbalakh singer and musician April 5 – Haja El Hamdaouia, 91, Moroccan singer and songwriter, known for Chaabi and Aita April 18 – Naïma Ababsa, 51, Algerian singer April 27 – Sammy Kasule, 69, Ugandan musician and singerAfrigo Band's Sammy Kasule dies May 7 – Jamal Salameh, 75, Egyptian songwriter and composer June 21 – Mamady Keïta, 70, Guinean drummer June 22 – Mzilikazi Khumalo, 89, South African composer and academic June 25 – Wes Madiko, 57, Cameroonian singer July 1 – Steve Kekana, 63, South African singer July 11 – Sound Sultan (Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi), 44, Nigerian rapper and hip hop pioneer (angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma) August 3 – Allan Stephenson, 71, British-born South African cellist, conductor and composer August 9 (killed in car crash) Khanya "The Voice" Hadebe, 20s, South African amapiano musician Killer Kau, 23, South African amapiano musician Mpura, 20s South African amapiano musician August 28 – Victor Uwaifo, 80, Nigerian ogbonge musician and cultural figure August 31 – Nobesuthu Mbadu, 76, South African mbaqanga singer September 2 – Alemayehu Eshete, 80, Ethiopian singer September 28 – Nana Ampadu, 76, Ghanaian musician October 3 – Anouman Brou Félix, 86, Ivorian Akyé musician October 8 – Rabah Driassa, 87, Algerian artist and folk singer November 7 – Bopol Mansiamina, 72, Congolese guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer November 17 – Theuns Jordaan, 50, South African singer-songwriter (leukaemia) December 27 – Defao, 62, Congolese singer-songwriter, COVID-19.
See also 2021 in music
References