Top African musicians of 2013.

Ice Prince Zamani – Nigeria

He’s been described as gifted by most of his peers. 2013 lent enough credence to that.

After the release of his debut Everybody Loves Ice Prince (ELI), he managed to put out a second album in 2013.

Fire of Zamani (FOZ) as he calls it, he became one of the most talked about acts of 2013.

He won a BET Award for Best International Act (Africa) in the process, beating off competition from other top African acts.

Ice Prince did some “crazy” collaborations in the last year, working with top U.S acts Wale and French Montana.

 

Femi Kuti - Nigeria

Still holding his own against the new crop of young African acts, Femi Kuti, son of Fela Kuti, one of the greatest African musicians who ever lived, continues to win his way through a career that keeps growing.

In 2013, he was everything you could think of for a top African act. He made good music, mentored some young talents (as seen on his collaboration with Wizkid on Jaiye Jaiye), and played all over the world.

For the fourth time in his music career, he was again nominated for a Grammy award, his three others being 2003, 2010 and 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mafikizolo - South Africa

Undoubtedly among Africa’s most popular artistes in 2013, South African group Mafikizolo managed to get the whole continent bumping to their Khona song.

Fans from countries across the continent claim it was the biggest song in Africa in 2013.  The group staged a return to a territory they had known for years, and like wounded lions waiting to have a piece of that juicy African music meal, they got Khona to instantly become the official party song for much of the year.

The song’s popularity grew quickly, becoming the most played African song on urban radio in several countries.

2014 may be the turn of their second single after Khona – Happiness (which features Nigeria’s May D), to follow in that fashion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rabbit - Kenya

With one of the most talked about songs of the year in hand, Rabbit, also known as Kaka Sangura, had a successful year in 2013.

His chart-topping song Ligi Soo, was a favourite of many. It became a street anthem of sorts, and also brought him fame and fortune.

The heavily hip-hop song was delivered in pure urban Kenyan music style, and appealed to the country’s young population. It got remixed heavily.

There are talks of an African remix, which should have some of the continent’s best ‘cats’, bless it their way.

Fude ODG - Ghana

Fans consider him one of the best things to happen to Ghanaian music in the last half decade, FUSE ODG has been putting his country on the map.

2013 was a good one for him, with a MOBO nomination, something only few other Ghanaian acts have received in the event’s history.

One of the proud disciples of the popular dance theme Azonto, he continued his discipleship with the release of Million Pound Girl, in the last quarter. It has since managed to get onto the charts.

Just as he managed to do with the two others ‘Azonto and Antenna, this one, too, has started a very quiet revolution; trying to make more popular the Azonto-derivative, and fall-offs Alkayida and Amanda.

He becomes more popular in 2014.
 

Rokia Traoré – Mali

One of the continent’s best female voices, Traoré is on a different scale all together.

The 39-year-old had an amazing year, performing at the popular Glastonbury Festival.

She also released her Beautiful Africa album, a great piece of work fuelled by a woman whose career continues to soar.

A worthy Malian and African ambassador, Traoré gets better with time.

2014 would just be one of those years she gets to move on from grace to grace.

Radio and Weasel - Uganda

Uganda’s biggest urban acts at the moment, Radio and Weasel had a good year.

In the last 12 months, they became the go-to guys in the East African country, making appearances in more continental events than any other mainstream Ugandan act.

They managed to scoop some nominations for their hard work, including a BET Best International Act (Africa) nomination, which they eventually lost out to Ice Prince.

The Reggae-R&B duo, are a delight on stage, one of the many reasons why they manned several of them in the last year.