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Thabo Smol’s Jazz Evolution As He Releases “Di Thupa Tsa Smol”
đ¸: alternativegroovesession SAMA-winning artist Thabo Smol has released his debut jazz album, Di Thupa Tsa Smol. Moving beyond his 15-year legacy with house heavyweights Black Motion, Smol describes this project as a spiritual offering. The release marks a significant artistic evolution, prioritizing creative healing and rebellion over mainstream commercial sounds. Key Highlights Thabo Smol’s Jazz Declaration:…
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Know All About The 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winners
đ¸: Supplied The 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards recognise five creators expanding regional cultural languages. Bronwyn Katz, Gabi Motuba, Jason Jacobs, Lee-chĂŠ Janecke, and Ndumiso Manana move fluidly across disciplines, histories, and platforms. Together, they reflect how contemporary artistic practice merges deep archives with modern cinematic and global sonic environments today. How The 2026…
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Lovn, Vanillah, Haeven & Umzulu Phaqa Join Apple Musicâs Up Next
đ¸: Supplied Apple Music has announced its latest âUp Nextâ roster for Africa, spotlighting four emerging artists poised to shape the continentâs sonic future. The 2026 class features Nigeriaâs Lovn, Tanzaniaâs Vanillah, Ghanaâs Haeven, and South Africaâs Umzulu Phaqa. This selection highlights a strategic industry shift toward hyper-regional storytelling, elevating localized sounds like Bongo Flava…
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[TRACKER] Inside African Musicâs Major Record Label Signings of 2026
![[TRACKER] Inside African Musicâs Major Record Label Signings of 2026](https://lamag.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Jnr-SA-Drops-New-Afro-Tech-Single-âAmaphupho-1-e1783445747999.jpg)
đ¸: Supplied This tracker logs the most significant record or publishing deals and roster additions across the African music landscape in 2026. Bishop Benjamin Dube Marks 20 Years of In His Presence With Sony Music Africa Partnership 07 June 2026 Kabza De Small has announced the launch of his new record label, Tech Hub, expanding his role from…
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Kendrick Lamar Leads 2026 Grammys As Bad Bunny Claims Historic Win
Photos Credit: Recording Academy / Getty Images The 68th Grammy Awards saw Kendrick Lamar cement his place at the center of rap with five wins, including Record of the Year for âLutherâ with SZA. Album of the Year went to Bad Bunny, whose DebĂ Tirar MĂĄs Fotos is the first fully Spanish-language album to ever win the…
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Tyla Wins Her 2026 Grammy Award For Best African Music Performance
Photos Credit: Recording Academy / Getty Images Tyla has won the 2026 Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with âPUSH 2 START,â securing her second Grammy win. The track stood out for its fusion of modern African rhythms, pop-forward production, and Tylaâs distinctive vocal delivery, prevailing in a highly competitive category and reinforcing her global momentum. Key…
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Apple Music Names âShelaâ As South Africa’s 2025 December Anthem
Featured Image(s): Supplied Apple Music has released its Ke Dezemba insights for South Africa, identifying the artists and songs that led streaming and Shazam activity during the festive season. Kelvin Momo, Kabza De Small and Thukutela ranked as the countryâs top artists, while âShelaâ by Sam Deep, Nia Pearl and Boohle emerged as Decemberâs defining…
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Shazam Names 2026 African Artists Among Global Breakouts To Watch
Shazam has unveiled its Fast Forward Class of 2026, spotlighting 65 emerging artists across 22 countries identified through discovery data and editorial analysis. The list includes African talent driving measurable growth on Shazam and Apple Music, reinforcing the continentâs influence on global music discovery. âFast Forward is a reliable pulse-check on the most exciting artists…
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WAV Festival Draws 8000 Fans Signaling A New Era For R&B In Africa
WAV Festival successfully launched its first edition in Cape Town on Friday, 2 January 2026, drawing more than 8 000 attendees to an R&B-focused event anchored by global and South African talent. The sold-out debut positions Cape Town as a growing hub for premium, genre-specific music festivals in Africa. The R&B-focused music festival took place…
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Adekunle Gold Marks Historic First At Reopened National Theatre In Lagos
Adekunle Gold made history on 26 December as the first artist to headline and sell out a concert at the renovated National Theatre, now the Wole Soyinka Centre, in Lagos. The sold-out orchestral performance followed the venueâs October 2025 reopening and was commemorated with a plaque recognising the milestone. Adekunle Gold Headlines First Concert At…
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Fela Kuti Named Among 2026 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Honorees
The Recording Academy will present its 2026 Special Merit Awards on Jan. 31 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, recognizing Lifetime Achievement, Trustees and Technical Grammy honorees. Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon and Whitney Houston headline the Lifetime Achievement recipients. Key Highlights Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards 2026 To Honor Santana, Chaka…
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Riky Rick’s CottonFest Concludes Ending It’s Seven-Year Cultural Legacy
CottonFest has officially ended after shareholder disputes fractured its long-term direction and made operations unsustainable. Organisers emphasised gratitude to supporters and reaffirmed their commitment to Riky Rickâs legacy. While the festival concludes, the Creative Programme launched in 2025 will continue providing opportunities for young talent. Ticket refunds are available through Webtickets. CottonFest Ends After Shareholder…
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Soul Brothers Mark 50 Years With An Anniversary Album And Tour
To fans around the world, the legendary Soul Brothers extend heartfelt gratitude for over five decades of unwavering love and support. Formed half a century ago, the group credits their loyal following for carrying them through every chapter of their extraordinary journey. Their upcoming 50th Anniversary Album stands as both a celebration of this legacy…
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FLVMEâs âBLVCK & WHiTEâ Crosses 2 Million Streams In Just One Month
FLVMEâs latest album BLVCK & WHiTE has surpassed 2 million streams across all digital platforms just one month after its release. The 21-track project has emerged as one of the most impactful releases in South African hip-hop this year, capturing attention for both its emotional depth and high-level production. An Artistic Statement With Street Heat Led by the standout…
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African Artists Shine On “Shazam Global Top 200 Chart” In The Past Year
Apple Music has revealed that over 200 artists from the African continent have charted on the Shazam Global Top 200 chart over the past year. âThese insights are not only a testament to the incredible talent that the continent has to offer, but reflect the key role that Shazam has played in surfacing African music to a global audience,â…
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Apple Music Celebrates 10Â Years Launching AÂ Global Hub For Artists
As Apple Music marks its 10th anniversary this year (1 July 2025), Apple announces its most ambitious creative project to date: a brand-new state-of-the-art studio space in Los Angeles dedicated to artist-driven content, innovation in audio, and deeper fan connection. Opening this summer, the new studio represents a major milestone in Appleâs continued mission to…
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Sheer Rebrands And Sets The Stage For An Expanded Suite Of Services
After nearly three decades as one of Africaâs most trusted, creator-first independent music publishers, Sheer Publishing Africa is reintroducing itself to the world as Downtown Music Publishing Africa. More than a visual refresh, the rebrand marks a strategic alignment with the global vision of Downtown Music Publishing, which administers rights for creators in over 145 countries. Its global infrastructure…
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Cape Town DJ & Producer CA MA GU Embarks On A Landmark US Tour
Internationally acclaimed DJ and producer CA MA GU is set to make her mark in the United States during a historic visit from May 15th to May 19th, 2025. This groundbreaking trip represents a pivotal moment in her already illustrious career. During her stay, CA MA GU will immerse herself in the U.S. music scene, forge new connections, and push creative…
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Shimza Secures Residency At Club Chinois In Ibiza Starting August
The rhythm of Tembisa is about to echo across the shores of Ibiza as globally recognized Afro-house maestro Shimza has officially secured a coveted residency at the legendary Club Chinois, beginning August 2025. From the vibrant streets of Tembisa, South Africaâwhere his musical journey began by playing at local parties and hosting his own showsâto…
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Chipego Breaks Through With âAll Yoursâ On Spotifyâs Playlist
Weâre always keeping its eye on rising voices shaping the future of African music and Zambian-South African artist Chipego is making a bold entrance! Her latest single, âAll Yoursâ, recently landed a coveted spot on Spotifyâs New Music Friday, bringing a fresh wave of genre-fluid Afro-pop to global ears. The soulful track is more than just a singleâitâs a…
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