{"id":6182,"date":"2026-06-12T16:19:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interspacemusic.com\/blog\/ayra-starr-bongeziwe-mabandla-lead-new-african-music-releases\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T16:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:19:58","slug":"ayra-starr-bongeziwe-mabandla-lead-new-african-music-releases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interspacemusic.com\/blog\/ayra-starr-bongeziwe-mabandla-lead-new-african-music-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"Ayra Starr, Bongeziwe Mabandla Lead New African Music Releases"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>New releases from <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/3ZpEKRjHaHANcpk10u6Ntq\"><strong>Ayra Starr<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/interspacemusic.com\/blog\/bongeziwe-mabandla-releases-walila-prior-to-new-album\/\"><strong>Bongeziwe Mabandla<\/strong><\/a>, <strong>Bloody Civilian<\/strong>, and a host of other artists lead this week&#8217;s roundup of notable African music.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bongeziwe_Mabandla\">Bongeziwe Mabandla<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/interspacemusic.com\/blog\/ayra-starr-joins-roc-nation-nigerias-celestial-being-lands-global-management-deal-with-jay-zs-powerhouse-label\/\">Ayra Starr<\/a> began the week with viral clips from her performance at London&#8217;s Zsongo Experience, followed by widespread discussion of her NPR Tiny Desk concert. A clip shared by Rihanna featuring Starr and Rema&#8217;s track &#8220;Who&#8217;s Dat Girl?&#8221; further underscored the Nigerian artist&#8217;s growing global profile. Her latest single, <em>Tornado<\/em>, is a bold, high-energy pop track built on pulsating attitude and a power-anthem structure, with no posturing, just direct, rousing delivery.<\/p>\n<h2>Bongeziwe Mabandla<\/h2>\n<p>South African artist Bongeziwe Mabandla, who has spoken about <a href=\"https:\/\/interspacemusic.com\/blog\/south-african-producer-vanco-on-leaving-corporate-life-for-dance-music\/\">leaving behind corporate security to pursue music<\/a> and find his place on dance floors worldwide, has built a career balancing vibrant pop songwriting with immersive, introspective work. His long-running musical partnership with Tiago Correia-Paulo of the band 340ml has yielded critically regarded material. Mabandla&#8217;s new album, <em>Ndingubani<\/em>, tightens that inward focus across 18 tracks, engaging in tough self-examination, acknowledging shortcomings, and emerging with a sense of renewal.<\/p>\n<h2>DESIREE feat. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmanueljal.com\/\"><strong>Emmanuel Jal<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Producer and DJ <strong>DESIREE<\/strong> continues to evolve with each release, and on <em>Macho<\/em>, featuring Sudanese artist <strong>Emmanuel Jal<\/strong>, she sets a groove with a steady, subterranean thump that then veers in unexpected directions. Jal&#8217;s vocal threads over an unrelenting guitar line, moving like a troubadour over a production that incorporates elements of Afro and bacardi house.<\/p>\n<h2>Rorisang Sechele<\/h2>\n<p>South African jazz artist <strong>Rorisang Sechele<\/strong> has moved deliberately, taking time to understand her relationship with her craft. Her new song <em>Mama<\/em> is a contribution to the global archive honoring mothers and mother figures. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t forget to write me a song for our love,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> she sings, delivering a heartfelt performance that makes a well-worn subject feel fresh.<\/p>\n<h2>Spha Mdlalose (on Mavimbs&#8217; <em>Late Bloomer<\/em>)<\/h2>\n<p>Vocalist <strong>Spha Mdlalose<\/strong> features on the track from bassist and composer <strong>Mavimbs<\/strong>&#8216; debut album, <em>Late Bloomer<\/em>, a project that delves deeply into the elements of improvised music, particularly jazz. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;You&#8217;ve given me a chance to love again,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> Mdlalose sings, in a performance that invites the listener to let the music and words resonate beyond the surface.<\/p>\n<h2>Joey B<\/h2>\n<p>Ghanaian lyricist <strong>Joey B<\/strong> demonstrates his range on <em>Sexy Highlife<\/em>, a nine-track collection that draws on nineties influences while updating the formula. The project features contributions from <strong>Bosom P-Yung<\/strong> and <strong>Odunsi (The Engine)<\/strong>, and hits a sweet spot between nostalgia and contemporary sound.<\/p>\n<h2>Sarkodie &amp; Shatta Wale<\/h2>\n<p>Ghanaian rap heavyweight <strong>Sarkodie<\/strong> and dancehall star <strong>Shatta Wale<\/strong> join forces on a new collaboration that sits at the intersection of azonto and amapiano, delivering larger-than-life narratives that match their established reputations.<\/p>\n<h2>The Northmob<\/h2>\n<p>After nearly two months of teasers on social media, South African rap collective <strong>The Northmob<\/strong> has released <em>highway, dimas<\/em>. The track&#8217;s title captures the feeling of riding with abandon on the highway, shades on, and serves as theme music for self-actualization, delivered by some of the country&#8217;s most potent lyricists.<\/p>\n<h2>Bloody Civilian<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Bloody Civilian<\/strong> returns with <em>Space Fuji<\/em>, a track that repurposes older sounds and merges them with contemporary elements, combining the percussive drive and bass licks of fuji with the interoperable groove of mara. Featuring <strong>Terry Apala<\/strong> and <strong>Boj<\/strong>, the song is taken from her forthcoming EP, <em>The Haze<\/em>, due out in August.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A roundup of new African music releases featuring Ayra Starr, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Bloody Civilian, and 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