2022 in African music

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The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2022 in African music.

Events[edit]

April 3 – Angélique Kidjo wins the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album for the second time, with her 2021 album Mother Nature.^[1]
May 9 – CKay's "Love Nwantiti" becomes the first-ever African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.^[2]
May 17 – Interviewed on Asaase Radio, Stonebwoy responds to criticism of himself and other African artists such as Black Sherif for attending a party hosted by Kendrick Lamar in Ghana.^[3]
July 17 – The 18th series of Idols South Africa is launched, with new judges Thembi Seete and JR.^[4]
August 6 – At a political rally in support of Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz endorses Odinga as presidential candidate.^[5]
September 4 – The 15th edition of Nigerian music awards The Headies is held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.^[6]
September 22 – Morocco's Tanjazz Festival is held after a two-year gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[7]

Albums released in 2022[edit]

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Ref
January 28	Nomfundo Moh	Amagama	Afro-pop	Universal	^[8]
March 25	Rema	Rave & Roses	Afrorave	Jonzing World/Mavin Records	^[9]
May 13, 2022	Obongjayar	Some Nights I Dream of Doors	Afrobeat	September Recordings	^[10]
May 20, 2020	Gigi Lamayne	Set in Stone	Hip hop		^[11]
May 27	Nduduzo Makhathini	In The Spirit Of Ntu	Jazz	Blue Note Africa	^[9]
July 8	Burna Boy	Love, Damini	Afro-fusion	Atlantic Records	^[12]
October 25	Amerado	G.I.N.A	Reggae, Afropop	MicBurnerz Music	^[13]
November 11	Gordon Koang	Community		Music in Exile	^[14]

Musical films[edit]

Neptune Frost, starring Elvis Ngabo, Cheryl Isheja and Kaya Free, with music by Saul Williams^[15]

Deaths[edit]

February 15 – Vivi l'internationale, 75–76, Beninese singer^[16]
February 23 – Riky Rick, 34, South African rapper (suicide)^[17]
March 28 (death announced on this date) – Mira Calix, 51/52, South African electronic musician and producer^[18]
April 8 – Osinachi Nwachukwu, 42, Nigerian gospel singer (cause undisclosed)^[19]
April 14 – Orlando Julius, 79, Nigerian Afrobeat saxophonist, singer, bandleader, and songwriter^[20]
May 15 – Deborah Fraser, 55, South African gospel singer (stroke)^[21]
June 11 – Amb Osayomore Joseph, 69, Nigerian highlife pioneer^[22]
June 12 – Dawit Nega, 34, Ethiopian singer^[23]
June 21 – Pierre Narcisse, 45, Cameroonian singer^[24]
August 15 – Tokollo Tshabalala, 45, South African Kwaito musician^[25]
August 18 – Hadrawi, 79, Somali poet and songwriter^[26]
September 12 – Dennis East, 73, South African singer, songwriter and producer^[27]
November 6 – Ali Birra, 72, Ethiopian singer^[28]
November 25 – Sammie Okposo, 51, Nigerian gospel singer^[29]
December 5 – Hamsou Garba, 63, Nigerien singer^[30]
December 10
- Tshala Muana, 64, Congolese singer, "Queen of Mutuashi"^[31]
- Aziouz Raïs, 68, Algerian chaabi singer.^[32]
December 12 – Ekambi Brillant, 74, Cameroonian makossa singer^[33]

References[edit]

^ "Angelique Kidjo Beats Wizkid to Win Grammy Best World Music Album 2022". Mandy News.
^ Shaw, Lucas. "A Nigerian Singer Released the Biggest Hit in African History". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
^ "Stonebwoy displeased with reactions to meeting with Kendrick Lamar". myjoyonline. May 17, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
^ Mphande, Joy (16 February 2022). "Thembi Seete and JR join Somizi as 'Idols SA season 18' judges". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
^ "Diamond tells Raila Odinga: You are the next President". The Citizen. 2022-08-06. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
^ Abiola, Fasanmi (2022-05-24). "Headies 2022: Full list of nominees - The Nation Newspaper". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
^ "Tanjazz festival to return in September, following two year hiatus". Hespress. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
^ De Wee, Naledi (2022-01-28). "New Music Friday: Nomfundo Moh makes her soulful debut [listen]". The South African. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
^ ^a ^b "Top African Music albums of 2022". RYM. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
^ Corcoran, Nina (February 3, 2022). "Obongjayar Announces Debut Album Some Nights I Dream of Doors, Shares New Song "Try"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
^ "Gigi Lamayne drops long-awaited album 'Set in Stone' | Hype Magazine". Hype Magazine. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
^ "Burna Boy Pushes Afro-Fusion Pop Into the Future With Love, Damini". Variety. July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
^ "Amerado's G.I.N.A album makes a case for Afrorap". Morebranches. October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
^ "Gordon Koang Announces New Album Community and Shares Lead Single". Music Feeds. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^ Tambay Obenson (July 17, 2021). "'Neptune Frost': Saul Williams Confronts Status Quo with East African Cyber Musical". IndieWire.
^ Ribouis, Olivier (16 February 2022). "Vivi l'Internationale est décédée". Banouto (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2022.
^ "Shock as Riky Rick takes his own life". Sunday World. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
^ "Mira Calix Has Died". Clash Magazine. 28 March 2022.
^ Nseyen, Nsikak (10 April 2022). "Osinachi: Family reveals cause of death of Ekwueme singer, husband's whereabouts". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
^ "Veteran Saxophonist, Orlando Julius dies at 79". Premium Times. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
^ Bambalele, Patience (2022-05-15). "Award-winning gospel singer Deborah Fraser dies". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
^ "Osayomore Joseph, One Of Nigeria's Music Legends Is Dead". independent.ng. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
^ "Popular Tigrigna singer Dawit Nega has died". 12 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
^ Юртова, Кристина. "Умер Пьер Нарцисс | StarHit.ru". www.starhit.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-09-07.
^ Mduduzi Nonyane (15 August 2022). "Legendary Kwaito musician and TKZee member Tokollo 'Magesh' dies". City Press.
^ "Great Somali poet Hadrawi passed away in Hargeisa". Somali Times. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
^ "Music legend Dennis East has died". Jacaranda FM. September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
^ "Legendary Ethiopian Artist Ali Birra Passed Away". 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ Ella, Chioma (November 25, 2022). "Gospel Singer, Sammie Okposo reportedly dies at 51". Kemifilani.
^ "Décès de Hamsou Garba, une des figures de la culture nigérienne". Agence Nigerien de Presse (in French). 5 December 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
^ Redaction, Mbote (December 10, 2022). "Décès de la chanteuse Tshala Muana". Mbote. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
^ L., Farid (11 December 2022). "Culture – Algérie : décès du chanteur de chaabi, Aziouz Raïs". Algérie 360 (in French). Retrieved 11 December 2022.
^ "Nécrologie: décès du musicien Ekambi Brillant". Actu Cameroun. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.

[1] "Angelique Kidjo Beats Wizkid to Win Grammy Best World Music Album 2022". Mandy News.

[2] Shaw, Lucas. "A Nigerian Singer Released the Biggest Hit in African History". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2023-01-23.

[3] "Stonebwoy displeased with reactions to meeting with Kendrick Lamar". myjoyonline. May 17, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.

[4] Mphande, Joy (16 February 2022). "Thembi Seete and JR join Somizi as 'Idols SA season 18' judges". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 16 February 2022.

[5] "Diamond tells Raila Odinga: You are the next President". The Citizen. 2022-08-06. Retrieved 2022-08-07.

[6] Abiola, Fasanmi (2022-05-24). "Headies 2022: Full list of nominees - The Nation Newspaper". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2012-05-26.

[7] "Tanjazz festival to return in September, following two year hiatus". Hespress. Retrieved 2 March 2023.

[8] De Wee, Naledi (2022-01-28). "New Music Friday: Nomfundo Moh makes her soulful debut [listen]". The South African. Retrieved 2022-03-02.

[RYM-9] "Top African Music albums of 2022". RYM. Retrieved 19 September 2022.

[10] Corcoran, Nina (February 3, 2022). "Obongjayar Announces Debut Album Some Nights I Dream of Doors, Shares New Song "Try"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

[11] "Gigi Lamayne drops long-awaited album 'Set in Stone' | Hype Magazine". Hype Magazine. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-06-04.

[12] "Burna Boy Pushes Afro-Fusion Pop Into the Future With Love, Damini". Variety. July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.

[13] "Amerado's G.I.N.A album makes a case for Afrorap". Morebranches. October 26, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.

[14] "Gordon Koang Announces New Album Community and Shares Lead Single". Music Feeds. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.

[15] Tambay Obenson (July 17, 2021). "'Neptune Frost': Saul Williams Confronts Status Quo with East African Cyber Musical". IndieWire.

[16] Ribouis, Olivier (16 February 2022). "Vivi l'Internationale est décédée". Banouto (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2022.

[17] "Shock as Riky Rick takes his own life". Sunday World. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.

[18] "Mira Calix Has Died". Clash Magazine. 28 March 2022.

[19] Nseyen, Nsikak (10 April 2022). "Osinachi: Family reveals cause of death of Ekwueme singer, husband's whereabouts". Daily Post. Retrieved 11 April 2022.

[20] "Veteran Saxophonist, Orlando Julius dies at 79". Premium Times. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.

[21] Bambalele, Patience (2022-05-15). "Award-winning gospel singer Deborah Fraser dies". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2022-05-15.

[22] "Osayomore Joseph, One Of Nigeria's Music Legends Is Dead". independent.ng. Retrieved 12 June 2022.

[23] "Popular Tigrigna singer Dawit Nega has died". 12 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.

[24] Юртова, Кристина. "Умер Пьер Нарцисс | StarHit.ru". www.starhit.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-09-07.

[25] Mduduzi Nonyane (15 August 2022). "Legendary Kwaito musician and TKZee member Tokollo 'Magesh' dies". City Press.

[26] "Great Somali poet Hadrawi passed away in Hargeisa". Somali Times. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.

[27] "Music legend Dennis East has died". Jacaranda FM. September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.

[28] "Legendary Ethiopian Artist Ali Birra Passed Away". 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

[29] Ella, Chioma (November 25, 2022). "Gospel Singer, Sammie Okposo reportedly dies at 51". Kemifilani.

[30] "Décès de Hamsou Garba, une des figures de la culture nigérienne". Agence Nigerien de Presse (in French). 5 December 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.

[31] Redaction, Mbote (December 10, 2022). "Décès de la chanteuse Tshala Muana". Mbote. Retrieved December 10, 2022.

[32] L., Farid (11 December 2022). "Culture – Algérie : décès du chanteur de chaabi, Aziouz Raïs". Algérie 360 (in French). Retrieved 11 December 2022.

[33] "Nécrologie: décès du musicien Ekambi Brillant". Actu Cameroun. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.

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Events[edit]

Albums released in 2022[edit]

Musical films[edit]

Deaths[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]