2021 in African music

See also: Timeline of musical events

2021 in music By location

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By genre

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By topic

* List of albums released

Overview of the events of 2021 in African music

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The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2021 in African music.

## Events

[edit]

* 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.[1]
* 18 June – South African soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha wins the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.[2]
* 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.[3]
* October – CKay's "Love Nwantiti" becomes the most-watched music video on YouTube, the first song from Africa to achieve this.[4]
* 14 November – The 8th African Muzik Magazine Awards takes place in Dallas, Texas.[5]

## Albums released in 2021

[edit]

Release date  | Artist  | Album  | Genre  | Label  | Ref

|
|
|
|
|

January 8  | Monica Ogah | Different (EP)  | Christian  | Indie  | [6]
January 22  | Ayra Starr | Ayra Starr (EP) | Afropop, R&B, neo-soul  | Mavin Records | [7]
January 29  | KaniBeatz & Bella Alubo | Chrystical (EP)  | Pop  | Lightcastle Music Global  | [8]
February 4  | Joeboy | Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic | Afrobeats, Contemporary R&B  | emPawa  | [9]
February 5  | Femi Kuti & Made Kuti | Legacy + | AfroBeat/Jazz  | Partisan | [10]
April 9  | Peruzzi | Rum & Boogie | Afrobeats  | DMW | [11]
April 23  | Osibisa | New Dawn | High Life/Jazz/FunkRock  | Marquee Records  | [12]
April 30  | Laycon | Shall We Begin | Rap  | Fierce Nation  | [13]
May 16  | Kpanto | Sound from the Xtreetz | Hipco | Indie  | [14]
May 21  | Mdou Moctar | Afrique Victime | Electronic  | Matador | [15]
June 18  | Olamide | UY Scuti | Afropop  | YBNL Nation Empire Distribution | [16]
July 9  | Les Filles de Illighadad | At Pioneer Works | Tuareg rock  | Sahel Sounds | [12]
July 23  | Obongjayar and Sarz | Sweetness | Afrobeat  |  | [17]
August 6  | Ayra Starr | 19 & Dangerous | Afrobeat, R&B, trap, alté  | Mavin Records | [18]
September 3  | Big Zulu | Ichwane Lenyoka | Rap, Hip hop | Inkabi Records  | [19]
September 3  | Sarahmée | Poupée russe | Rap, Afropop  | Ste=4 Musique  | [20]
September 9  | Brymo | 9: Èsan |

* Alternative rock
* afro-soul
* sentimental ballad
* folk music

| Indie  | [21]
9: Harmattan & Winter |

* Alternative rock
* afro-soul
* sentimental ballad
* folk music

September 15  | Tems | If Orange Was a Place | alt-R&B, Soul  | RCA/Since '93  | [22]
October 26  | Amerado | Patience (EP)  | Hiphop/Afrobeat  | MicBurnerz Music | [23]
November 5  | Zlatan | Resan |  |  | [24]

## Musical films

[edit]

* Neptune Frost, with music by Saul Williams[25]

## Deaths

[edit]

* January 8 – Dorine Mokha, 31, Congolese dancer and choreographer (malaria)[26]
* January 22 – Guem, 73, Algerian singer, composer and dancer.[27]
* January 23
* Jonas Gwangwa, 83, South African jazz musician[28]
* Ahmed Achour, 75, Tunisian composer and conductor[29]
* January 28 – Sibongile Khumalo, 63, South African singer[30]
* January 31 – Wambali Mkandawire (Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire), 68, Malawian jazz singer and activist.[31]
* February 5 – Abdoul Jabbar, 40–41, Guinean singer-songwriter[32]
* February 16 – Soul Jah Love, 31, Zimbabwean reggae/Zimdancehall musician (complications from diabetes)[33]
* March 7 – Josky Kiambukuta, 72, Congolese singer (TPOK Jazz).[34]
* March 14 – Thione Seck, 66, Senegalese mbalakh singer and musician[35]
* April 5 – Haja El Hamdaouia, 91, Moroccan singer and songwriter, known for Chaabi and Aita[36]
* April 18 – Naïma Ababsa, 51, Algerian singer[37]
* April 27 – Sammy Kasule, 69, Ugandan musician and singer[38]
* May 7 – Jamal Salameh, 75, Egyptian songwriter and composer
* June 21 – Mamady Keïta, 70, Guinean drummer[39]
* June 22 – Mzilikazi Khumalo, 89, South African composer and academic[40]
* June 25 – Wes Madiko, 57, Cameroonian singer[41]
* July 1 – Steve Kekana, 63, South African singer[42]
* July 11 – Sound Sultan (Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi), 44, Nigerian rapper and hip hop pioneer (angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma)[43]
* August 3 – Allan Stephenson, 71, British-born South African cellist, conductor and composer[44]
* August 9 (killed in car crash)
* Khanya "The Voice" Hadebe, 20s, South African amapiano musician[45]
* Killer Kau, 23, South African amapiano musician
* Mpura, 20s South African amapiano musician
* August 28 – Victor Uwaifo, 80, Nigerian ogbonge musician and cultural figure[46]
* August 31 – Nobesuthu Mbadu, 76, South African mbaqanga singer[47]
* September 2 – Alemayehu Eshete, 80, Ethiopian singer[48]
* September 28 – Nana Ampadu, 76, Ghanaian musician[49]
* October 3 – Anouman Brou Félix, 86, Ivorian Akyé musician [50]
* October 8 – Rabah Driassa, 87, Algerian artist and folk singer[51]
* November 7 – Bopol Mansiamina, 72, Congolese guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer[52]
* November 17 – Theuns Jordaan, 50, South African singer-songwriter (leukaemia)[53]
* December 27 – Defao, 62, Congolese singer-songwriter, COVID-19.[54]

## See also

[edit]

* 2021 in music

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List". grammy.com. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
2. ^ Freya Parr (18 June 2021). "Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha wins Song Prize at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021". Classical Music Magazine. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
3. ^ Ano Shumba (2 August 2021). "SA: Apple Music launches third Visionary Women campaign". Music in Africa. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
4. ^ Lucas Shaw (28 October 2021). "A Nigerian Singer Released the Biggest Hit in African History". Bloomberg. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
5. ^ "SOME ZAMBIANS RESIGNED TO VOTING FOR SLAPDEE IN AFRIMMA ~". 11 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
6. ^ Naija, Bella (January 11, 2021). "New EP: Monica Ogah – Different". BellaNaija.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
7. ^ "Don Jazzy Activates Ayra Starr". THISDAYLIVE. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
8. ^ "Kanibeatz & Bella Alubo Make Short Work Of Their 'Chrystical' Joint EP". The Bulletin. January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
9. ^ "Joeboy releases 14-track debut album, 'Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic'". Pulse Nigeria. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
10. ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (December 1, 2020). "Femi and Made Kuti Announce Double Album, Share New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
11. ^ "Peruzzi Enlists Davido, Don Jazzy, Fireboy And More For Second Album "Rum & Boogie"". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
12. ^ a b "Les Filles De Illighadad - At Pioneer Works". African Music Guide. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
13. ^ Alake, Motolani (2021-04-30). "Laycon delivers and shines on, '...Shall We Begin…' [Pulse Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
14. ^ "Sound From the Xtreetz by Kpanto". Apple Music. May 16, 2021. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
15. ^ Yoo, Noah (March 2, 2021). "Mdou Moctar Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
16. ^ Alake, Motolani (2021-06-18). "Olamide visits the Caribbean and delivers timeless music for you on 'UY Scuti' [Pulse Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
17. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (July 23, 2021). "Obongjayar and Sarz unite on collaborative EP Sweetness". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
18. ^ "LISTEN/STREAM: Ayra Starr - 19 & Dangerous [ALBUM]". Pulse Nigeria. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
19. ^ Manjo, Theo (September 3, 2021). "Big Zulu Finally Drops 'Ichwane Lenyoka' Album". Slikouronlife.
20. ^ Olivier Boisvert-Magnen (8 September 2020). "Sarahmée: Welcome to her Life". Words and Music. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
21. ^ Motolani Alake (September 11, 2021). "On '9: Esan,' Brymo makes his listeners think [Pulse Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
22. ^ "Tems: If Orange Was a Place EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
23. ^ "Stream Ghanaian artist Amerado's brand new extended play: Patience - GRUNGECAKE". grungecake.com. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
24. ^ Motolani Alake (9 November 2021). "Wow Zlatan! you did that 'Resan'". Pulse. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
25. ^ Gates, Marya E. "Female Filmmakers in Focus: Anisia Uzeyman and Saul Williams on Neptune Frost | Interviews | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
26. ^ "Décès du chorégraphe congolais Dorine Mokha à 31 ans". CultInfos.com (in French). 13 January 2021.
27. ^ "Abdelmadjid Guemguem, alias Guem, est décédé". Liberté Algérie (in French). 24 January 2021.
28. ^ Matangira, Lungelo (23 January 2021). "Jonas Gwangwa, award-winning jazz legend, passes away aged 83". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
29. ^ "Le chef d'orchestre et compositeur Ahmed Achour est décédé à l'âge de 75 ans". La Presse (in French). 29 January 2021.
30. ^ Matlala, Lerato (28 January 2021). "LISTICLE: Highlights of musician Sibongile Khumalo's life". SABC News. South African Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
31. ^ "Malawi mourns one of its greatest musicians: Wambali laid to rest". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
32. ^ "L'artiste Abdoul Jabbar s'en va !!!". Mediaguinee.com (in French). 5 February 2021.
33. ^ Chronicle, The. "BREAKING: Soul Jah Love dies". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
34. ^ "Veteran Congolese singer Josky Kiambukuta dies in Kinshasa". The East African. 8 March 2021.
35. ^ "Mort du chanteur Thione Seck, l'une des stars de la musique sénégalaise". Le Parisien. Retrieved 14 March 2021. (in French)
36. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa (5 April 2021). "Iconic Moroccan Singer Haja El Hamdaouia Dies at 91". Morocco World News. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
37. ^ "Décès de la chanteuse Naima Ababsa". Algérie Presse Service (in French). 18 April 2021.
38. ^ Afrigo Band's Sammy Kasule dies
39. ^ Doré, Tokpanon (21 June 2021). "Bruxelles: Mamady Djembé, un monument de la percussion mondiale s'est éteint". Guinéenews (in French). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
40. ^ Pooley, Thomas (24 June 2021). "Iconic composer Mzilikazi Khumalo defied apartheid odds to leave a rich legacy". News24. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
41. ^ "Wes Madiko, la fin d'une histoire". Visages Live (in French). 26 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
42. ^ Emmanuel Tjiya (1 July 2021). "Breaking: Legendary musician Steve Kekana has died". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
43. ^ "Veteran Singer Sound Sultan Dies After Battle With Cancer". Guardian.ng. July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
44. ^ "Cellist and conductor Allan Stephenson has died". The Strad. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
45. ^ Shumba, Ano (10 August 2021). "South Africa mourns amapiano artists Mpura, Killer Kau and Khanya Hadebe". Music Africa. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
46. ^ "Sir Victor Uwaifo: Joromi, Guitar Boy artiste and ogbonge Nigerian musician die at di age of 80". BBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
47. ^ "Mahotella Queens' star Mbadu passes on after fight with kidney failure". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
48. ^ Admin (3 September 2021). "Alemayehu Eshete, "Ethiopian Elvis Presley", reportedly died". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
49. ^ "Highlife Legend Nana Ampadu is Dead". Plug Times. September 28, 2021.
50. ^ "Culture : Deuil, Anoman Brouh Félix, pionnier de la musique Akyé est décédé". akody (in French). October 4, 2021. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
51. ^ "Décès de l'artiste algérien Rabeh Deriassa". Mosaique FM (in French). October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
52. ^ Diaz, Jonathan (7 November 2021). "Muere Bopol Mansiamina, un grande de la Música Africana". El Heraldo (Barranquilla, Colombia) (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 November 2021.
53. ^ "Theuns Jordaan oorlede". Retrieved 17 November 2021.
54. ^ "Le congolais Général Défao, vedette de la rumba, est mort". rfi.fr/ (in French). December 28, 2021.

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