Music

David Ben

The world&rsquo;s music pulse is changing, and its heartbeat is African.&nbsp;

Once considered niche, African genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano have taken over global playlists. What&rsquo;s exciting is that this movement isn&rsquo;t being led by men alone. A new wave of women are not just joining the stage, they are changing the sound of the decade.

These artists are fearless. They mix styles without hesitation and carry a bold, feminine energy that&rsquo;s impossible to ignore. They blend genres, speak truth in their lyrics, and bring fierce feminine energy to stages everywhere.

From Grammy wins to viral hits, their influence is reshaping how the world listens to Africa.

Here are eight women whose voices are defining the 2020s.

&nbsp;Afrobeats’ rise didn’t happen overnight. Pioneers like Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade paved the way, but a younger generation is now taking it to new heights with Tems leading the charge.

It is impossible to talk about modern African music without mentioning Tems. Her distinct voice is smoky, raw, and unmistakably her own. The 30-year-old songstress blends Afrobeats, R&amp;B, and Alté influences into something both soulful and intimate.

With two Grammy awards to her name, Tems is easily one of the greatest Nigerian singers of her generation. She first captured global ears with Wizkid’s “Essence” — the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Then came collaborations with Drake and Future, and soon after, a Grammy win for “Wait for U.”

Tems has now already crossed four billion streams on Spotify, a huge milestone for any African artist. Her debut album, Born in the Wild, proved she’s not just a feature artist, she’s a movement. Tems is redefining what it means to be a global African star: confident, creative, and completely herself.

At 23, Ayra Starr is already shaping the future of Afrobeats.

The Celestial Being has built a sound that’s young, catchy, and bursting with attitude. Her voice glides between English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin. But it’s always vibrant, always bold.

Ayra Starr’s voice has a texture that’s instantly recognisable. It’s warm and a little gritty in the best possible way. It’s the kind of tone that draws you in from the first note.

Ayra is known for her effortless use of melisma, those quick, flowing runs where she glides across several notes on a single syllable. You can hear this most clearly in the choruses and bridges of her songs, where her voice feels both powerful and emotional.

Though completely self-taught, Ayra shows impressive vocal control and confidence. These qualities make her really stand out, especially for someone still early in their career.&nbsp;

Her 2021 single &ldquo;Rush&rdquo; became a global anthem, landing on charts in the UK and earning a Grammy nomination. With over five million Spotify followers and nearly 20 million monthly listeners, she&rsquo;s now one of Africa&rsquo;s most streamed female artists.

Her 2024 album, The Year I Turned 21, showed real growth, revealing her maturity and range. She was able to mix vibrant pop hooks with raw emotion. It’s no surprise she’s already been dubbed the ‘princess of Afropop’.

Tyla’s rise was pure lightning. The South African singer turned “Water” into a worldwide obsession, winning the first-ever Grammy for Best African Music Performance in 2024.

Tyla has a warm, silky voice that she can control with ease. Her sound, which combines pop and Amapiano, is rhythmic and dreamy, and it fits in perfectly with that.

Her voice is hypnotic and easy to listen to because she concentrates more on mood and groove than on large vocal tricks. Instead of using the rasp or grit that some singers do, her tone is smooth and clear. It has a crisp quality that complements her lively, dance-based production flawlessly.

Her music blends smooth pop with Amapiano&rsquo;s signature bounce. With her self-titled debut album, the 23-year-old became a global ambassador for the sound, showing how far South African music can go.

From Johannesburg to New York, everyone&rsquo;s dancing to her rhythm and it&rsquo;s safe to call her the global face of Amapiano.

For nearly a decade, Shekhinah has been a staple of South African pop and R&amp;B. Her evolution in the 2020s has been remarkable. Shekhinah’s voice is smooth, soulful, and unmistakably airy. Her unique vocals perfectly bridge R&amp;B with pop and neo-soul.&nbsp;

She is also one of South Africa’s most consistent, authentic voices. The 31-year-old pairs her light, emotional delivery with honest, and relatable lyrics about modern love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, making her an effective storyteller.

Her iconic debut album, Rose Gold (2017), highly impacted South Africa’s new generation of Pop/R&amp;B artists. Her 2021 album Trouble In Paradise , marked a turning point, tackling themes of heartbreak and healing with honesty and grace. In 2024, she returned with “Risk,” an Afro-pop collaboration that showed her continued relevance and versatility.

Her music thrives on melody and emotion. Shekhinah is without a doubt, one of the most important and influential African female Pop/R&amp;B singers of her generation.

While Niniola Apata's major breakthrough occurred in the mid-2010s, her presence on this list is essential due to her role as an Afro-House architect whose influence solidified and peaked at the start of the decade.

She is widely hailed as the "Queen of Afro-House," successfully fusing Nigerian highlife/Afrobeats elements with the rhythms of South African House and Amapiano. This unique blend constitutes one of the most clearly defined and enduring "signature sounds" in contemporary African music.

Niniola is the foundational artist who paved the way for that fusion and is still releasing projects that drive the sound forward.&nbsp;

Niniola paved the way for the broader acceptance of the Afro-House and Amapiano sound in West Africa. By the time Amapiano exploded globally in the 2020s, the blueprint for the fusion was already established by artists like her.&nbsp;

Her impact was irrevocably stamped on the world stage when her 2017 hit "Maradona" was sampled by Beyoncé for her 2019/2020 project, The Lion King: The Gift. This direct contribution earned Niniola a Grammy nomination certificate and validated her pioneering sound on a global scale at the very beginning of the new decade.

She virtually created a sub-genre's mainstream presence in Nigeria and West Africa, which stretched beyond local radio dominance.

From Ghana, Gyakie has become one of the continent’s most beloved Afro-Soul voices. The daughter of Highlife legend Nana Acheampong, the 25-year-old honours her roots while carving her own space in modern music.

Her 2020 hit “Forever” dominated charts across West Africa, with its Omah Lay remix expanding her reach globally. Gyakie’s mix of English, Twi, and Pidgin gives her songs a fluid, borderless feel. Gyakie's sound is characterized by emotive vocals and a fusion of Highlife, R&amp;B, and Afrobeats rhythms.&nbsp;

With her debut album After Midnight, the ‘Songbird’ continues to embody her moniker, translating personal truths into music that resonates globally.

Cameroonian-American singer Libianca, broke through with “People,” a song about loneliness and mental health. It hit global charts and touched millions who saw themselves in her lyrics.

Her signature sound is a seamless, heartfelt fusion of Afrobeats and R&amp;B, delivering emotive lyrics. Her music speaks softly but carries weight.&nbsp;

Libianca, 25, has one of the most affecting voices in Afrobeats today and her breakout hit on the Billboard Hot 100 highlighted the growing global appetite for African artists who blend relatable, English-language themes with authentic African rhythms.&nbsp;

Fave has quickly become one of Nigeria&rsquo;s most refreshing new voices. Her music flows between Afro-Fusion, R&amp;B, and Dancehall.

Fave, 25, stands out for her songwriting which oozes intimacy, passion and poetry. In an industry often defined by energy, she wins with honesty. Her vocals are often characterized by a seamless flow over the beat, frequently employing simple yet catchy melodies. Her melodies are memorable and soothing.

Her breakout single “Baby Riddim” (2021) was an instant hit, combining an infectious beat with honest lyrics about love and vulnerability. Her 2022 EP Riddim 5 cemented her artistry, while her feature on Davido’s “Kante” showed she could hold her own on the biggest stages.

While Fave's solo work is truly impressive, her singles game is often underrated as fans and critics tend to lean more into her collaborations, where she almost never misses. Her featured verses are highly regarded for their ability to elevate a track and leave a lasting impression.

These eight women aren’t just charting, they are changing how the world hears Africa. Each one carries a distinct sound, story, and spirit.

8 Female African Singers Shaping the 2020s With Their Signature Sound

Adeayo Adebiyi

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<h2>Since 2020, Amapiano has been the most popular genre in Afrobeats with the South African export helping Nigerian superstars to churn out hit records that will expand Afrobeats' global reach.&nbsp;</h2>

First of all, it's important to note that Nigerian artists mostly don't make Amapiano. Instead, Afrobeats acts, make a variant of the genre through the adoption of the Log drum which is applied to mirror Nigerian local drums.&nbsp;

Amapiano is just not a genre. It's a culture. Aside from its speaker rattling baseline, syncopated breakbeats, and underlying melodies are the language, dance, energy, and spirit that channels it. These elements reside primarily and almost exclusively with the South Africans who merged House Music and Kwaito elements to create Amapiano which boasts of a party-starting variant and the soulful and stimulating variant. This is similar to how the lamba (slang and colloquial), technique, and bubbling spirit that drives Afrobeats resides primarily with Nigerians.&nbsp;

While Amapiano seems to just be scratching the surface internationally, especially in the West, it has spent 3 years defining the Afrobeats soundscape. Thus spent to an extent that might promise no inventions beyond what's currently obtainable. Therefore, this writer is convinced it's not presumptuous to examine the biggest beneficiaries of Afrobeats' interaction with the imported genre.&nbsp;

This article aims to examine the impact of Amapiano on the Afrobeats soundscape. To achieve this, this writer elected to examine the biggest beneficiaries of the Log drum-driven sound as their success presents a robust picture of Amapiano's far-reaching impact on Afrobeats.&nbsp;

Now, in ranking the biggest beneficiaries, the primary factor would be the effect of Amapiano on the success of an artist and the level of such success. That such an artist was able to build on the Amapiano-inspired success and go on to enjoy an extended time in the limelight is a plus.&nbsp;

To get a better grasp of this ranking, readers are advised to ask themself: "Without Amapiano, would this artist have had the moment that translated into the success they enjoy(ed)?"

Having gotten the fine details out of the way, it's time to get to the list.&nbsp;In descending order, here are the top 10 biggest beneficiaries of Amapiano in Afrobeats.&nbsp;

Before Rexxie produced the smash hit single 'Ko Por Ke' in 2020, several listeners were familiar with the works of the producer whose effort was shaping Street Pop. However, after tapping Mohbad for the Log drum-driven 'Ko Por Ke', Rexxie's fame would soar higher so much that he got South African superstar Sho Madjozi on the remix.&nbsp;

Three years down the line, Rexxie has proven himself deserving of a chapter in the book of Street music evolution in Afrobeats. In the early days of Amapiano in Afrobeats, Rexxie scored a mega-hit with 'Ko Por Ke' and in its commercial peak he repeated this feat with 'Abracadabra'.&nbsp;

In June 2021, Lojay released the mesmeric 'LV N ATTN' EP in collaboration with ace producer Sarz. The EP delivered the smash hit 'Monalisa' and for Lojay, nothing was the same.&nbsp;

The fantastically talented artist crooned a classic Amapiano-inspired Afrobeats record with 'Monalisa' and the song instantly arrested the attention of listeners locally before crossing abroad and earning a Chris Brown remix.&nbsp;

With 'Monalisa' Lojay made his mark as a hitmaker ready to shape the mainstream. With his feet firmly planted on the scene, he hasn't looked back as his pen and vocals continue to offer mind-blowing music.&nbsp;

When South African superstar Focalistic desired to cross over into the Afrobeats scene with his hit record 'Ke Star', he reached out to Africa's most prolific hitmaker Davido aka OO1.&nbsp;

Davido's impact was instant and cataclysmic. Not only did 'Ke Star' become a continental hit, but Davido’s verse also ushered in Amapiano's dominance in Afrobeats.&nbsp;

The two would combine again for 'Champion Sound' for an Afrobeats and Amapiano classic. And when Davido made his comeback with his fourth record-breaking album 'Timeless', Amapiano made a decisive contribution.&nbsp;

<h3>7. Goya Menor&nbsp;</h3>

In 2021, there was nowhere one could turn to escape the fever that was 'Ameno Amapiano'.&nbsp;

While Night clubs and Hypemen played a part in making the Nektunez &amp; Goya Meno collaboration popular locally, it was TikTok in a show of influence that blew up the song to global status.&nbsp;

&nbsp;'Ameno Amapiano' took Goya Menor from obscurity to stardom. In an interview with Pulse Nigeria, Goya Menor told this writer that he has lost count of the countries he has performed the song he watched become a hit from his house in Benin City.&nbsp;

And while Goya Menor might not have capitalized on this moment to become one of Afrobeats' heavy hitters, he can rest assured that the gains of 'Ameno Amapiano' will endure for a lifetime.&nbsp;

<h3>6. The South African Music Industry&nbsp;</h3>

While Afrobeats' adoption of Amapiano has assisted Nigerian superstars to extend their international domination even to the displeasure of some South Africans, it would be insincere and unfair to say that the originators haven't benefited from this adoption.&nbsp;

As "Afrobeats to the World" continues to receive a major boost, Nigerians are taking Amapiano with them and giving the South African genre and the originators a chance to share the global stage.&nbsp;

This writer believes that Afrobeats and Nigerians cannot be accused of taking without giving back. For example, Afronation, which is Afrobeats' foremost international festival, has an Amapiano side attraction that's headlined by major players in the South African ecosystem. With Afrobeats lift, Amapiano is set to global dominance and the originators can go on to offer the cultural side of the music that Afrobeats stars can't and doesn't attempt to replicate.&nbsp;

<h3>5. Magicsticks&nbsp;</h3>

Magicsticks has been in the corridors of fame before eventually getting mainstream attention. In 2020, Magicsticks produced DJ Neptune's 'Nobody' which won the Headies Song of the Year and finished top of TurnTable Charts End of the Year list. However, it was not until he struck a stirring partnership with Asake that the world would know his name.&nbsp;

"Tune in to the king of songs &amp; blues" was a common denominator in Asake's 2022 unprecedented run of Log drum-propelled hits. And as Asake reached superstar status he took along with him his producer whose drum pattern, deployment of rattle, and violin altered the soundscape.&nbsp;

Zinoeleesky's rise to the top was soundtracked by his brilliant deployment of Amapiano to score smash hits.

Through Amapiano, smooth melodies, and brilliant songwriting in which he enjoys sharing the many lessons of his mother, Zinoleesky delivered party-starting hits that greatly increased Amapiano's popularity in Afrobeats.&nbsp;

While some might describe Zinoleesky's fascination with Amapiano as a chink in his armor, the Street Pop maestro has achieved career-defining success that can shoot down such criticisms.&nbsp;

And although some may think he ought to be playing at a higher level than he currently does, Amapiano has brought Zinoleesky this far and the Marlian Record signee has shown that he has enough talent to forge ahead.&nbsp;

Seyi Vibez was looking at the mainstream from a close distance until he made 'Chance', an Amapiano-driven record that mirrored the style of the most commercial artist of the time, and the rest, as they say, is history.&nbsp;

Having tasted the mainstream success that has for long evaded him, Seyi Vibez didn't look back. The Ikorodu-born Street Pop star feverishly released projects that were equally consumed by listeners and speedily rocketed him to the top.&nbsp;

Through a Street variant of Amapiano that combines Apala, his Islamic roots, and White Garment Christian elements, Seyi Vibez would go from up-and-coming to a Pop star.&nbsp;

The huge impact of Amapiano on his success and the impact of his success on the Afrobeats soundscape makes Seyi Vibez one of the foremost beneficiaries of the South African export.&nbsp;

No Afrobeats act has managed to deploy Amapiano so brilliantly as the compelling superstar Asake. Hence it's only befitting that his success from the exploration stands heads and shoulders above the rest.&nbsp;

In January 2022, Asake emerged from relative obscurity with the Olamide-assisted Amapiano leaning hit single 'Omo Epe', at that point nothing could have prepared Asake or the music industry for the events ahead.&nbsp;

Through the assistance of Magicsticks with whom he embarked on a consistent exploration of Amapiano and a brilliant deployment of his Fuji, Hip Hop, and Gospel music influences, Asake delivered consecutive chart-topping hits in unprecedented fashion.&nbsp;

If other stars like KCee (2013), Davido (2017), and Naira Marley (2019) can boast of sensational one-year runs, they didn't cap it with a brilliant album as Asake did with 'Mr. Money With The Vibez'.&nbsp;

"Why would I change a working formula? After all it's my style and it's working so why should I change it?" Asake tells TurnTable Charts in 2022 when he covered their End of the Year Magazine.

And why should he when he has listeners eating out of his palm? Why should he alter the style that has seen him make a habit of topping charts so much that he was christened "Landlord"?&nbsp;

Why should he be expected to stop midway when his deployment of Amapiano is taking Street Pop to an international audience at a level his predecessors hoped for?&nbsp;

The sheer range he has shown with Amapiano, the pictures he paints with the music, the impact it has on the soundscape, and the impressive success he has recorded means Asake has drawn from Amapiano at a level his peers can't manage.&nbsp;

" I'm Happy I Know (Amapiano)," he said on his hit single 'Amapiano'.&nbsp;

A sentiment undoubtedly shared by everyone who has listened to his era-defining music.&nbsp;

<h3>1. Afrobeats Consumers and the Nigerian Music Industry</h3>

Since 2020, Afrobeats' consumers have been treated to stupendous hybrids of Amapiano and Afrobeats.&nbsp;

The exploration of Amapiano and the success of the stars that drive it has further propelled Afrobeats to a global audience.&nbsp;

There's nothing more to add. As the Latin maxim says - Res ipsa loquitur.

Top 10 beneficiaries of Amapiano in Afrobeats

This article examines the chief beneficiaries of Afrobeats' adoption of the South Africa's Amapiano.

An examination of the top 10 beneficiaries of Amapiano in Afrobeats

Samson Toromade

<h2>TikTok has become so influential in music promotion these days that artists are now optimising the production of their songs in a bid to trend on the app, but you'll never catch Lethabo 'Focalistic' Sebetso going down that route.</h2>

In a recent chat with African content creators for <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/goya-menors-ameno-amapiano-and-davidos-champion-sound-among-top-10-biggest-amapiano/kbqzd1z">Spotify's Amapiano Tour</a>, the South African music star said he didn't even know about TikTok until about a year ago. He said this has given him room to not think too much about making his music process conform to social media trends that may boost reach.

"Our responsibility as artists is to document life, and never to fall into trends because then your music becomes bubblegum. At the end of the day, we still need the meat.&nbsp;

"So, as much as there's a trend, the song still has to mean something - that's just me. When it gets down to the core, I'm an artist, I'm not a TikTok artist, or Instagram artist," the 26-year-old said.

Focalistic is one of the biggest Amapiano stars from South Africa

The Champion Sound star also noted that he doesn't make music to remain relevant in the industry, but <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/focalistic-loves-nigeria-spotify-amapiano-tour/5wfqlx2">to tell meaningful stories</a> that resonate with his fans. He said he's always in the studio just so he can make music that can stand on its own strength.

"I'm an artist telling stories that are super-genuine. Most of my songs are telling different stories," he told the creators drawn from four African countries by Spotify to explore the roots of the Amapiano sound.

The superstar said Amapiano's greatest appeal is its ability to relay strong emotions without using too many words. His commitment to the authenticity of the sound is what informed his most famous slang, "Ase trap tse ke pina tsako kasi" which means, "This is not trap, these are songs from the hood." He explained that it was a declaration of intent to position African sound in the minds of Africans.

"At the time, just being in Africa, you'd see a lot of Hollywood trap on our TV and our radio and I kind of felt like we need to break that down," he said.

Lethabo 'Focalistic' Sebetso [YouTube-Focalistic]

Lethabo 'Focalistic' Sebetso says he'll never make music that only appeals to the Tik-Tok algorithm.

Amapiano star Focalistic will never water down music for social media trends

<h2>South African music star, Kamo Mphela, is eager for Amapiano to take over the world, and she's looking to Afrobeats, which originated west of the continent, for inspiration.</h2>

The <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/focalistic-loves-nigeria-spotify-amapiano-tour/5wfqlx2">Amapiano sound has exploded</a> over the past few years and is winning millions of fans, but the Hannah Montana star believes it needs an extra push to become a truly global phenomenon.

While talking to a group of content creators on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Mphela said the marketing of the sound needs to get more aggressive.

She said, "Amapiano just needs to be a little more - I think we're a little too soft. Amapiano in South Africa is about culture, and being humble to everyone, but if we really want to take it to the world, we have to be more. Wizkid and Burna Boy aren't soft about pushing Afrobeats, they're definitely aggressive.&nbsp;

"If we can be more aggressive with our sound, I think we can reach greater heights."

Mphela made her comments to content creators from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa for <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/goya-menors-ameno-amapiano-and-davidos-champion-sound-among-top-10-biggest-amapiano/kbqzd1z">Spotify's Amapiano Tour</a> — an exploration of the roots of the sound and how collaborations can help its advancement.

The 23-year-old star said <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/amapiano-wurld-is-cooking-dance-album-mixing-with-afrobeats/6qvprt0">collaborations usually represent a bigger platform for artists</a> to show what they're about to a new market and rejected the notion that Amapiano needs to be jealously guarded by South Africans.

"It needs to be a universal sound, more than anything. It should be for the whole world just like Hip Hop is a universal genre and not just for Americans," she said.

South African music star, Kamo Mphela, is eager for Amapiano to take over the world, and she's looking to Afrobeats, west of the continent, for inspiration.

Kamo Mphela wants to push Amapiano as aggressively as Nigerians push Afrobeats

<h2>South African superstar, Lethabo 'Focalistic' Sebetso, is delighted about the love his music has attracted in Nigeria which he now regards as his second home.</h2>

The Amapiano star openly discussed his appreciation for the love from his Nigerian fans while speaking to a team of content creators, experiencing <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/amapiano-wurld-is-cooking-dance-album-mixing-with-afrobeats/6qvprt0">Spotify's Amapiano Tour</a>, in Pretoria, South Africa on March 19, 2023.

Focalistic may, according to the artist himself, have more than 50 million streams from Nigeria these days, his second-highest behind his home country, but his relationship with the market didn't kick off to a great start.

He said, "The first time I went to Nigeria, people weren't dancing - they were literally just watching me with flashlights and I thought, 'No, we need to change this.'"&nbsp;

Focalistic (left) with Nigerian superstar, Davido (right) [Not Just Okay]

The star's fortunes have changed since then in Nigeria and he credits this to his collaboration with Afrobeats superstar, David 'Davido' Adeleke. The duo collaborated on a remix of the South African's Ke Star and later the Champion Sound smash hit months apart in 2021.

"From meeting Davido four years ago and now having over 50 million streams from Nigeria alone, it feels like that's my second home. When Champion Sound went number one, I was in Nigeria, performing, and it just spiritually happened - the universe. It's been a crazy journey," he recounted.

The <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/goya-menors-ameno-amapiano-and-davidos-champion-sound-among-top-10-biggest-amapiano/kbqzd1z">Spotify Amapiano Tour</a> between March 19 and March 22 explored the roots of the sound and how strategic collaborations can help it become a mainstay global giant. Focalistic noted that he's pressed about working with others to build on the momentum of the sound, including in Nigeria where he's lined up collaborations with Afrobeats stars.

The 26-year-old said he's already made a new song with a Nigerian artist in the past week but was shy about dropping a name.

South African superstar, Lethabo 'Focalistic' Sebetso, is delighted about the love his music has attracted in Nigeria which he now regards as his second home.

Nigeria is Focalistic's second music home and he loves it

Motolani Alake

<h1>In 2015, Niniola burst onto the scene with her unique voice type, her sultry application in the booth, her thespian tendencies in music videos and her strikingly ‘African’ good looks. In the final quarter of that year, her single ‘Soke’ followed the path of her first major single, ‘Ibadi’ to get great reception from the Nigerian audience.&nbsp;</h1>

Her debut album,<a href="https://medium.com/urban-central/niniola-this-is-me-album-review-79a380829a98"> </a><a href="[object Object]">This Is Me</a> was critically acclaimed as it was nominated multiple times at the 2018 Headies. While she later ‘thanked us for the set up,’ she continued to rise and earned the nickname, ‘Queen of Afro-house.’ Her music found its way to international acts and DJs like Black&nbsp;Coffee, DJ Snake, Diplo and Timbaland.&nbsp;

‘Maradona’ and ‘Sicker’ gained continental popularity and the woman won hearts and souls. As she got more popular, her stage performances got better, but she struggled to break free of that ‘Queen of Afro-House’ brand/tag. Over the past two years, her music has given off an aura that Niniola wants to stay true to that identity and brand.&nbsp;

Her latest album, <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/niniola-colors-and-sounds-nonso-amadi-sauti-sol-busiswa-femi-kuti-and-sarz-feature/gg63gcm">Colors and Sounds</a> charts that course once again. As its title suggests, it seems Niniola simply wants this album to reflect all the sides and subgenres of African House music with her artistry at the epicentre of it all.&nbsp;

On one hand, it’s a smart decision. In a world where everybody simply wants to create ‘concepts’ and ‘conceptual’ albums instead of simply making music, this simplicity is laudable.&nbsp;

Asides from that, African music is becoming an exportable commodity and is forming a core part of the global sonic zeitgeist. It then becomes important for artists to have an identity and a brand that speaks to the soul of their craft. Niniola is trying to stay true to hers while exploring all the other sides of that brand to present a rounded, compact and multifaceted African House music.

She achieves that. Colours and Sounds is built on Afro-House, Afro-pop, Kwaito, Gqom, Amapiano and Doomba. However, the problem is that in Niniola’s bid for identity, she failed to balance the music with a unique spark. Aside from the singles on Colors and Sounds, it’s very hard to find a genuinely excellent song that truly sticks.&nbsp;

While the songs on this album are built on impressive bits of production and Niniola delivered like a pro, resonance is lacking. Niniola isn’t as hot as she once was and that might be playing a role in judgement, but that’s the same reason why the music needed to truly resonate and it didn’t.&nbsp;

It also seems like Niniola’s bid for identity has resulted in a problematic sonic pigeonhole for her. In the opening 20 minutes of this album, we had three Amapiano songs - ‘Addicted,’ ‘Look Like Me’ and ‘Oh Sharp.’ While the sound has been trendy, it’s not exactly broken through in Nigeria - except Rema’s ‘Woman.’

In a Nigerian soundscape that’s getting increasingly unpredictable, fresh sounds are too risky - even when they’re trendy like Amapiano. The result is that Niniola went for brand and trend over quality of music. Her major fan base is still in Nigeria, even though she has some stans in other parts of Africa.&nbsp;

The result of Colors and Sounds is that a large section of her Nigerian fan base will struggle to relate to this music. While the diversity is good for Niniola’s branding and it will likely serve her well from an international optics perspective, it doesn’t bode well for her fading status as a Nigerian superstar. You can’t lose the home front while trying to chase the away front.&nbsp;

But in fairness, Colors and Sounds isn’t as remotely bad as some people are making it out to be. They have equated their lack of relatability to Niniola’s brand of music on this album to failure and that’s not the case.&nbsp;

A lot of Nigerians will say a song like ‘Look Like Me’ is a terrible song, but the truth is that it’s not - they just can’t relate. This beat and repetitive, looped vocal delivery is commonplace in South African House music.&nbsp;

Equally, ‘Night and Day’ featuring Nonso Amadi, ‘Innocent,’ ‘So Serious’ and the Timbaland-produced ‘Fire’ are still good songs - albeit mostly lacking excellence.&nbsp;

Some of that bad reception is due to Niniola’s lack of a toxic stan-base that drives certain points home. Nigeria has seen some terrible albums elevated to otherworldly levels this year and we will see more. This album is not in the league of terrible albums, it just lacks a defining factor in a pool of median music with a common denominator for dance.&nbsp;

Timbaland produced two songs on this album. If this happened to other artists with greater PR, they would blow it out of proportion and use it to gloss over the actual quality of their music. That said, it’s not exactly reasonable that half of this album has already been released as singles. Niniola’s songwriting also took a huge hit on certain songs.&nbsp;

But when all is said and done, it seems Niniola is dealing with doubts - like all creatives. With all that talent, all she needs is to simply go and make the music she believes in, not one that conforms to her ‘brand’ or one that will make her seem forward-thinking.

In the end, 'Colours and Sounds' feels like serving a pretty looking, gourmet-esque expensive plate of spiceless [lacking atarodo] noodles to a Yoruba man. Niniola also needs a hit, but this album is not poor. Commendably, this album unfolds brilliantly - its <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/dear-nigerian-artist-here-is-how-to-have-a-good-track-list/rmv7ce2">album sequencing </a>is amazing.&nbsp;

Pulse Rating: /10

Enjoyability and Satisfaction: 1.2/2

Niniola to release 13-track sophomore album, 'Colours and Sounds' in October. (NaijaReview)

In the end, 'Colours and Sounds' feels like serving a pretty looking, gourmet-esque expensive plate of spiceless [lacking atarodo] noodles to a Yoruba man.

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Niniola’s ‘Colours and Sounds’ sees music play second fiddle to branding [Album Review]