As a leader in spotting trends, Apple Music’s Africa Rising starts the new year by introducing the Class of ’24, featuring talents like South African pop sensation Tyla, Nigerian Afropop singer Qing Madi, Nigerian singer-producer Bloody Civilian, rapper ODUMODUBLVCK, Ghanaian R&B artist Mellissa, and South African rapper Maglera Doe Boy.

Initiated in 2020, Apple Music’s Africa Rising program has served as a launchpad for African musical talent, catapulting artists like Omah Lay, Rema, Amaraae, and Tems onto the global stage. 

This year’s inductees defy easy categorization and they express excitement about sharing their diverse cultures with the world. Tyla states, “I’m excited for my project to be released and for people to be exposed to more Tyla music, for people to come into my world and see a glimpse of South Africa because we’re dominating at the moment!”

“I feel excited to be a part of a new regime of African artists that are being accepted globally, that are being welcomed,” proclaims Qing Madi. “And the fact that we are loved for who we are and we’re not trying to be someone that we are not.”

“African music is the source of other genres, and if you listen to music from Africa you can hear how many ways it’s interpolated, how many ways it’s been created, it’s very diverse,” Bloody Civilian states.

ODUMODUBLVCK asserts, “Nigerian hip-hop will definitely keep on growing because we’ve found a way to involve men and women – girls are now rapping to the bars and it’s so cool! We keep things fresh, we keep things interesting.”

“I’m a Ghanaian woman so I love guitars, and the overall feeling that I get when I take in the music as a consumer is phenomenal,” Mellissa comments.

Maglera Doe Boy shares, “I feel like it’s about to get bigger, which is great for getting the sound to the rest of the world.”

These rising stars are set to be featured in an upcoming episode of Africa Now Radio with Nandi Madida, scheduled to air on Friday, January 12, 2024.