Afrobeats: Last News

Burna Boy has surprised fans by announcing that he will be releasing his eighth studio album tomorrow (July 30).Last Friday (July 26), the Nigerian Afropop juggernaut celebrated the fifth anniversary of his breakthrough fourth album, 2019’s ‘African Giant’. Now, days later (July 29), he has taken to his X/Twitter account to share the news that he is ready to release his eighth full-length offering.This morning, in a short message, Burna – real name Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu – simply wrote: “Album dropping 12am”.Album dropping 12am.— Burna Boy (@burnaboy) July 29, 2024This sent fans into a frenzy.

Wretch 32 has announced details of a new album called ‘Home?’. Check out the latest single ‘Like Home’ below.The new record marks the highly anticipated sixth album from the singer, songwriter and rapper, and is set for release on May 2.The record will see Wretch 32 venture on a profound exploration into identity and belonging, as well as the Black British experience.

King Charles III is set to share a personally curated playlist of his favourite songs on a one-off radio show. Find out the details below.Dubbed ‘The King’s Music Room’, the launch comes in partnership with Apple Music and sees His Majesty celebrate music from across the Commonwealth.

It's looking like a Burna Boy summer. The Nigerian superstar is gearing up to release his eighth studio album No Sign of Weakness, but while things are still chilly, he's shared a new song called "Update." The track finds Burna back in his sample bag that's brought him so much commercial success in the past with songs like "Last Last;" this time around, he's taking portions of the '90s classic "Back To Life" by Soul II Soul and twisting them up with a mixture of Afrobeats, pop, and some ampiano.

Central Cee, Bashy and Ayra Starr were among the big winners at the 2025 MOBO Awards – see the full list of winners below.The 27th edition of the annual awards ceremony, which celebrates music of Black origin, took place in Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Tuesday night (February 18), hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and Love Island star Indiyah Polack.The show was live streamed on YouTube from 8pm on the night, while an exclusive ‘Access All Areas’ broadcast is set to air on BBC One on Friday night (February 21) at 11:25pm.Bashy took home the prestigious Album Of The Year prize for his first record in 15 years, ‘Being Poor Is Expensive’, which was also named as one of the 50 best albums of 2024 by NME. He was also named the Best Hip Hop Act.Other multiple winners were Darkoo, who won Best Female Act as well as Song Of The Year for ‘Favourite Girl’ featuring Dess Dior, and Ayra Starr, who picked up gongs for Best African Music Act and Best International Act.

Last week, Splice and MIDia Research shared their “Sounds of 2025” report; exploring some of the biggest music trends of 2024 and how they’ll likely evolve in 2025. Among trends like fan remixes and the return of the digital underground, one thing was clear: the rise of pluggnb.

By many measures Theodora has already (semi) made it big. The 20-something French singer has a multi-million streamed hit in her pocket — "Kongolese Sous BBL" — translated that into multiple sold-out shows in Paris, and most recently made her fashion week debut with a front-row seat at Jacquemus' latest Menswear collection showing at Paris Fashion Week, alongside Tyla, Central Cee, Pamela Anderson, and more.

Gunna surprised fans at his first show in Nigeria by inviting Tyla on stage to perform their single ‘Jump’. Check it out below.The Atlanta rapper was headlining Lagos Flytime Fest, a four-day festival that celebrates music from the African Diaspora.

Burna Boy has announced a huge UK arena show for 2025 – you can find all the details below.The Afrobeats star is set to perform at the Co-op Live in Manchester on April 21, which is Easter Monday. It is billed as a “UK arena exclusive” performance, with no other dates currently scheduled on these shores.Tickets go on general sale at 10am GMT tomorrow (Friday December 20) – you’ll be able to buy yours here.

Burna Boy has announced his eighth studio album ‘No Sign Of Weakness’ – listen to new single ‘Bundle By Bundle’ below.The Afrobeats star is due to release the record next year via Spaceship, Bad Habit and Atlantic Records. It’ll follow on from his 2023 full-length effort ‘I Told Them…’.‘Bundle By Bundle’ was produced by Burna Boy’s frequent collaborator Telz.

50 Cent, Davido and Mary J. Blige will join forces for a huge 2025 show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Coldplay’s Chris Martin has shared his admiration for Fontaines D.C., and recalled how the band remind him that “you can never phone it in”.The topic arose as the frontman recently spoke to NME in his only written interview for new album ‘Moon Music’, and revealed the number of new artists that have caught his eye.Arriving last Friday (October 4), ‘Moon Music’ is the 10th album from Coldplay and the follow-up to 2021’s ‘Music Of The Spheres’. Now, in the NME exclusive, Martin opened up about how the members have been left feeling inspired by Fontaines D.C.

Ty Dolla $ign, A$AP Ferg, Cruel Santino and more have been announced on the line-up for Strawberries & Creem festival’s 10th anniversary concert this winter.The festival have announced that it will hold its first-ever indoor event this November. Strawberries & Creem usually takes place in Cambridge but the 10th anniversary celebrations will be held in Tottenham, London at the iconic Drumsheds venue.A$AP Mob affiliate Ferg, Soulection co-founder Andre Power, and Dutch DJ sensations Jarreau Vandal and FS Green are also set to perform on the main stage.Native Soundsystem have curated a stellar line-up in Room Z – a space that “will highlight the innovative sounds of the next generation of Afrobeats and amapiano”.

Asake and Wizkid made a surprise appearance at a London pop-up event to celebrate the former’s latest album ‘Lungu Boy’ yesterday (September 17).The ‘Lungu Boy’ block party at LDN East in Canning Town saw Asake play his third studio album to fans, who received enjoyed free tooth gems, drinks and Nigerian suya food ahead of the record’s playback.The duo arrived a couple of hours into the event, dancing from a balcony that overlooked the whole crowd. An emotional moment came when their collaboration ‘MMS’ came on and Asake and Wizkid hugged.

NME about the future of the seminal celebration of Black culture.Founded nearly 60 years ago, the event is now a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture birthed as a response to the infamous 1958 Notting Hill Riots and the racist killing of Kelso Cochrane in 1959. Today, the carnival not only showcases West Indian traditions but also honours the African and Brazilian influences that have helped shaped the event and London at large.This year will be the 57th edition, marking 59 years since the Carnival’s first inception and with close to two million people expected to attend this year.

Coldplay have released the latest single from new album ‘Moon Music’ in the form of ‘We Pray’, featuring Burna Boy, Little Simz, Elyanna and Tini – check it out below.Last week, the band confirmed the tracklist for their upcoming 10th studio album, which will be released on October 4 (pre-order it here). The band had already shared the lead single ‘feelslikeimfallinginlove’ last month and have also previewed another track ‘Good Feelings’ on stage in Rome.At the same time, they shared a snippet of another new song ‘We Pray’, and now that song is available in full, complete with its guest appearances.

Coldplay have shared a snippet of their upcoming new single ‘We Pray’ – check out the video below.Chris Martin and co. are due to release the song – which features Little Simz and Burna Boy, as well as Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna and Argentine artist Tini – on Friday August 23. Pre-save/pre-add here.The track will serve as the second preview of Coldplay’s 10th studio album, ‘Moon Music’ (out October 4).

Burna Boy has teamed up with YouTube to stream an intimate one-off concert he did in London for the fifth anniversary of ‘African’ Giant’.Earlier this month July 15, the Nigerian superstar took over the 1000-capacity KOKO in Camden, performing tracks from his highly acclaimed fourth album as well as his debut single ‘Like To Party’ and latest single ‘Higher’.The performance followed his recent historic debut on the Pyramid stage at this year’s Glastonbury and second sold-out London Stadium gig.Throughout his 45-minute set, he was accompanied by a live band and string quartet playing renditions of ‘African Giant’s biggest hits, including ‘Gum Body’, ‘Dangote’, ‘Gbona’ and more. He also chose not to perform his breakthrough hit ‘Ye’, opting to prioritise songs “which [he] never gets to play live”.In the press release, Burna said: “Celebrating the five-year anniversary of ‘African Giant’ with a special performance in London, sponsored by YouTube Music, has been an incredible experience.“This album holds a special place in my heart as it represents a pivotal moment in my career and a powerful statement of African pride,” he continued.

Foals’ Yannis Philippakis has shared the latest song from his new project with the late Tony Allen, Yannis & The Yaw, ‘Rain Can’t Reach Us’.The track follows ‘Walk Through Fire’ and ‘Under The Strikes’, with all three songs set to feature on the Yannis & The Yaw EP ‘Lagos Paris London’, released on August 30 via Transgressive. You can pre-order/pre-save it here.In recent years, the singer had been steadily teasing the project, first revealing news of sessions with legendary drummer Allen to NME back in 2017.

Ayra Starr has spoken about her studio time with Coldplay‘s Chris Martin, along with her upcoming Glastonbury debut.The Beninese-Nigerian musician spoke about meeting Coldplay in the studio to the BBC, revealing that she met frontman Chris Martin and their producer, Max Martin.She revealed to the BBC that she played both the Martins her sophomore album ‘The Year I Turned 21‘, saying: “Oh, my. Yes. I’ve loved Chris for so long, and he’s been very supportive.“We met in a studio and I played him my album before it came out,” she added.

Foals’ Yannis Philippakis has shared the latest song from his new project with the late Tony Allen, Yannis & The Yaw. Listen to ‘Under The Strikes’ below.Philippakis unveiled the project in April with the lead single ‘Walk Through Fire’, and both songs are now set to feature on the Yannis & The Yaw EP ‘Lagos Paris London’, released on August 30 via Transgressive.