African Fresh Picks: Tems, Show Dem Camp, Odeal, Omah Lay, Ayo Maff, King Promise & More

Nothing marks November better than Billboard African Rookie of the Year Odeal releasing a new project. In keeping his OVMBR tradition alive, the British Nigerian star dropped The Fall That Saved Us EP, a neo-soul/R&B-driven reflection of complicated romance and self-discovery that builds on the somber world he created in his November 2024 EP Lustropolis and that arrives four months after The Summer That Saved Me.

But what did come as a total surprise this month was Tems‘ Love is a Kingdom EP. Across seven tracks, she confronts the fickleness of love head-on, while embracing self-renewal. Tems, along with rising Afropop star Taves and more notable artists, also appear on Show Dem Camp’s masterful AFRIKA MAGIK album, which is deeply rooted in the timeless sounds of the continent.

We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new songs by African acts that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and catch a vibe with our Spotify playlist below.

Show Dem Camp & Ajebutter22, “Small Chops and Champers”  

Tec and Ghost of Show Dem Camp toast to the soft life with alté leader Ajebutter22 on the celebratory “Small Chops and Champers” track from the Nigerian rap duo’s latest album AFRIKA MAGIK. Named after nibbles and bubbles, the laidback collab delights in their successes. “For us, AFRIKA MAGIK isn’t just an album; it’s a cultural document. A reminder that our stories, in all their beauty and chaos, are magic,” SDC said in a press statement.  

Taves, “Popstar Party”  

Taves gets the “Popstar Party” started with his electric new single from his forthcoming debut studio album Popstar. The Afropop star captures the intoxicating thrill of fame and late-night festivities with his melodic bravado, while SirBastien’s guitar solo on the outro further highlights Taves’ moment in the spotlight. “‘Popstar Party’ is me having fun in the sun – letting go, unleashing energy that’s been building inside me,” Billboard’s former African Rookie of the Month said in a press release. “I want people to move, to feel alive, and to see what kind of world I’m bringing in Popstar.”  

Nonso Amadi, “Drown”  

Nonso Amadi passionately pleads with a lover to not let him “Drown” in his deep affection for her on the highlight track from his To Cry a Flood EP. The Afro R&B trailblazer’s suave flow anchors the vulnerable number, which interpolates Amerie’s 2005 classic “1 Thing” on the chorus.  

Odeal feat. Wizkid, “Nights in the Sun”  

Amid Odeal’s wintry world of Lustropolis, the “Nights in the Sun” closing track from his The Fall That Saved Us EP radiates with a refreshing warmth. Odeal imagines sweet mornings with someone over P2J’s sweltering production, while Wiz dreams of “sipping on fine wine, a perfect whine.” “This is the glow, the nights that feel like they could go on forever, where everything is light and easy again,” Odeal told Clash. “[Wizkid] carries that feeling of effortless joy and nostalgia in his voice, and it brought another dimension to the world I was building.”  

Tems, “What You Need”  

Tems delivers a hauntingly beautiful epilogue about a relationship not worth salvaging on the “What You Need” standout track from her surprise EP Love Is a Kingdom. Her frequent collaborator GuiltyBeatz’s stripped-back R&B production gives her the floor to stand firm in rebuking a love that no longer belongs to her, singing, “Your love is not my lifeline, you love is not my home.” After Tems previewed it during an Instagram Live years ago, even declaring “this song is not coming out,” “What You Need” absolutely deserves a home in her discography.

Tems, “Big Daddy”

From its first notes, this latest single from Tems — off her new EP Love Is a Kingdom — grabs the listener, well before her distinctive voice invites you into her latest tale, a cutting takedown of an ex who has come crawling back. It’s a celebration of her own power over a person she used to love, and the ways in which she wields it. But more than anything it is also a song with a clear and nuanced vision, not unlike the star herself. A welcome return.

King Promise & Davido, “Bad Habits”

Davido is, of course, an established superstar by now, but King Promise is still on the rise, and he may have one of the best voices in the Nigerian pop scene right now, as evidenced by his breakout his “Terminator.” On this track, though, he trades in obvious vocal prowess for songcraft, and this song succeeds in every way, from the production to the vibe to the lyrics that celebrate the level of success that Promise is exuding right now. Davido adds to that effortlessly, creating one of the best African songs of the year.

LAX & Olamide, “Belinda”

L.A.X. has a strong track record now of crafting irresistible vibes, and “Belinda” is no different on that front. This one, produced by Davido collaborator Ragee, is a little more hard-driving than some of his previous work, but leans strongly on amapiano elements to hammer home its beat, while the legendary Olamide slides through with the assist on this lovesick yet confident cut.

Ayo Maff, “Tension”

Still just 20 years old, Ayo Maff is the next young Nigerian singer/songwriter to emerge on the scene overflowing with talent. He’s already got an EP (Maffian) and an album (Prince of the Street) under his belt, and “Tension” is his latest single to raise the bar on what he’s capable of. With ambitious production reminiscent of Fireboy DML’s Playboy album, “Tension” leans contemplative and emotional, but remains catchy and positive, with a pulsing undercurrent that keeps the song from slipping into melancholy. It’s a two-minute statement of intent: next year is his.

Omah Lay, “Waist”

Omah Lay has kept a relatively low profile since breaking out with his Boy Alone album a few years ago, but “Waist” feels like a return to form for the young artist — versatile, creative and unexpected in different ways, all of which keeps people coming back to his music again and again. He feels like a refreshing voice in a scene that at times can follow trends, and this track portends big things to come in his next era.