The following is a list of events and releases that have happened or are expected to happen in 2019 in African music.
Events 9 January - Nigerian singers Simi and Adekunle Gold marry in a private ceremony. 15 April Winners of the AfriMusic Song Contest 2019 are announced: Best English Lyrics: Siboat (Ghana) – "Always and Forever" Best French Lyrics: Joahn Lover (Cameroon) – "Game Over" Best African Language Song: Nonzwakazi (South Africa) – "Phakama Mbokodo" Abdullah Ibrahim is one of four recipients of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships celebrated in a concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC."National Endowment for the Arts Announces Newest Recipients of Nation’s Highest Honor in Jazz" , National Endowment for the Arts, News, 11 July 2018.Chinen, Nate, "Meet The NEA's 2019 Jazz Masters: Dorough, Ibrahim, Schneider And Crouch", NPR Music, 11 July 2018. 3 May - Naira Marley is arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria. 24 June - Burna Boy wins "Best International Act" at the BET Awards 2019. 18 September - After rumours of the death of Majek Fashek are dispelled by his manager, who confirms that Fashek has esophageal cancer and has been hospitalized at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK, philanthropist Femi Otedola pledges to cover all the singer's medical expenses. Fashek would die the following summer. 19 October - Nigerian singer Teni wins the "Best Pop Single" award at The Headies 2019, for "Case". 23 November - Joeboy wins the "Best Artiste in African Pop" award at the All Africa Music Awards. 3 December - Kabza De Small is named by Spotify as the most-streamed South African artist of 2019.
Albums released in 2019
Release date Artist Album Genre Label Ref January 15FalzMoral InstructionHip-hop, AfrobeatsBahd Guys Records January 31Sauti SolAfrikan SauceAfro-pop, R&BSauti Sol Entertainment April 5SarahméeIrréversible Rap, Afropop Ste=4 Musique April 19SimiOmo Charlie Champagne, Vol. 1Afro-fusion, Afro-soul, R&BX3M Music May 3 Myrath Shehili Progressive metal, oriental metal, Arabic music earMUSIC May 24PatorankingWilmerReggae, dancehallAmari Musiq, Empire July 26Burna BoyAfrican GiantAfro-fusion, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop, hip hopSpaceship, Bad Habit, Atlantic, Warner Music July 26Hope MasikeThe Exorcism of a SpinsterAfro-pop, JazzRiverboat Records/ World Music Network August 5A.A.AA.A.A (EP)Folk, psychedelic rockIndie August 23Jidenna85 to AfricaAfrobeats, hip hopEpic August 30Yemi Alade Woman of SteelAfrobeats, R&B, highlifeEffyzzie Music Group, Universal September 4PhynoDeal with ItHip-hop, Igbo rapPenthauze October 1Invisible SystemDance to the Full MoonTraditional, blues, electronic, fusionARC Music October 11AṣaLucidSoul, folk, jazzChapter Two Records, Wagram Music November 1ZlatanZankuAfrobeatsIndie November 8YceeYcee vs ZaheerHip-hop, trap, Afrobeats, Afro-house, R&B, alteANBT, Mad Solutions November 22DavidoA Good TimeAfropopDMW; RCA; Sony November 29DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De SmallThe Return of Scorpion Kings amapiano Sony Music, Piano Hub & New Money GangFireboy DMLLaughter, Tears and GoosebumpsAfro-Life, R&BYBNL Nation December 6Starboy Soundman Vol. 1 (EP)Afrobeats, reggae, R&BStarboy Entertainment December 13 Staff Benda BililiEffacer Le TableauSoukous, R&B, reggaeWagram
Classical Robert Fokkens - Duo for violin and cello Clare Loveday - What Gives for violin and piano
Musical films and film music Atlantics, with score by Fatima Al Qadiri
Births October 2 - Diamond Platnumz and his partner Tanasha Donna have their first child, Naseeb Jr.
Deaths January 5 - Dan Tshanda, 54, South African singer and guitarist of Splash; (heart attack)Music legend Dan Tshanda certified dead at Sandton hospital January 7 - John Joubert, 91, South African-born composer January 23 – Oliver Mtukudzi, 66, Zimbabwe musician February 8 - , 59, Malian composer and singerMali: l’artiste chanteuse, Sali Sidibé, décédée! March 13 - Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia, 97, Ghanaian ethnomusicologist and composer March 30 – Simaro Lutumba, 81, Congolese musician (TPOK Jazz)Legendary Congolese musician dies in Paris June 2 – Piet Botha, 63, South African rock musician (pancreatic cancer)Local Rockstar Piet Botha dies July 16 - Johnny Clegg, 66, South African musician (pancreatic cancer) August 5 – Jimi Hope, 62, Togolese musician and painter.Décès de l'artiste togolais Jimi Hope August 12 – DJ Arafat, 33, Ivorian disc jockey and musician, traffic collision.DJ Arafat: Top Ivory Coast singer dies in road accident October 4 – Elias Melka, 41, Ethiopian record producer and songwriter November 9 – Taiwo Lijadu, 71, Nigerian singer (Lijadu Sisters) December 3 – Shaaban Abdel Rahim, 62, Egyptian shaabi singer
See also 2019 in music
References