African Songs You Need on Your Summer 2025 Playlist

Summer never really asks for permission before it arrives. One moment it’s June, and suddenly everything is louder — the sun, the colours, the memories we don’t know we’re making. And just like clockwork, African artists show up, as they always do, supplying the soundtracks to match the chaos and the calm. Afromixx Summer 2025 playlist is a mix of what’s moving the culture and what’s holding it by the collar. The criteria? Songs that hit. Not just on DSPs or TikTok, but in lyricism, production, delivery, and the kind of virality that can’t be engineered. These are the songs that have earned their place. Whether you’re catching sunsets alone or outside till sunrise, this is what your summer should sound like.

With You – Davido ft. Omah Lay

Davido’s simmering outro from his fifth studio album ‘5ive‘, featuring Omah Lay, has struck a chord across a broad listening base. “With You” owes its success not only to the artists’ delivery but also to producer Tempoe, who significantly contributes to the song’s soulful undertone with consistent highlife-esque guitar strings, subtle percussion, and flute accents that seamlessly complement Davido’s hit-making appeal and Omah Lay’s emotive tonality. What makes “With You” the sticky record that it is—and a strong summer contender—is its foundation on a gentle guitar riff and a memorable hook. Since its release, “With You” has spent over three weeks at No. 1 on Spotify Nigeria, peaked at No. 1 on YouTube daily charts in four African countries simultaneously, and sparked a TikTok challenge tallying over 66 million related posts. The chorus delivers an emotional pull that’s catchy and heartfelt yet groovy—ideal for summer’s reflective moments.

Laho – Shallipopi

Stepping into the scene with his disruptive single “Elon Musk“, Shallipopi proves repeatedly that he’s no one-hit wonder. This year, he makes an even bolder claim with the fiery, catchy single “Laho“. The song gained momentum after Shallipopi previewed a snippet on social media; fans began creating content and memorising lyrics even before the DSP release. When it officially dropped, Shallipopi delivered an even stickier second verse, showcasing his knack for catchy lyrics and hooks. Laho rides danceable keys and percussive bounce, propelled by Shallipopi’s playful delivery. It hit No. 1 on Apple Music Nigeria, peaked at No. 57 on the UK Official Chart, and amassed over 32 million global streams with 1.2 million Shazams. Viral TikTok trends—from makeup transitions to choreographed steps and travel vlogs—cemented its summer anthem status.

Shake It to the Max (Fly) – Moliy ft. Silent Addy, Shenseea, Skillibeng

In a year where Moliy had seemingly taken a break from music, a simple snippet of “Shake It to the Max (Fly)“ blossomed into the biggest song of her career yet. Although the track went viral before its release, Moliy didn’t rush it; she chose instead to let the song gain a life of its own. Beginning with a dance—simple, repeated rotation of one’s waist to the dancehall-house fusion—the sound soon became bigger than TikTok. The “Shake It to the Max (Fly)” effect was tickling, and the song and accompanying dance instantly went viral. On TikTok, more than 235,000 videos have been made under the sound, with over a million Spotify streams, a top 20 placement on the UK Afrobeats Chart, and a remix featuring dancehall stars Shenseea and Skillibeng released on Feb. 21.
Reggae-dancehall meets Afro-pop on the exhilarating remix, layered with Shenseea’s sassy verse and Skillibeng’s energy. It became Moliy’s first track to crack the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 55, topped the U.S. Afrobeats chart, and lit up TikTok with over 235k dance videos before release.

My Darling – Chella

“My Darling” is a musical masterpiece by West African act Chella that resonates with a global audience, thanks to its rhythmic arrangement and siren-like melody. A love song with acoustic softness, “My Darling” showcases Chella’s tender vocal tone over sticky melodies and Afrobeats percussion. Upon release, “My Darling” burnt through social media platforms like wildfire, enveloping every listener in its path. It landed as a dance offering, and that physical groove—not necessarily the lyrics—was what stuck with listeners. The song was crowned No. 1 on Nigeria’s Top 100, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats chart, and held the top title on Shazam’s global chart, becoming the fourth Nigerian song to reach that height. With over 2.2M TikTok videos and heartfelt lyric-interpretation clips, its tuneful and emotional resonance is undeniable; it’s a perfect companion for slow sunsets or warm night drives.

Following the massive success of “My Darling,” Chella has released an all-Africa lineup remix EP featuring stars from across the continent, including Diamond Platnumz, Zee Nxumalo, and Tawsen.

Isaka (6AM) – CIZA, Jazzworx, Thukutela

CIZA’s “Isaka (6AM)” has experienced huge success in South Africa and beyond as one of the finest entries in the emerging 3-Step wave—a South African genre that blends Amapiano, Afro House, and Deep House. The lush and rhythmic track is anchored by mellow house chords, log drums, a three-kick drum pattern, and soft chants of “Isaka la vuka eh” that speak to sunrise chillouts. It has clocked over 1Million daily streams on South Africa’s Spotify chart for more than a month and reached No. 1 on iTunes SA. TikTok creators have kept its serene groove alive with scenic visuals. “Isaka (6AM)” is tailor-made for early morning reflections and solo drives before the city wakes.

Bout U – Rema

“Bout U“ revisits earlier glimpses of this side of Rema seen on his debut album, Rave & Roses, except now, they’re refined Afro-R&B offerings distilled for a more inclusive global audience. It’s soft Afro-R&B, simmering with 80s guitar nostalgia and heartfelt sincerity.
The track opens with an electric guitar riff that immediately lights up the listener’s ears and sets the tone before a love-consumed Rema serenades his muse with an uncanny delivery of desire and devotion. On a hip-hop-esque production—with guitar riffs adding a romantic tinge—Rema dwells on the physique of his muse, with high hopes for what they could share. He glides between sing-rap deliveries over vibrant production by long-time collaborator London.
The track peaked at No. 2 on Nigeria’s Top 100 Charts, No. 4 on the UK Afrobeats Chart, and hit No. 3 on U.S. Afrobeats Songs. Spotify tallies reached ~1.7M daily streams at peak. Rema’s “Bout U” has made its mark as a soundbed for romantic TikToks and introspective reels—an ideal blend for summer longing.

Shaolin – Seyi Vibez

Shaolin is a rolling and thumping slapper off street-hop luminary Seyi Vibez’s latest EP, Children of Africa. The vibes-heavy track is a strong blend of street-pop and Afro-pop anthems, with commanding vocals and a catchy hook—perfect for lifting any summer mood.
The music video, shot by visionary TG Omori, brought every thump and pulse to life with the same energetic expression the song carries. “Shaolin” debuted at No. 1 on Nigeria’s Official Top 100 with over 6.8M streams and 63M radio impressions. It also cracked the UK Afrobeats Top 10, cementing its place as one of the summer’s most energetic local bangers.

Uzizwa Kanjani – Jazzworx, Mawhoo, Thukutela, GL_Ceejay

Jazzworx’s “Uzizwa Kanjani” is a borderline dance record that blends warm Amapiano rhythms with evocative lyrics about emotional state and introspection. It debuted at No. 9 on South Africa’s Spotify Weekly Chart (433K+ streams), hitting a No. 1 streaming peak for Jazzworx.
It’s become a staple on chill playlists, where the lyrics echo themes of heartbreak and emotional numbness: “Uzwizwa Kanjani (How do you feel now)? / Mina Angisazi Izono Zami Wangishiyelani (I don’t even know my sins, but why did you leave me?)” It’s a soulful addition to summer for those quiet, reflective hours.

Na Scra – Famous Pluto

Uzama Osahon, professionally known as Famous Pluto—and younger brother to street-pop rapper and singer Shallipopi—released his first and biggest track yet, showcasing a similar sing-rap cadence to his brother’s.
The streetwise rap fused with Afrobeats edge was instantly met with the same viral appeal and reception that fuelled Shallipopi’s early run. “Na Scra” gained wider reach after Victor Osimhen gave it public praise, and Wizkid—in typical cult fashion—co-signed it by sharing a screenshot of the track to his Instagram story.
The song peaked at No. 2 on the Apple Music Nigeria chart, with over 14 million streams on Spotify and a street-certified badge that makes it perfect for hot nights and reckless joy.

Hey Jago – Poco Lee, Shoday, Rahman Jago

Poco Lee teams up with emerging street-pop artist Shoday to release a song dedicated to fashion entrepreneur Rahman Jago and the inner cities he grew up in. Produced by X, “Hey Jago“—like every typical street-pop track—is an energetic party starter, blending raw street energy with a pulsating beat.
Shoday handles the verses, infusing melody with streetwise grit, while Poco Lee delivers a combination of hype verses and slang that transforms the track into a rallying anthem. The high-energy fusion of Afro, street-pop, and homegrown Nigerian slang has had the music scene in a chokehold—despite today’s short attention spans. “Hey Jago” doesn’t overstay its welcome, and that makes it even more replay-worthy.