# 2018 in African music

The following is a list of events and releases that have happened or are expected to happen in 2018 in African music.

## Events

* January 10 – The Premium Times lists Squeeze Tarela and Bella Alubo among its "Nigerian artistes to look out for in 2018".
* January 13 – Youssou N'Dour, on tour in the Gambia, praises the Gambian people and expresses optimism for the country's future.
* January 28 – At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, Ladysmith Black Mambazo win the award for Best World Music Album with Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration and are nominated for the Best Children's Album award for Songs of Peace & Love for Kids & Parents Around the World.
* March 30 – Announcement of the winner of the AfriMusic Song Contest 2018, the first pan-African song contest. Eswatini win the contest, represented by the song "Sengikhona", performed by Symphony (Zanele Cele).
* June 2 – Rita Ray presents a major new series on BBC television: Africa: A Journey Into Music.
* August 10 – The Minnesota Orchestra becomes the first American orchestra ever to perform in South Africa when it gives the first concert of its South African tour, at City Hall, Cape Town.

## Albums released in 2018

| Release date | Artist | Album | Genre | Label |
| January 26 | Burna Boy | Outside | Afrobeats, hip-hop, dancehall | Atlantic Records |
| January 26 | Professor | Composed by Jesus Christ | Kwaito, dance | Kalawa Jazmee Records |
| January 31 | Zaki Ibrahim | The Secret Life of Planets | R&B, soul | Indie |
| February 9 | M.I Abaga | Rendezvous: The Playlist | Hip-hop | Chocolate City |
| February 23 | Femi Kuti | One People One World | Afrobeat | Knitting Factory Records |
| February 23 | Hailu Mergia | Lala Belu | Jazz | Awesome Tapes from Africa |
| March ? | Pape Diouf | Enjoy! | Mbalax, World | |
| March 2 | Seun Kuti | Black Times | Afrobeat, World | Strut Records |
| March 27 | Brymo | Oṣó | Alternative folk, Yoruba music | Indie |
| May 21 | Allah Thérèse & N'Goran Laloi | Bé gnanssou moayé | | |
| May 14 | Ike Moriz | Millennium Hits 2002 - 2018 | Pop, Rock, Jazz | Mosquito Records London |
| May 25 | DJ Neptune | Greatness | Afrobeats, hip-hop | Neptune Records |
| May 25 | Adekunle Gold | About 30 | World, highlife | Afro Urban Records, Empire |
| June 15 | Zonke | L.O.V.E | Afro-soul | Sony |
| August 24 | M.I Abaga | A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl | Hip-hop | Chocolate City |
| September 11 | Steve Kekana | Ubuntu | Sold Out Music |
| October 19 | Razia | The Road | Razia Said Music | |
| November 9 | Mr Eazi | Life Is Eazi, Vol. 2 - Lagos to London | Afrobeats | Banku Music |
| November 16 | Mayorkun | The Mayor of Lagos | Afropop | Davido Music Worldwide |

## Classical

* Michael Blake – Lovedale Harmony (in memory of Siya Betana) (2017) for saxophone quartet

## Deaths

* January 3 – Lara Kruger, 30, South African DJ (Motsweding FM) and transgender rights activist
* January 4 – Joseph Gunduza Magigwani, 37, Zimbabwean actor and gospel singer (traffic collision)
* January 23 – Hugh Masekela, 78, South African jazz instrumentalist, composer and singer
* February 1 – Mowzey Radio, 33, Ugandan musician (head injuries from a fight)
* February 8 - Ebony Reigns, 20, Ghanaian singer (traffic collision)
* March 19 – Shavey, Kenyan dancehall singer (traffic collision)
* April 2 – Ahmed Janka Nabay, Sierra Leonean musician, 54
* May 20 – N'Goran La Loi, Ivorian accordionist, husband and partner of Allah Thérèse, 87
* June 10 – Ras Kimono, Nigerian reggae musician, 60
* September 12 – Rachid Taha, Algerian singer (Carte de Séjour), 59 (heart attack)
* October 3 – Joseph Kamaru, Kenyan benga musician and political activist, 79 (complications from Parkinson's disease)
* October 24 – Hip Hop Pantsula, South African rapper, 38
* November 13 – Brian Rusike, Zimbabwean songwriter and keyboardist, 62