African Music Library

Powered by Josplay Music Intelligence

Discover African Music through Data

Find African Music Metadata. Explore Knowledge.

Test your knowledge of African Genres!

Test your knowledge of African music with our fun and informative quiz. A must-try for music lovers and curious beginners.

Celebrating Today

See All

Priddy Ugly

South Africa |1992| English

Ricardo Moloi, known by his stage name Priddy Ugly, is an Angola-born South African rapper and songwriter. In 2016, he made his solo debut with the release of his mixtape, The Ugly Truth, which propelled him to fame. Before going solo, Priddy Ugly was part of a boy group called Krunk Era, which later changed its name to Blaque and signed with H.U.G.E Entertainment in 2007. In 2010, he was signed to Aviator Management as a solo artist. Although, he has since become an independent artist again, Priddy Ugly's career has continued to thrive. He has collaborated with various artists in the hip hop industry and is known for his entrepreneurial spirit. Through his music and his accomplishments, Priddy Ugly continues to inspire his fans.

Deto Black

Nigeria |1996| English

Deto Black, whose birth name is Adetoun Tejuoso, is a multi-talented artist, rapper, songwriter, actress, model, and photographer from Nigeria. Her passion for the arts began at a young age, and she has pursued various creative avenues to express herself. As a rapper and songwriter, Deto Black has already gained a reputation for her skillful wordplay and unique style. She has released several singles and collaborated with other artists in the music scene. In addition to her music career, Deto Black is also an accomplished actress. Beyond her work in music and film, Deto Black is also a talented model and photographer. She is a rising star in the Nigerian arts scene and also making waves internationally.

Dolly Rathebe

South Africa |1928| Sesotho

Dolly Rathebe (OIS) was a gifted actress and musician from South Africa who began her career as a performer with the Elite Swingsters jazz band before joining Alf Herbert's African Jazz and Variety Show. She gained recognition as a leading entertainer in South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s, thanks to her unique fusion of jazz, swing, and traditional African music. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Rathebe also acted in several films, earning the distinction of being one of South Africa's first black movie stars and a trailblazer for other black actors and actresses in the country. Sadly, Rathebe passed away after suffering a stroke, but her legacy as a talented artist and advocate for black South Africans continues to endure.

Abderrahmane Abdelli

Algeria |1958| Berber

Abderrahmane Abdelli is a singer-songwriter from Algeria. His music blends traditional Algerian music with modern styles like jazz, rock, and electronic music. Abdelli released his debut album, "Khali," in 1986, which was well-received and established him as a pioneer of Algerian music. His lyrics, mostly in the Berber language, deal with themes such as identity, exile, and the struggle for freedom, promoting Algeria's cultural heritage and giving a voice to the Berber people. Abdelli has collaborated with renowned musicians, including Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, and Sinead O'Connor, and his music has been featured in film soundtracks. Abdelli's unique style and innovative approach have earned him fans worldwide, inspiring and influencing musicians with his message through music.

Elaine

South Africa |1999| English

Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli, simply known by her stage name Elaine, is a talented R&B singer and songwriter from South Africa. Elaine began working on her music career and self-released her debut EP, "Elements," in September 2019. Elements" became a sensation and reached No.1 on both the national iTunes and Apple Music album charts, making Elaine the first independent female artist in South Africa to achieve this feat. Despite her young age, Elaine has already made a significant impact on the music industry.

Join AML

Record Label, Publisher

Share metadata about your African music catalog.

Writers, Biographers

Can you write interesting accounts of people's life? Join our Artist Biography Program.

Academia and Researcher

Share journals, research works, scores, talks, etc

Music Expert

I want to contribute knowledge

Explore Bands

See All

VanJess

Inactive | English | Nigeria

VanJess was an R&B duo formed 2009 consisting of sisters Ivana and Jessica Nwokike. They were born in Nigeria, but grew up in California, USA. The du...

GoodLuck

Active | English | South Africa

GoodLuck is a popular electronic music band from South Africa. The group was formed in 2011 by Ben Peters and Juliet Harding, then Tim Welsh joined l...

Rail Band

Active | French | Mali

The Rail Band is a Malian band formed in 1970; it was later known as Super Rail Band, Bamako Rail Band or, most comprehensively and formally, Super Ra...

Chief I.I. Ayeni & his Group

Inactive | English | Nigeria

Chief I.I. Ayeni & his Group were a celebrated musical ensemble hailing from Nigeria. Flourishing in the 1970s and 1980s, they made significant contri...

Blogs

See All

EARLY DAYS OF NIGERIAN MUSIC DISTRIBUTION – ALABA INTERNATIONAL MARKET

By Josplay | 3/28/2025 | Reviews

One cannot describe early Nigerian music distribution without mentioning Alaba International Market. Located in Lagos, Alaba boys played a crucial role in pushing Afrobeats and other genres into mainstream consciousness.

Danski: In The Beginning EP - A Compelling Entry

By Josplay | 3/26/2025 | Reviews

Kenyan rising star Dan Mutinda, professionally known as Danski delivers his highly anticipated five-track project, In the Beginning.

Josplay, Opus Music Africa partner to elevate East African music

By Josplay | 3/24/2025 | Company News

Beyond licensing and streaming, this partnership is a joint investment in visibility, discovery, and fair compensation.

BEEF IN AFRICAN HIP HOP – FUEL FOR THE CULTURE OR JUST JABS?

By Josplay | 3/23/2025 | General

Hip-hop has always thrived on competition, and beef has been a central element of the genre. But is this beef a fuel for the culture or just for jabs?

About AML

African Music is rich, yet misunderstood and inaccurately represented. AML is on a mission to change that.

African Music Library is the world's most comprehensive knowledge base for African Music.

The Library is supported by a team of musicologists, engineers and literary experts committed to closing the knowledge gap and codifying African music for better participation in the digital economy.