From Davido and Tyla to Ayra Starr, here's a look at the African albums set to define the rest of the summer.

With the heatwave in full swing, this summer is shaping up to be hot as is African music. While Afrobeats and Amapiano continue to dominate playlists and festivals stages around the world, some of the continent's biggest artists are preparing to either release new albums or build on projects that have already sparked a conversation.

From South Africa’s Tyla entering her sophomore era to Davido’s promise of a return to his signature sound, here’s a look at some of the releases fans should have on their radar. 

‍Tyla – APop (July 24)

After introducing herself to the world with her Grammy-winning breakout era and the global success of ‘Tyla,’ the South African star is ready for the next chapter. Her sophomore album, ‘A*Pop,’ has been positioned as a more mature evolution of her sound, blending amapiano, pop and R&B while showcasing how much she has grown since the "Water" days to become one of Africa's biggest crossover stars. The record album arrives upon enormous expectation with a rollout that already includes the hit singles ‘Chanel’ and ‘She Did It Again’ featuring Zara Larsson, signalling a project that leans confidently into a mainstream sound  without abandoning the South African influences that first made her stand out.

Davido – ORIADÉ (July 31)

Davido’s Album Announcement Trailer | Courtesy of Davido’s Youtube

Just a year after ‘5ive,’ Davido isn't slowing down. His sixth studio album, Oriadé (a Yoruba portmanteau for "ori" meaning head/destiny and "adé" meaning crown) arrives at the tail end of the month–preceded by a lead single, ‘I Know Who I Be,’–as the Nigerian superstar celebrates 15 years in music. The Grammy-Nominated artist has described the project as a return to the African sound that first made him a household name. At 13 tracks, it will also be his shortest studio album to date. Expectations are naturally high following his previous, which produced the hit ‘With You’ featuring Omah Lay and earned a nod from the Recording Academy.

‍Ayra Starr – Starr Girl (August 14)

Following ‘The Year I Turned 21,’ Ayra Starr’s upcoming LP ‘Starr Girl' promises an even broader sonic palette. The rollout has already included singles such as ‘Tornado’ and ‘Where Do We Go’, while previous releases including ‘Gimme Dat’ featuring Wizkid and ‘Who's Dat Girl’ with Rema have fuelled anticipation.

Between her Roc Nation partnership, expanding global collaborations with reports suggesting features with Doechii, Leon Thomas and Zayn, and increasingly adventurous production choices on the new record–all which could mark another major leap in her already impressive career–underlining ‘Sabi Girl's’ increasingly international ambitions.

Tiakola – WPOINTM (September 25)

French-Congolese artist, Tiakola also has his next studio album, ‘WPOINTM,’ confirmed. The hitmaker is expected to build on the melodic rap and R&B sound that has seen him featured on Asake's ‘M$NEY’ and Wizkid's latest, in addition to being one of Europe's most exciting artists, with fans already counting down to the release. In the meantime, read our 2022 Deeds cover story with Tiakola for a closer look at the artist behind the music before this next era begins.

Wizkid – Sexy (TBA)

A new era from Wizkid might be near as well. During an exclusive pre-release event hosted by Deeds in Paris last week, the Afrobeats superstar revealed that his seventh studio album will be titled ‘Sexy,’ ending months of speculation about what would follow 2024's ‘Morayo.’ While he stopped short of confirming a release date, the announcement immediately sparked excitement among fans eager for his next full-length project. With little known about it beyond its title, it is certainly one of the most anticipated African releases still expected before the end of the year. 

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Burna Boy – (TBA

Following the success of his 2025 album ‘No Sign of Weakness’ Burna Boy has already set the stage for his next era, confirming that a new project is expected before the end of 2026 alongside a major global tour. While details around the album remain under wraps, anticipation is high after a year that has seen the Grammy-winning artist continue expanding his international reach. 

Part of that momentum comes from his prominent role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup soundtrack. Burna Boy teamed up with Shakira on ‘Dai Dai,’ the tournament's official song, which premiered during the opening ceremony in Mexico City and introduced his music to one of the world's biggest sporting audiences. With a new album on the horizon and another blockbuster global collaboration under his belt, fans will be watching closely to see where the self-proclaimed African Giant takes his sound next.

With confirmed releases from Tyla, Davido and Ayra Starr still to come–and highly anticipated albums from Wizkid and Burna Boy expected later this year; ‘26 is shaping up to be another landmark year for African music on the global stage.

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