Tseliso Monaheng, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

Karabo Lediga’s Sabbatical Mines Old Memories to Make Treasure

5 days ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

With Sabbatical, writer and director Karabo Lediga mines a memory to produce a no-holds-barred critique on the strangers we become once we leave home to establish our own lives. Lesego (played by the impressive Mona Monyane) is on track to become CEO at the financial firm she works for when an investigation threatens to upend her aspirations. She wakes up in her childhood home following a heavy night, and what unfolds is an up-close view of a life becoming undone.
African Artists Shine in the 2025 BET Awards Nominations

6 days ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Ayra Starr performs at KOKO on November 13, 2023 in London, England. The nominees for the 25th annual BET Awards have officially landed, and African artists are making their presence felt. From Lagos to Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam to Accra, a diverse slate of continental talent has secured nominations across major categories, underlining the global rise and influence of African music.
Xduppy, South Africa's Rising Star, Thinks Amapiano Can Get Even Bigger

1 week ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Xduppy’s double album with DJ Maphorisa is one of the year’s best. At the end of March this year,DJ Maphorisa andXduppy released an incredible collection of songs stretching across two albums. Titled Ngomoya and Rough Dance, the albums cover the gamut of South African electronic music and tip the scale in favor of the country remaining the global behemoth it’s already become.
Burna Boy Releases a Seductive New Single “Sweet Love”

1 week ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Arriving on the heels of the energetic Soul II Soul-sampling single “Update,” the new track signals a shift in mood. Introspective, sultry, and emotionally open, “Sweet Love” is a moment of tenderness from an artist known for his bold declarations of strength and swagger.
The Best Amapiano Songs Right Now

2 weeks ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Amapiano has made an extraordinary journey from its South African roots to become a global music phenomenon. Much like kwaito before it, the genre emerged as a powerful vehicle for young, Black South African youth to fight their way out of poverty. Each year brings fresh hits, innovative trends, and a new sound that fascinates. It's as though the music's range is endless, as it delicately embraces different aspects of the human experience.
Skyla Tylaa Drops a Cross-Continental Club Anthem with “Bombshell (Cheza)”

2 weeks ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Skyla Tylaa delivers a captivating hit featuring Diamond Platnumz, Tyler ICU and more. Amapiano meets Afropop in “Bombshell (Cheza),” a high-voltage collaboration from Skyla Tylaa, Diamond Platnumz, Tyler ICU, Khalil Harrison, and DJ Exit. Blending the sounds of South Africa, Tanzania, and the UK, this genre-bending anthem has already begun making waves, with unreleased teasers racking thousands of videos and millions of views on TikTok alone.
Ayra Starr Drops Sultry New Single “Gimme Dat” Featuring Wizkid

2 weeks ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Ayra Starr releases a steamy single featuring Wizkid. Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr continues a blockbuster year by releasing her steamy new single “Gimme Dat,” featuring Nigerian superstar Wizkid. This moment marks a long-awaited reunion between the two, following their fan-favorite 2022 collaboration “2 Sugar,” and sets the tone for what promises to be a landmark year for the GRAMMY-nominated star. “Gimme Dat” samples Mary J.
The Return of Nakhane

4 weeks ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

A decade ago,Nakhane sang, danced, wrote, and filmed their way into the public consciousness — and then walked away from the country that made them a star. They released the genre-topping hit "We Dance Again" withBlack Coffee, which became one of the biggest songs of 2015, pushing the artist to the forefront of the South African music scene.
Remembering Amadou Bagayoko of the Iconic Duo Amadou & Mariam

1 month ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Amadou Bagayoko of the Grammy-nominated duoAmadou & Mariam passed away on Friday, April 4. The 70-year-old singer and guitarist succumbed to a long illness, according to family. Thousands of people turned up to his funeral, held yesterday, April 6, in Bamako. Among the attendees were singer Salif Keita, Minister of Culture Mamou Daffe, and ex-Prime Minister Moussa Mara.
Listen to Riky Rick’s Posthumous Album ‘Boss Zonke Forever’

1 month ago | okayafrica.com | Tseliso Monaheng

Boss Zonke Forever arrives three years afterRiky Rick’s passing, and a whole decade since his debut album, Family Values. The sophomore long-player is a celebration of all that the artist was and represented — effortless cool, a fearless spirit, an eye for talent, and an unceasing love for music. These traits are scattered all over the album’s 17 tracks, which are packed with features that criss-cross the gamut of South African music and distills it into something only the rapper could concoct.