In 2023, the world moved to African beats. For Isgubhu, our showcase of the best dance and electronic sounds from across the continent, we’ve curated this recap of the best dance songs of the year. Amapiano’s global takeover only became stronger in 2023, with the uniquely South African sound evolving into new forms both in the country—incorporating more elements of jazz, deep house and R&B—and across the continent, where Ghanaian and Nigerian infusions of Afrobeats gave the genre even more life. Some of the year’s most viral songs bear ’piano’s distinctive log drum, and they’ve made their creators into global superstars. Yet none has launched into the stratosphere quite like Eswatini-born DJ and producer Uncle Waffles. She first made waves in 2021 with a DJ set that caught the eye of celebs like Drake. Later, her Tony Duardo collab “Tanzania”—which was sampled this year in a dance break on Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE tour—would propel her to the top of the charts. In 2023, her mega-viral single “Yahyuppiyah” took over TikTok, and her dual 2023 EPs Asylum and Solace helped her nab a BET Award nomination for Best International Act—and propelled her onto the world’s biggest stages, including an appearance at Coachella. Along with Waffles, here you’ll find a roundup of hits from Africa’s biggest dance and electronic stars. Hear something you might have missed? Add it to your library.