African artists were the chief custodians of good vibes in 2022, and they placed even more importance on irresistible grooves and warm, upbeat energy than ever before. It’s an ethos that drove Nigerian stars like Burna Boy (“Last Last”), and Oxlade (“KU LO SA”) to even greater heights, and one that pushed artists like Asake (“Terminator”) and Pheelz (“Finesse”) to break global records. South Africa’s amapiano dance subgenre inspired fresh fusions from across the continent, reaching into Nigeria, Tanzania, and Congo. And the Afrobeats wave continued to sweep the globe, with tracks like Fireboy DML’s “Peru” getting an Ed Sheeran-assisted remix. Hear something you missed? Add it to your library.