Apple Music today announced the latest featured artist in its Africa Rising artist development program is Eswatini born contemporary R&B singer-songwriter, Manana (real name Ndumiso Manana).
“Excitement doesn’t begin to describe my feelings,” he tells Apple Music. “We’ve been working for years to release this project, and being a part of the Africa Rising program is a privilege.”
Born and raised in Mbabane in Eswatini, Manana immersed himself in all things music-related from a young age and as a result began to write, produce and perform his original compositions, as well as establishing himself as a prolific lyricist for Usher, Pheelz, Nasty C, Sauti Sol, Tyla, Amanda Black, Ami Faku, Shekhinah and Burna Boy, where he is credited as a songwriter on the Nigerian superstar’s Grammy-winning album Twice As Tall.
Manana’s debut solo EP, In the beginning was the end (2020), was a nostalgic ode to R&B told in reverse, capturing the light and shade of growing and fading relationships which used his own marriage as his compass. His single “Sunday Morning” featuring Rowlene was also included on Apple Music’s Top 100 tracks of 2020.
His follow-up releases, But Could The Moments In Between (2022) and Comma (2022), showcase Manana’s versatility as he seamlessly navigates through electronic dance music, soulful R&B, Afrobeats, Amapiano fusion and introspective acoustic ballads. The following year, Manana achieved a significant milestone by winning the prestigious South African Music Award for Best R&B Album in 2023, reinforcing his prowess as a triple threat.
Apple Music’s Africa Rising is an exclusive artist development programme and companion playlist geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent and introducing the next generation of African superstars. Africa Rising alumni to date include: Omah Lay, Tems, Amaarae, Ayra Starr, Blxckie and Nikita Kering. Africa Rising sees Apple Music select six artists every year who each receive a minimum of two months of editorial support across the Apple Music platform including a launch interview with Nadeska on Apple Music 1.
Nadeska has also launched a new weekly Africa Rising feature on her show highlighting the hottest new artists on the continent.
Discover Africa Rising here: applemusic.com/africarising
