Ritaa and Saffwizz

Ritaa is a pioneering singer-songwriter from Malawi. In 2016, she became the first female artist to reach the top spot in the Malawian charts with her breakthrough hit Chapatali, She has reached number one twice more since then.

Ritaa released her first single when she was still at school, but she listened when her mum advised her to be patient and wait until she had finished her education. She describes her sound as Afro music with an urban edge, and there are elements of RnB, dancehall and gospel in her songs. She’s currently working on her debut album, which she hopes to release by the end of the year.

Also in the programme is Saffwizz from Tunisia. He describes himself as an alternative rapper. He is certainly stamping his style on the genre by bringing in jazz and classical influences to his sound. Despite Tunisia's underdeveloped music industry, he has three successful albums under his belt.