Music of Africa's Picks of the Year 2024. Four Songs. Four Countries.

Our Best of 2024 highlights four songs. One song each from Botswana, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

As someone who writes about music, I'm required by law to produce an end of year list. So here we go. This week's Pick of the Week is pre-empted for the Picks of the Year.

Most of the leg work has already been done with the YouTube playlists I use to document songs I like. But I thought it might be fun to highlight one song featured here in 2024 from each of the countries I keep going back to - Botswana, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

• Dr. Vom - "Tsaya Thobane" - A song that remains hugely popular in Botswana many years after it was released. It also remains hugely popular with me.

• Gift Kasinkha - "Wanyanga Aferanji" - I never miss a chance to sing the praises of the music of Malawi, including this song by Gift Kasinkha, "a great song and a video that features non-stop dancing and a few impressive moves by someone who's either a contortionist or a master yogi."

• Vusi Mahlasela - "Basimanyana" - From the popular South African artist, a song I listened to decades before starting this site.

• Guspy Warrior - "Mutirangarire" - Guspy Warrior is Emmanuel Manyeruke. His father is Machanic Manyeruke, a Zimbabwean minister who has released numerous albums of his own music. Machanic Manyeruke puts in a guest appearance here. If I were going to pick a favorite of the songs I've featured in 2024, it might be this one. But since I don't have to choose, I guess I won't.