As we arrive at the sixth installment of The Upper Quintet, the series expands into its most Pan-African curation yet—stretching across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and into the creative unknown. These five artists—Lilly Lou, Shia-lun Raine Choo, Jordan MoOzy, DLZ, and Tumaswaggonme—don’t just represent different geographies, but different emotional ecosystems, genres, and cultural philosophies.
Together, they are composing the sound map of Africa’s alternative tomorrow.
Lilly Lou (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Johannesburg-born multi-disciplinary artist Lilly Lou is building a unique creative language that fuses soul, spoken word, and ambient sound design. Her body of work feels like it belongs in both music libraries and modern art archives. With songs like “Love Letter (The Poem)” and “For the Sisters”, she documents inner worlds with sonic minimalism and poetic generosity. She’s less concerned with virality and more obsessed with vulnerability—a radical creative posture in an industry hyper-focused on algorithmic success. In the ever-expanding indie universe of South African sound, Lilly Lou is a constellation worth mapping.
Shia-lun Raine Choo (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Another voice echoing out of Joburg is Shia-lun Raine Choo, known professionally as Shia-lun. Her RAINE EP, released in early 2025, shows a delicate marriage between ambient R&B, alternative soul, and reflective songwriting. Songs like “Complicated..”, “Alter Ego”, and “Sativa Smoke” signal a sonic temperament that’s soft-spoken but emotionally seismic. Her work channels diasporic restlessness and self-exploration, capturing the inner monologues of a young African artist negotiating heritage and autonomy. While early in her journey, Shia-lun’s artistic confidence hints at longevity.
Jordan MoOzy (Botswana / Zimbabwe)
Born in Botswana to Zimbabwean roots, Jordan MoOzy’s music exists at a Pan-African intersection of genre, geography, and personal testimony. His Kalahari Coyote EP is a glowing hybrid of 80s nostalgia, modern Afro-fusion, and highlife melancholia. With tracks like “No Time” storming radio charts, Jordan’s music doesn’t just cross borders—it deconstructs them. Thematically, he explores cultural belonging, transformation, and sonic identity. Jordan MoOzy is part of a new class of Southern African artists who see genre as something to be bent, not obeyed.
DLZ (Abuja, Nigeria)
From Abuja’s energetic underground comes DLZ, a creator who thrives on sonic rebellion and genre ambiguity. DLZ is symbolic of the digital-first generation—an artist whose sound experiments move from bedroom studio to global playlist with minimal press but maximal impact. Drawing from Afrobeats, alternative hip-hop, and deconstructed club sounds, DLZ’s production style reimagines Nigerian sound as futuristic, atmospheric, and emotionally layered. While little is known about their biography, DLZ’s growing cult presence suggests an artist comfortable letting the music speak before the media catches up.
Tumaswaggonme ( Capetown, South Africa)
Hailing from the vibrant township of Langa, Cape Town, Tumaswaggonme brings a fresh voice rooted in authentic storytelling and emotional honesty. His debut project is produced by Coffin, his childhood friend and trusted collaborator, whose production complements the artist’s compelling lyrics and dynamic flow.
