Moonlight Afriqa is Apple Music’s ‘Up Next’ artiste in Nigeria

Apple Music has announced Afro-fusion singer-songwriter, Moonlight Afriqa (real name Imaekhai Richard Igebina) as its latest featured artiste in its ‘Up Next’ artist development programme in Nigeria.

“I am thrilled to have been chosen as the Apple Music ‘Up Next’ artiste for Nigeria this August! It’s an absolute honour to be identified as one of Nigeria’s promising talents,” Moonlight Afriqa said.

Born and raised in Edo State, Moonlight Afriqa’s obsession with music began after he learnt to play the drums in church, and developed as he taught himself how to play the guitar. But it was only after graduating from Abia State Polytechnic with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering, that he moved to Lagos to actively pursue a career in music.

His debut EP ‘Tales By Moonlight’ (2023), released through Cosign Music Group and available to stream on Apple Music, is a confident five-track journey through the singer’s seamless blend of Afro-fusion melodies with enchanting storytelling.

This early success stands as a testament to Moonlight Afriqa’s undeniable talent and has further solidified his position as a rising star to watch.

Anchored in the success of the EP’s first single ‘Love Dimension’, a heartfelt ballad that deals with the universal theme of love in all its complexity, ‘Tales By Moonlight’ is a crash course in Moonlight Afriqa’s versatility, merging dancefloor-rooted rhythms with dancehall-inspired tempos to entertain a global audience.

As the newest ‘Up Next’ act to be spotlighted in Nigeria, Moonlight Afriqa will be featured across Apple Music’s Nigeria’s ‘Up Next’ playlist. The curated playlist features a dynamic class of new and emerging artists, thoughtfully hand-picked by Apple Music editors from around the world. The playlist is genre agnostic and represents a line-up of artistes our global editors are passionate about and eager to expose to a larger audience.

Moonlight Afriqa joins Shallipopi, Winny, Pawzz, Novemba, Ogranya, Majeeed, Khaid, Ninety, Young Jonn, T.I Blaze, Browny Pondis, Ajebo Hustlers, Jaido P, Wavy The Creator and SGaWD as Apple Music’s growing stable of ‘Up Next’ artistes from Nigeria.

The vast global Up Next roster of past talent includes Grammy-nominated and critically lauded talent like 6lack, Daniel Caesar, H.E.R., Greta Van Fleet, Khalid, Amy Shark, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Claudio, Sigrid, Mr Eazi, Stefflon Don, Bad Bunny, Juice WLRD, Bazzi, Jax Jones, NCT 127, Summer Walker, Tierra Whack, Dean Lewis, Pink Sweat$, Koffee, Megan Thee Stallion, Burna Boy, Clairo, Lunay, Jessie Reyez, Orville Peck, Victoria Monét, Ingrid Andress, Conan Gray, Don Toliver, Rema, BENEE, Holly Humberstone, Natanael Cano, Givēon, Beabadoobee, Arlo Parks, Tate McRae, Foushee and Tems.