Top 25 Pop Songs By/Featuring African Divas in 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

If one were to ask me, as I have already asked myself, to name The Top 25 (or 10 or 5) pop songs by/featuring African Divas in 2014, here below would be, and is, my selection of the Top 25. All my selections have a decidedly audio-visual focus, and so only rate music videos.

Of course, the naming of more than one 'like' inevitably prompts the question as to which 'like' comes first, and which next or last. In selecting and ranking my top African or East African  'likes' -- I limit myself to Sub-Saharan Africa -- I have been broadly guided by the following six criteria (each on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest score):
1. The creative appeal and musicality of the voice asset.
2. The choice and mastery of the musical instruments in play.
3. The poetic form and content of the lyrics.
4. The artistic and aesthetic depth of the video component.
5. The synchronic quality of the audio-visual product, in terms of: harmony, tone, melody, rhythm, beat and color display.
6. Based on the foregoing, how the entire single, from beginning to end, impresses me -- or makes me feel about my encounter with it. This criterion also serves as a qualitative tie-breaker; that is, a virtual 'casting vote' whenever any other criteria yield a quantitative tie.


RANKING THE TOP 25 SELECTION

25.  Woman in Love by Vivian (2014):

24. Nikimuona by Avril (2014):

22. Only You by Nene ft. Jay A (2014):

22. Baramushaka by Knowless (2014):

21. Barua Ya Dunia by Elani (2014):

20. Sugua Gaga by Shaa (2014):

19. Chuna Buzi by Shilole (2014):

18. Mfalme wa Mapenzi by Sanaipei [Sana] (2014):

17. Go Down Low by Palasso ft. Sheebah (2014):

16. Show by Victoria Kimani (2014):

15. Coco Baby by Waje ft. Diamond Platnumz (2014):

14. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

13. Nimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014):

12. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

11. Kookoo by Elani (2014):

10. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

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9. Retaan by Viviane Chidid (2014):

8. Awww by D'ija (2014):

7. Blessings by Stormrex (2014):

6. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz and Diamond Platnumz (2014):

5. Fiko Fiko Fion by Claudia Bakisa ft. Koffi Olomide (2014):

4. Wanted by Tiwa Savage (2014):

3. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):

2. Johnny by Yemi Alade (2014):

You saw at the MTVMAMA2015 how Johnny gets to you at a public gathering. Does so too on radio, where I first heard it, with that distinctive (shall I say sexy?) Yemi Alade voice. A girl determined to get her Johnny (to behave) always wins hearts -- many, many more than she may lose.

1. Tchelete by Davido ft. Mafikizolo (2014):

Lukadem go! Such spirited immersion in the song. Davido and Mafikizolo draw us all into this veritable trance -- this vortex of sound and sight.