The following is a list of events and releases that happened in 2023 in African music.

• January 11 – It is announced by Nhanhla Sibisi, head of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) that the 29th edition of the South African Music Awards will begin accepting entries in the first quarter of 2023.^[1]
• March – The marriage between Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Tebogo Motaung end divorce proceedings when it is discovered that they were never legally married.^[2]
• June – The Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, a new award, is announced by the Recording Academy.^[3]
• November 4 – The 19th and final series of Idols South Africa is won by Thabo Ndlovu.^[4]

• February 8 – Dennis Lotis, 97, South African-born singer^[19]
• February 10 – AKA, 35, South African rapper^[20]
• February 25 – Ismaïla Touré, 73, Senegalese musician and co-founder of Touré Kunda^[21]
• March 14 – Gloria Bosman, 50, South African jazz singer^[22]
• June 9 – Niel Immelman, 78, South African-born classical pianist^[23]
• July 21 – Hafiz Abdelrahman, Sudanese flautist (age unknown)^[24]
• August 17 – OJ Blaq, 40, Ghanaian rapper and actor^[25]
• September 12 – MohBad, 27, Nigerian rapper^{[citation needed]}
• October 1 – Julian Bahula, 85, South African drummer, composer and bandleader.^[26]
• October 1 – Garry Mapanzure, 25, Zimbabwean Afropop singer^[27]
• October 27 – Axali Doëseb, 69, Namibian composer^[28]
• November 12 – Mohammed al Amin, 80, Sudanese popular musician and oud player^[29]
• December 11 – Zahara, 36, South African singer-songwriter (liver disease)^[30]
• December 20 – Eric Moyo, 41, Zimbabwean singer (brain haemorrhage)^[31]

• 2023 in music