“The greatest thing to know is that you don’t know” … so I know *some*, but this is a HUGE genre with subgenres, and there is just a lot of bad stuff out there, too… so it takes time to sort through all the music!
MY PERSONAL FAVES RIGHT NOW:
Traditional Afrobeat will always zero in on Fela Kuti. The only person I would say needs to be explored as far as production style would be William Onyeabor. So ahead of his time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Onyeabor
Hip Hop and Afrobeats current favorite….
I’d say Little Simz is legendary, especially her work with Obongjayar. Lots of London based artists delivering on this music, born to Nigerian parents:
Sampa the Great is Zamibian and amazing afro-hiphop:
I think, without a doubt, “SAULT” is one of the most important afrofuturist bands in all history, and they are just active in the last 4 or 5 years. It is NeoSoul using Afrobeat and classic afro-music (funk, jazz, etc) to relate the black experience, and they are visionary:
Amadou and Miriam were a healing balm of traditional Mali Afro Jazz. Amadou recently passed: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0zq4elez9o
Fatoumata Diawara is Afro-Pop from Mali:
Okan is Afro-Cuban Pop out of Canada: https://okanmusica.bandcamp.com/album/sombras
Afro-Electro-Rock/House: The London vs Malawi duo “The Very Best” were quite a fun group, and are considered Afro-Western https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Very_Best_(band)
Afro-Punk: Mbongwana Star from Kinshasa, Congo are a group of disabled guys playing some pretty afro-core, traditional Congo music coupled to post-punk bass and electronica.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbongwana_Star
This 2xCD Gilles Peterson set is quite a joy: https://www.discogs.com/release/590344-Gilles-Peterson-Gilles-Peterson-In-Africa?srsltid=AfmBOorroxYsu2m4K24ieadxqGoHq0LdJPNZ3AAUqRFV7TgKD–lX6i6
Here are some more traditional and modern afrobeat records and artists in my collection: https://www.discogs.com/user/unclefishbits/collection?folder=4396589
Jazz:
Yussef Dayes might be the greatest drummer in the world, essentially performing modern jazz and rock informed by afrobeats.
Also, Kamasi Washington is American but jazz and rock with afropunk and afro-influences:
And harpist Brandee Younger and Alice Coltrane
Soweto Kinch is doing fascinating stuff representing the cultural experience of afro/caribbean/black culture: https://www.jazzwise.com/review/soweto-kinch-the-black-peril
Sons of Kemet is Fusion Jazz vs Afrofuturism
FURTHER ADJACENT RESEARCH
So, the below is overly exhaustive, and this is not straight from my head, vs searching both artists I know and similar artists, or just general reddit/blog/music site convo. I am not this deeply seeped in this outside of some modern house and classic afrobeat.
AFRICAN MODERN SUB GENRES
Amapiano
Gqom
Kwaito
Afro House
Afro Tech
Shangaan Electro
Singeli
Kuduro
Azonto
Afrobeats (with electronic influences)
JUST Amapiano artists:
Kabza De Small
DJ Maphorisa
Kelvin Momo
Focalistic
Uncle Waffles
Mr JazziQ
DBN Gogo
Musa Keys
Lady Du
De Mthuda
Mellow & Sleazy
Young Stunna
Busta 929
Scott Maphuma
Boohle
Tyler ICU
Felo Le Tee
Major League DJz
MFR Souls
Vigro Deep
Kamo Mphela
Sha Sha
Mas Musiq
Busiswa Gqulu
Zinoleesky
MohBad
Makhadzi
LeeMckrazy
Nia Pearl
Samthing Soweto
Tony Duardo
Ami Faku
Mpura
Shakes & Les
Aymos
Dlala Thukzin
Soa Mattrix
Shebeshxt
Mvzzle
Nkosazana Daughter
TitoM
Zee Nxumalo
Cassper Nyovest
JazziDisciples
Josiah De Disciple
Sir Trill
Daliwonga
JUST AFROHOUSE
Black Coffee <– big deal
Sun-El Musician
Kasango
Manoo
Faizal Mostrixx
Young Paris
Prince Kaybee
Zakes Bantwini
Lemon & Herb
Caiiro
And this is a hard to pin down Afrofuturism….
Sun Ra
George Clinton
Parliament-Funkadelic
Janelle Monáe
Erykah Badu
Flying Lotus
Shabazz Palaces
Moor Mother
Drexciya
Herbie Hancock
Miles Davis
Asake
Tyla
Ayra Starr
TemsGil Scott Heron
Elsy Wameyo
WinnyZap Mama
King Paluta
Yamê
Abigail Chams
Fally Ipupa
Diamond Platnumz