Introducing AfroFuture’s Rising Star 2023: Essilfie

AfroFuture Rising Star is a platform for up-and-coming artists to connect with the AfroFuture Audience and grow. The goal is to increase the visibility of artists across Africa. The Rising Star Challenge has been ongoing since 2019 and is powered by TuneCore. This year, rain. Labs stepped in to offer distribution and marketing services to the successful challenger. For 2023 the lucky applicant was Ghanaian musician Essilfie.

Essilfie is a multi-hyphenate Ghanaian singer, songwriter, performer and all-round creative. Since 2019, the singer has evolved from creating covers to releasing her tracks that bounce between hiplife, afrobeats and R&B. A stunning performer, she completely owned the AfroFuture Rising Star stage at the just-ended AfroFuture Festival 2023—standing out of her competitors for the grand prize of a studio session with an acclaimed producer, a performance slot on the TuneCore stage at the festival, and a Global Distribution Deal for a Single from rain. Labs plus marketing PR and brand support among others.

Essilfie is inspired by musicians like Sade, Erykah Badu, Asa, Sabrina Claudio, Snoh Aalegra, and Jill Scott.

If you’re a fan of Efya, Ria Boss and Iggy Azalea you’ll find an affinity for Essilfie.

Start here with her 2023 release “Prayed Up”