For a while now, followers of Ugandan music have been keenly aware of the concept of ‘LOST FILES.’ This follows Afro centric singer and songwriter, Azawi, hinting at the release of her highly anticipated follow-up to her 2023 album, ‘SANKOFA’ which spawned several hit tracks and established her reputation as one of East Africa’s finest singers. The project is to be a collection of the tracks that initially didn’t make the ‘AFRICAN MUSIC’ LP released in 2021.
Related: Azawi’s Burgeoning Talent Shines Brightest On ‘African Music’ Debut Album
In what’s almost two years since ‘SANKOFA,’ Azawi has only grown more unstoppable, racing to the top of charts on multiple occasions while showcasing the full breath of her vocal prowess on songs like “Champion from Africa” as well as on collabs like “Elevated,” and “Summer Bae,”.
2025 has been an active year for the Swangz Avenue signee with all expectations that ‘LOST FILES’ would arrive following the May release of track, “Talking Stage”. She then followed it up with 3 additional tracks “Nze Nkulina”, “I Owe You”, plus “Njize Okwagala”. Just so we are on track here, the “LOST FILES” project isn’t out yet, but a few singles off are out now. Only “Njize Okwagala” plus “Love Tekaawa” are out.
The blockbuster track “Love Tekaawa” which happens to officially herald the EP sees the “Ache For You” singer glide back to her percussive roots of “Repeat It”, “Mbinyumirwa” and everything on the EP “LoFIT”, layered by Banga Boi’s slick production.
Read Also: Swangz Avenue’s Azawi premiers “Repeat It” Music Video. Watch Here
In the song, Azawi arouses nostalgic in listeners as she references to a common childhood game played in Uganda where children would mildly pinch on the other’s hand as they formed a sorta ladder. It also sings of a love so deep that Azawi is in full submission to her fictional love interest sang about in “Love Tekaawa”. Maybe one day we’ll find out the actual story/ inspiration behind this track; given that one of Azawi’s strength is charismatically telling stories/ real life experiences and turning them around into sweet melodies. On the song, she further longs/ yearns for her partner and reassures them that the love she is offering isn’t sour, but rather nothing short of sweet. The track is accompanied by a colorful, simply choreographed yet striking music video as directed by Aaroniare.
‘LOST FILES,’ arrives October 17, and going by the momentum set by the two promo singles “Love Tekaawa” and “Njize Okwagala”, Azawi is bringing euphoric party starters, groovy and gritty, with a little new layer to her work without losing touch with the uniquely African folk perspective that broke her through onto the scene.
Unlike ‘SANKOFA’’ and ‘AFRICAN MUSIC’ which had multiple collaborations, this particular project, there’s only one guest artist; Truth 256 on the lead track “Feel OK”.
As we await ‘LOST FILES’, dive into the lyrical genius of a creation that is Azawi’s ‘Love Tekaawa’ below: