AFRICA.ROCKS presents Soundcheck 2026 has reached its final round.
After the public vote selected the top five entries, the finalist videos are now available to watch on YouTube. The same videos will also be made available on Facebook and Instagram shortly.
The five bands in the final are CHOVU from Kenya, GREY and SLA.ID from Madagascar, MYSANTHRIUM from South Africa, and PAGAN ULVER from Morocco.
The winner will now be chosen by a five-person jury, with a $250 cash prize going to the band that finishes first. The judging panel will be formed by Cátia Cunha from Against PR, Dana da Silva from AFRICA.ROCKS, Redouane Aouameur from Lelahell and Lelahel Metal Magazine, Sashquita Northey from Emalyth Events, and Tshomarelo Mosaka, also known as Vulture Thrust, from Overthrust and Vulture Thrust Metal Magazine.
Each juror will rank all five finalists from first to fifth place. A first-place ranking gives a band five points, second place gives four points, third place gives three points, fourth place gives two points, and fifth place gives one point. The finalist with the highest total score across all jurors will be declared the winner.
If there is a tie, the winner will first be decided by the highest number of first-place rankings. If the tie remains after that, AFRICA.ROCKS will have the deciding vote.
The jury will judge the finalists on the band and the song, not on expensive production. The core criteria are the strength of the song, the tightness of the performance, and the band’s originality and identity. Production value is only considered to the point where the performance can be seen and heard clearly enough.
Soundcheck was created to show African bands playing one original song live in their own rehearsal space. The final round now brings together five bands from four countries, with the winner to be announced after the jury vote.
Watch the finalist videos here:
CHOVU:
GREY:
MYSANTHRIUM:
PAGAN ULVER:
SLA.ID:
