Nigerian production maestro Sarz has brought together six rappers from across Africa and the UK for the “Hennessy Cipher 2026” which features Kwesi Arthur, ENNY, Suspect 95, Fena Gitu, Yanga Chief and Tenor.
What makes this line-up truly historic is the geography. The Hennessy Cipher, in its 15th year, has two Francophone African talents featured on the same edition for the first time, Suspect 95 from Côte d’Ivoire and Tenor from Cameroon. Tenor also made history as the first Cameroonian artist to appear in the Cipher. Those two things alone make 2026 different from every other edition before it.
Sarz holds the production together with hard-hitting drums, deep basslines and a cinematic atmosphere that gives each rapper a stage, without favoring any one of them over another.
Each artist brings their own cadence, their own language, their own cultural identity into the verses. Kwesi Arthur is Ghana’s Afro rap flavor. ENNY offers the British-Nigerian perspective that’s made her one of the most talked-about voices in UK rap. Fena Gitu keeps Kenya down with the lyrical precision that has earned her reputation. Yanga Chief takes the baton for South Africa and makes the most of the opportunity; Suspect 95 and Tenor then extend the reach of the cipher into Francophone Africa in a way this platform has never done before.
The visual, shot in Johannesburg, places the 2026 edition in one of Africa’s most established hip-hop cities.
The “Sarz – Hennessy Cypher 2026” is on, hear it and rank all six rappers from best to worst verse – the comment section is open for your verdict!
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