West Africa has emerged as one of the world's most energetic nightlife regions, built around the global rise of homegrown music genres and a club scene that runs deep into the early morning. Southern and northern African cities each offer their own, considerably different versions.
The destinations on this list range from major club capitals with internationally recognised music scenes to rooftop bar cultures built around spectacular city or coastal views. Some scenes lean heavily on live music. Others centre on DJ-driven club nights.
Asking locals which night a venue is actually busy matters considerably across the continent, since the best nights can shift unpredictably between weekdays and weekends. Live music venues remain central to the scene across much of West Africa.
