I will assume by African cichlids, you mean Rift lake Africans.
There are riverine African cichlids that come from the softer water silver dollars inhabit, like Jewel Cichlids, and the Kribensis clade.
Basic comparisons of rift lake to SDs
pH of rift lakes 7.5 to 8.5+
preferred pH for Silver Dollars 6-7
Average water Temp of rift lakes 75'F
preferred temp for Silver Dollars 78-82'F
What are the water parameters of your tap water?
If its somewhere in between those extremes, it might work.
But that aside there are plenty of Central American Tetras that would be more appropriate, and live in similar pH and water hardness to the Rift Lake Africans.
Astyanax and Roeboides tetras (there are also others like certain Hyphressobrycon) that come from the harder waters of Mexico and others countries south thru Panama.
Astyanax also grow to a similar size to your average rift lake aquarium denizen, and are very fast swimmers.
I have similar size wild caught Panamanian cichlids, with the Panamanian Roeboides tetras. They were both caught in the same river where pH was around 8, and temps in the mid 70sF.
Below the Roeboides I keep with hard water cichlids.
View attachment 1420572
Video of the tank Below
Panamanian Tank