Spotify looked at the top streamed African artists around the world to commemorate Africa Day.
Although the annual commemoration of Africa Day is an opportunity to recognize the continent’s achievements, it is also an opportunity to resolve some of the continent’s ongoing challenges.
Similarly, the effect of African music on the global music scene has been a journey.
Music has always been at the heart of African culture, weaving a rich story that highlights the continent’s diverse cultures and influences.
Music has served as a backdrop to change in Africa’s history, developing from songs of independence to songs of speech.
With fans streaming their music on Spotify from London to Paris, Amsterdam to Sydney, it’s no surprise that Burna Boy, a famous Nigerian singer and songwriter, takes the top spot.
African artists now have more chances than ever before to find new audiences and have their creative voices heard, thanks to exciting partnerships and access to a wider audience.
The continent’s vibrant music ecosystem, with its distinct styles, continues to inspire musical collaborations both on and off the continent.
Burna Boy has had a number of successful collaborations, including Justin Bieber’s “Loved By You (feat. Burna Boy)” and British rapper Dave’s “Location (feat. Burna Boy).” ‘Loved By You (feat. Burna Boy)’ has received over 31 million streams worldwide in the last 90 days (March – May 2021).
Similarly, Master KG’s hit Jerusalema (feat. Nomcebo Zikode), which spawned an Afrobeats-inspired remix featuring Burna Kid, has racked up over 43 million global streams in the last 90 days (March – May 2021). African musicians aren’t just performing on a global stage; they’re getting on top of it.
“Spotify has always praised Africa’s diversity and wealth of talent. We will continue to use the platform’s strength to amplify African creators to a global audience now that Spotify has a presence in Africa. This gives artists even more opportunities to reinforce their bonds with their fans while also encouraging the exploration of their music by new listeners, which we believe is an important part of the user’s listening experience. Phiona Okumu, Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, stated.
Spotify continues to support African creators by supporting key curated, flagship playlists like African Heat, AmaPiano Grooves, RADAR Africa, and, most recently, Gengetone Fire, all of which have helped to drive further discovery and celebration of African influence. Spotify also houses the Afrohub platform, which supports and brings culturally diverse music to users all over the world.
The extension of Spotify’s global artists network, RADAR, which supports artists at every stage of their musical careers, has been critical in supporting talent from across the continent.
Additionally, an African takeover of Spotify’s Global X playlist will begin on May 24 and run through the week of Africa Day. The playlist will feature Africa’s most famous artists from around the continent, with the playlist cover dedicated to Lady Du (SA), DaVido (NG), Sarkodie (GH), Sauti Sol (KE), ElGrandeToto (MR), Mohammed Ramadan (EG), and Diamond Platinumz on each day (TZ).
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