From Afropop to Amapiano, Uncover African Music’s Rise in the Latest Episode of ‘Spotify: For the Record’

Africa is one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, which comes as no surprise when you consider the region’s wealth of new genres and sounds. Earlier this year, we announced the expansion of Spotify into more than 80 new international markets, including 39 markets across sub-Saharan Africa. 

So in the latest episode of our podcast Spotify: For the Record, we focus our sights on the immense talent from the region. From Pretoria to Nairobi, we explore the distinctive beats that are coming out of these cities and taking the world by storm. Here’s what you can expect in this week’s episode:

• Burna Boy, who recently won a Grammy award for Best Global Music Album for Twice As Tall, talks about the talent coming out of Africa.
• Afrobeat superstar DaVido joins the podcast to discuss the diverse musical styles of Nigeria, and what it’s like to collaborate with top U.S. artists like Nicki Manaj.
• Spotify RADAR artist Focalistic dives into the infectious sound of Amapiano, the uniquely South African take on house music.
• Kenyan phenomenon Blinky Bill highlights the eclectic musical spirit of Nairobi.
• Singer-songwriter and Spotify RADAR artist Tems gives us a taste of “alté” (a term for alternative Nigeria beats) with her soulful and spiritual rhythms.

Throughout the episode, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, shares insight regarding the rhythms of the region. She also walks us through some of the data we’ve seen since expanding to more countries across the continent. On the podcast, hear which artists are taking the top spots in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.

Listen to “Afropop to Amapiano: African Music Ignites.”