Spotify, a global online streaming platform, has named South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia and Uganda as the top African countries listening to Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in Africa, on its platform.
“Africa’s thirst for quality R&B is undeniable, with South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, and Uganda, registering top R&B listenership on Spotify.
“Even in francophone and lusophone markets like Côte d’Ivoire and Angola respectively, the presence of R&B is being felt across Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Despite the historical dominance of Afrobeats, Amapiano, Gengetone and others, in the African music landscape, an exciting transformation is unfolding.
“R&B undergoes a notable resurgence across the continent, with an average year on year growth of 133% on Spotify,” she said.
Kemoli-Savanne noticed that Kenya is by all accounts driving the charge in this resurgence. She expressed, as per Spotify information throughout the course of recent days, the Tantalizers playlist got the greater part of its streams from the nation, and R&B positions in the main five kinds in Kenya.
She noticed that across Sub-Sahara Africa, The Weekend, Chris Brown, SZA, Rihanna and Beyoncé were the artistes who the Spotify R&B audience members couldn’t get enough from. As per her, locally, artistes like Kenya’s Xenia Manasseh, Ghana’s Baaba J, South Africa’s Lloyiso and Nigeria’s Bloody Civillian, had individuals in their feels.
“It is on the back of this sweeping growth that R&B collaborations between international icons and African artistes are becoming more commonplace than they were only a decade ago.
“From the mesmerising strains of WAIT FOR U by Drake, Future, and Tems to the captivating melodies of Monalisa by Chris Brown, Lojay, and Sarz, and Chris Brown tapping Wizkid for Call Me Everyday, Africa’s stars are shining bright on the world stage.
“And now, African singers are also connecting with one another to release global hits all on their own.
“The Ghana-Nigeria collaboration on Camidoh’s Sugarcane (Remix) featuring King Promise, Darkoo, and Mayorkun as well as Essence by Nigerian powerhouses Wizkid and Tems, are treating the ears of music lovers near and far,” she added.