Tag: Davido

Spotify Is Putting the Spotlight on Afrobeats to Chart Its Global Rise

October 19, 2023

With more than 15 billion streams (and counting), there’s no doubt that Afrobeats as a genre is making an impact across the globe. Artists like Shallipopi, Sarz, Ruger, and Bloody Civilian are taking their music beyond the sound’s birthplace in West Africa and bringing a truly global collaboration in sound. 

Back in June we announced the launch of the Afrobeats: Journey of a Billion Streams site to celebrate the history, growth, and milestones of the genre. Our support continued in the following months and culminated in an Afrobeats Celebration event in Lagos last weekend. Now, as Rema‘s “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez joins the Spotify billions club as the first African artist–led track to hit a billion streams, we’re ready to bring even more Afrobeats content to fans. Kicking things off, we’ve launched the Afrobeats hub. From genre fusions and old-school classics to new alternative hits and Afro mood playlists, the hub is a one-stop shop that brings together all flavors of Afrobeats.

We’re also delivering new articles, videos, and more to the Afrobeats site, documenting history, culture, fashion, and upcoming trends. Podcasters Jola Ayeye and Feyikemi Abudu from the African millennial show I Said What I Said and Joey Akan from the in-depth audio exploration that is Afrobeats Intelligence will also lend their unique perspectives and voices along for the ride, starting with a video of their respective live shows from the Afrobeats Celebration.

The Giants of Africa Festival Inspires African Youth to ‘Dream Big’ Through Basketball, Culture, and Music

August 16, 2023

As one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, Africa is home to dynamic genres like Afrobeats and amapiano that have taken pop music by storm. And while artists like Burna Boy, Rema, CKay, Wizkid, Tems, and Davido have risen as icons on their home continent, they’ve also succeeded on the global stage. 

The future is bright for African music and its stars, but there’s also a new generation of talent outside of music who are ready to show the world what they can do. That’s why we’re teaming up with the Giants of Africa Festival in Kigali, Rwanda, to showcase a shared vision for the continent’s future through music and basketball.   

To tip off the event, which runs August 13-19 and will see over 250 youth from 16 African countries in attendance, we worked with Giants of Africa (GOA) to create a special video, Music In Motion. Featuring players from the Nigeria Youth National Team who took time to share the ways music and basketball are linked in their lives. 

Co-founded by NBA executive Masai Ujiri, GOA uses basketball as an avenue to inspire African youth to dream big while also emphasizing education, empowerment, and leadership. Since 2003, GOA has positively impacted over 40,000 African youth across 17 countries by providing access to basketball courts and skills camps.

Along with the Music In Motion video, Spotify will also be presenting the festival’s closing concert. The headliner will be the magnetic Davido, and he’ll be joined by Tiwa Savage, the Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress known as the Queen of Afrobeats; Rwanda’s own Bruce Melodie, a gifted singer-songwriter known for his soulful melodies; and Tyla, a rising star recently selected as a featured artist for our RADAR program. Their performances promise to create an electrifying atmosphere and leave a lasting impression on festival attendees.

Together with GOA, we’re committed to supporting a new generation of talent by uniting the best of African youth, basketball, music, and culture.

Be sure to hit play on our Giants of Africa playlist, which features Afro hits from the 16 countries represented at the continent’s premier basketball festival. 

How Nigerian Gen Zs Listen to Spotify From Sunrise to Sundown

August 25, 2022

illustration of the sun at different phases of the day

When it comes to music, Nigeria has its finger on the pulse of what’s hot. Whether they’re streaming the biggest pop, rap, and trap sounds from around the world or celebrating the latest Afropop coming out of Lagos, the influence of Nigeria on the global music stage cannot be denied. 

In particular, it’s the Gen Zs who are setting the tone in the country. As streaming becomes increasingly popular in Nigeria, these young listeners are using playlists to match their moods throughout the day.

That’s why this weekend in Lagos, we’re hosting the Spotify Fun House experience to both highlight the ways we fit into the lives of Nigerian Gen Zs, and offer a glimpse of their tastemaking influence on the platform. In addition to talks and performances, we will also have our Blend Booth at the event. Attendees will be able to grab a friend and use Spotify’s Blend feature to merge their musical tastes into one shared playlist made just for them.

As we’ve been getting ready for the upcoming festivities, we’ve found a few interesting trends when it comes to the most popular Spotify playlists Nigerian Gen Zs listen to throughout their day.

Nigerian Gen Zs love to start their day in an introspective mood with Most Favored, which features some of the biggest worldwide Christian hits. But as they shift gears and prepare for the rest of their day, they turn to New Jams for a bit of morning energy. 

Once the afternoon rolls around and it’s time to get productive, Nigerian Gen Zs like to maintain a happy vibe by listening to Everyday Favorites—featuring the top pop hits across the globe—and African Heat, which delivers the hottest tracks from Afropop stars including Burna Boy, Fireboy DML, and Davido.

By the evening, Nigerian Gen Zs are looking to unwind, and they love to relax with the low-key jams featured on Chilled R&B. And when it’s finally time for bed, Jazz for Sleep is the playlist that helps these young tastemakers get a good night’s rest. 

These are just a few of the ways that Nigerian Gen Zs are shaping the culture around them with the help of Spotify. At Spotify Fun House, we’re excited to help them discover more ways to bring their influence to the world. 

Looking for more of the hottest sounds coming out of Nigeria right now? Catch a vibe with African Heat below:

Test Your Knowledge of Davido’s Groundbreaking ‘Omo Baba Olowo’ Album

July 15, 2022

Davido holds his hands over his eyes to block the sun

In July 2012, a young Nigerian artist named Davido emerged with a groundbreaking first album that would quickly cement his place on the African and world stages. His 17-track project, Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis, blended traditional African music and global pop for a sound that was unique and birthed a long list of club-ready hits. Ten years later, it’s clear that the album was a spark for modern African music and inspired many of the young African musicians who are taking over the world today. 

Translated from Yoruba, “Omo Baba Olowo” means “the child of a wealthy father.” Davido’s seminal album alluded to the affluence of his dad, whom he touts as one of Nigeria’s richest men. Fast-forward a decade and Davido is now one of Africa’s most prominent music figures with 5M+ monthly listeners on Spotify. 

He’s emerged from his father’s shadow and crafted a place in the spotlight for himself, building his own wealth and a following that spans the globe. He boasts an unending list of hits and cross-continental collaborations with artists such as Nicki Minaj, Summer Walker, Chris Brown, Nas, Lil Baby, Sauti Sol, Focalistic, Uhuru, and most recently, Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir. 

Celebrate 10 years of Davido and Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis by testing your knowledge on some of the tracks, lyrics, and collaborators that make up the groundbreaking project.

1. Ice Prince, Naeto C, 2Baba, and Sina Rambo are several of Davido’s collaborators on Omo Baba Olowo. What’s the total number of guest artists featured on the album?
2. Omo Baba Olowo was released on July 17, 2012, four months before Davido’s ____ birthday.
3. Which song did Davido produce for the album?
4. On the album’s first track, “All of You,” Davido brags about having the company of elite people. What does he say about his manager?
5. How many song titles on the album start with the letter “D”?