A year ago, Spotify launched new markets around Africa, including Kenya where Kenyans discovered more music, with local artists finding a megaphone for their work, and Kenyan genres getting exported across the globe.
Since launch, the average number of artists streamed per user has grown by 17 percent
Below is a breakdown of how Kenyans, and the world, has listened to Kenyan music for the past year:
Most streamed Kenyan artists
1. Sauti Sol
2. Nviiri The Storyteller
3. Otile Brown
4. Nyashinski
5. Bensoul
6. Wakadinali
7. BURUKLYN BOYZ
8. H_art the Band
9. Mejja
10. Khaligraph Jones
Most streamed Kenyan songs
1. Nviiri The Storyteller, Bien – Niko Sawa
2. Nikita Kering’ – Ex
3. Bensoul, Mejja, Nviiri The Storyteller, Sauti Sol – Nairobi
4. H_art the Band, Brizy Annechild – My Jaber (Friday)
5. Otile Brown, Meddy – Dusuma
6. Nviiri The Storyteller – Kitenge
7. Chris Kaiga, Mutoriah – I Want
8. Chris Kaiga, Nyashinski – Hapo Tu
9. NDOVU KUU, Khaligraph Jones, Boutross Munene – NDOVU NI KUU
10. Mbuzi Gang, Mejja – Shamra Shamra
Top exported Kenya artists
1. Sauti Sol
2. Jeff Kaale
3. Otile Brown
4. Ayub Ogada
5. Nviiri The Storyteller
6. Willy Paul
7. Bensoul
8. Stella Mwangi
9. Nyashinski
10. Karun
Top exported Kenyan songs
1. Bahati, Benzema, Mejja, Odi Wa Muranga, Petra Ssaru – Wanani – Remix
2. Bensoul, Mejja, Nviiri The Storyteller, Sauti Sol – Nairobi
3. Sauti Sol, Patoranking – Melanin
4. Ayub Ogada – Kothbiro
5. Sauti Sol, Bensoul, Crystal Asige, Kaskazini, Nviiri The Storyteller – Extravaganza
6. Sauti Sol, Nyashinski – Short N Sweet
7. Willy Paul, Alaine – I Do
8. Otile Brown, Meddy – Dusuma
9. Sauti Sol – Suzanna
10. Sauti Sol, RedFourth Chorus – Kuliko Jana
Emerging / breakout artists
1. Wanavokali
2. Taylor Torch
3. Bon’eye
4. Groovy Jo
5. Nikita Kering’
Top Spotify playlists
1. Hot Hits Kenya
2. Today’s Top Hits
3. African Heat
4. Made In Kenya
5. RapCaviar
6. Soft Pop Hits
7. Mood Booster
8. Mega Hit Mix
9. Afropop
10. Gengetone Fire
There has been a 25 percent increase in the number of Kenyan artists with creators adding over 8,730 songs in the platform. Cities in Kenya with the highest number of Kenyans streaming are; Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu.
