WAKADINALI, BIEN, NYASHINSKI & LIL MAINA AMONG MOST STREAMED ARTISTES IN KENYA

Spotify unveiled its annual review of how people listened to artists, albums, tracks and playlists. A look at the top list shows Kenyans enduring love for Hip hop, and Drake, who is topping the list for the third year in a row, landing as also thetop streamed artist among 18 – 34 year olds, and the most searched on Spotify in Kenya.

The top streamed tracks list on the other hand, is dominated by Afrobeats, with the only exception being Darassa and Bien’s collaboration No Body in sixth place. A look at the top genres puts this into perspective as rap, pop, afrobeats, hip hop and r&b top in Kenyans’ favorite genres. 

“The Kenyan music scene has grown exponentially since our last Wrapped, and it is refreshing to see a Kenyan artist in the top streamed list. Our mission to amplify homegrown artists to global stages continues steadfastly,” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify SSA’s Head of Music. 

Female artists may be lacking in the top lists, but there has actually been a 61 percent increase in the streams in Kenya, in comparison to globally that had a 27 percent increase. Karun and Nikita Kering, Xenia Manasseh are both in the top ten most exported Kenyan artists. Nikita Kering’ is the only female artist in the top ten most streamed Kenyan artists.

Wakadinali are not only the sole Kenyan artist in the top streamed list, landing at number 8, they are also the most searched artist in Kenya on Spotify, and their album Ndani Ya Cockpit 3 ranks 10 as the most streamed album. The Hip hop duo has evidently resonated with the listeners

Nyashinski’s Perfect Design had the music lovers in a hold when it launched, it was the top song every day a day after it was released to 2 November.

The late Congolese Rhumba musician, Madilu System had a major fanbase in Kenya, who still continue to stream his music, 16 years after his death. His song Ya Jean – Remix is fifth while RTC Riva is 11th in the throwback list. His album Femme Legitime is 10th most steamed throwback album

While K-POP fans seem to be Gen Zs going by online conversations, who would have guessed that in Kenya, 35-44 year olds are the ones listening to them the most. Jung Kook is the most streamed artist in this age group, and BTS. 

Top 10 most streamed Kenyan artistes