•Ayra Starr
Spotify, an online streaming platform, celebrated Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, who emerged as the most streamed female artiste in three countries: Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
Spotify’s Head of Music, in Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, disclosed this in a statement today.
Okumu noted that Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped findings revealed the top 10 most streamed female artistes in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, as Ayra Starr led in three countries.
“In Nigeria, the top 10 most streamed artistes are Ayra Starr, Tems, Qing Madi, Billie Eilish, SZA, Tiwa Savage, Bloody Civilian, Rihanna, Simi, and FAVE.
“For Ghana, we have Ayra Starr, Tems, SZA, Gyakie, Rihanna, Adele, Qing Madi, Tiwa Savage, Nicki Minaj, and Beyonce.
“In Kenya, we have Ayra Starr, SZA, Rihanna, Tems, Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, and Beyonce.
“And in South Africa, we have Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, SZA, Rihanna, Beyonce, Nkosazana Daughter, Babalwa M, Ariana Grande, Summer Walker, and Nicki Minaj.
According to Okumu, one of the year’s key developments is the star-studded success of female artistes, women who break boundaries and support an increasingly inclusive and diverse future for African music.
Okumu said that artistes, fans, and creators had ensured that 2024 was a record-breaking, culture-making year.
She said this was with genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano lighting up Sub-Saharan stages and streaming, impacting international trends and inspiring rich cultural conversations.
“When it comes to Sub-Saharan Africa’s most streamed female artistes, there’s no overlooking the allure of Nigerian icons.
“Grammy-nominee Arya Starr blazed a celestial trail with her hit album “The Year I Turned 21,” her worldwide tour, and her fearless red carpet style.
“Starr’s soulful Afropop meets rhythm and blues sound made her the most streamed female songstress in her home country as well as Ghana and Kenya.
“Ghanaians also loved their very own Gyakie, who was the 4th most streamed artiste in her home country.
“Tems took the second spot in Nigeria and Ghana and the fourth spot in Kenya. Nigeria not only produces but also supports talent.
“The country’s most streamed female artists after Arya Starr and Tems include Tiwa Savage, Bloody Civilian, and Spotify EQUAL artists Qing Madi, Simi, and Fave,” she said.
On Spotify’s EQUAL Africa, Okumu said the programme was a global initiative to drive equity and amplify the voices of women through global and local playlisting and off-platform promotion.
She said about 200 EQUAL ambassadors had been supported in the programme’s four-year span.
According to her, South African singer Tyla remained the top EQUAL artiste in Africa.
She said others were: Ayra Starr, Amaarae, Qing Madi, FAVE, Simi, Gyakie, Yemi Alade, Makhadzi, and Teni.
“Female artistes are essential to helping Afrobeats spread its reach in 2024.
“Among their achievements: multi-award winner Tems, who’s collaborated with Rihanna and Beyonce, among others, performed at the Netherlands’ legendary North Sea Jazz Festival while her song Love Me Jeje ranked No. 20 on the Rolling Stone Top 100 Song List for 2024.
“Popiano superstar Tyla secured the highest number of awards at the 2024 BETs plus three nominations for the 2024 MTV EMAs.
“Her album TYLA was placed in the top 10 list of countries like Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Tanzania, Uganda, Barbados, and Jamaica.
“Spotify is excited to celebrate the progress of Africa’s women artists, but the data shows that there is still work to be done to see more representation of these powerhouse creators in the top lists,” she said.
