Niko Sawa, Ex, My Jaber, Ndovu Ni Kuu Among The Top Streamed Songs On Spotify

A year ago, Spotify launched in 40+ new markets around the continent, including Kenya.

365 days in, Kenyan music lovers are discovering more music, local artists finding a megaphone for their work, and Kenyan genres get exported across the globe.

As Kenyans have become more familiar with Spotify, they’ve used the platform more – and broadened their tastes. Since launch, the average number of artists streamed per user has grown by 17%. The top cities where Kenyans streamed from are Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu. There has been a 25% increase in the number of Kenyan artists, and 8,730 songs were added to the platform by creators.

The most streamed Kenyan artist is Sauti Sol, followed by Sol Records’ Nviiri The Storyteller. Otile Brown is third, then Nyashinski, and finally the other Sol Records artist, Bensoul.

Local artists have found a megaphone for their work, and the top exported local artists are Sauti Sol, followed by Jeff Kaale, then Otile Brown. Ayub Ogada is the fourth top exported local artist and Nviiri The Storyteller rounds off the top five.

The countries where the top five exported songs were most-streamed are the USA, UK, Canada in that order, except for Ayub Ogada’s Kothbiro where it was most streamed in the USA, Germany then the Netherlands.

The full breakdown of the top lists is below.

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