South Africans are among the top 10 listeners of the African Heat Spotify playlist in the world, data from the popular music streaming platform shows.
The playlist has grown in popularity since Spotify first introduced it in 2017. It has now become the premier hub for Afrobeats on the platform, driven by hits such as Rema’s Calm Down.
Top 10 African Heat Spotify playlist listeners
A large audience outside of Afrobeats’ home region in West Africa has driven African Heat’s growth. According to Spotify data, the US, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands and Canada feature in the top 10 markets where African Heat is streamed.
Nigeria and Kenya are the playlist’s leading African listeners, with South Africa and Ghana also making an appearance in the top ten markets streaming it.
“As Spotify’s flagship playlist for African music, African Heat curates the continent’s incredible content and culture for a global audience. It has become the nucleus of a global community of Afrobeats fans, and we’re excited to see its reach grow and take Afrobeats to more global ears,” Spotify’s Head of Music for Africa Phiona Okumu says.
For fans of the genre or eager ears looking for new sounds, staying in touch with the African Heat Spotify playlist provides a fresh source of what’s hot on the continent and a roll call of its leading voices, from Ayra Starr to Sha Sha. Holding a spot on the playlist has also become a precursor for global success.
Across all markets, African Heat appeals to fans of all ages, a trend that is in keeping with the widespread appeal of Afrobeats. However, it’s no surprise that Gen Z leads the charge. Listeners aged 18-24 years account for more than a quarter of African Heat’s streams, more than any other age group. Following closely are listeners aged 25-29 years followed by those aged 30-34 years.
Spotify data shows that most fans listen to the playlist between 4-6pm, peaking at 5pm. The average listener streams it for 25 minutes. The playlist boasts more than a million followers around the world and has already crossed the 500 million stream mark in 2023.