Spotify’s flagship playlist for African music, African Heat, is getting a makeover, signalling a new era for the platform’s premier destination for African music. The playlist, which currently boasts over one million followers on the platform, has become one of the leading vehicles for African music to reach new audiences in the streaming era. By helping listeners discover new and future African hits, it has also become a nexus connecting fans of the continent’s music through a shared love of these iconic sounds.
In recent years, African music has been enjoying increased global value and attention, with its artists leaving expanding footprints on stages and in arenas across the world. African Heat has played a crucial role in shining a light on some of the continent’s most important songs and moments since its launch in 2018. The playlist has helped to herald such major hits as Ckay’s Love Nwantiti, Wizkid’s Essence, DBN Gogo’s Love and Loyalty, among others. It has featured music from all corners of the continent, providing a democratised platform for emerging talents to reach global ears.
Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, emphasises the importance of African Heat and the motivation behind its rebrand, saying, “For us, African Heat is about community and telling the story of Africa’s incredible music and creators for a global audience that has its ears perked. We’re glad to usher in an even more ambitious era for this definitive playlist, while also continuing to validate African music’s biggest records and connecting to millions the world over.”
The new iteration of African Heat will prioritise exposure to and awareness within Africa’s creator and listener communities. Drawing inspiration from public transportation across Africa, particularly iconic vehicles like the trotro, danfo, and matatu, the playlist’s rebrand channels the movement of the music across the continent and beyond. The playlist will wear a new visual identity, with an updated version of the now-familiar cover that has played host to some of the continent’s biggest stars. The playlist name design now bears a registration number-inspired border, speedometer dials, and a gradient that reflects the various forms of heat.
The campaign will also feature input from and conversations with some of Africa’s most exciting emerging and established artists, as well as live elements to bring the new African Heat to life and engage listeners. Spotify data will show which African Heat artists have been hottest over the past 90 days, and where they are finding their audiences.
Top artists on African Heat in the last 90 days
Geographical location of users streaming African Heat in the last 90 days
- USA
- UK
- Nigeria
- France
- Kenya
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Canada
- South Africa
- Ghana
As African music continues to gain global momentum, African Heat remains a vital vehicle for the continent’s sounds. The playlist’s rebrand highlights the importance of community and aims to tell the story of Africa’s music and creators to a global audience. With a renewed focus on the continent’s creator and listener communities, the new African Heat promises to continue to validate African music’s biggest records and connect millions of listeners worldwide.
