Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Sounds of Africa: Creators Bring the Continent to Life on Spotify

25/05/2022

May 25 marks Africa Day, which recognizes the creation of the African Union and offers a chance to reflect on the progress that has been made across the continent since 1963. To commemorate the occasion, Spotify is celebrating local voices through the new Sounds of Africa campaign.

The continent is home to an incredible array of talented individuals who are sharing their unique creativity, storytelling, and sounds with the world. So from social media to on-platform efforts, this campaign spotlights emerging African talent in music and podcasting.

African creators are doing amazing things in the music and audio content creation space. Moreover, the stories of this crop of creatives are helping others find their passions and their voices, said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify's Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa.

They're teachers, friends, and companions on people's daily commute. They're ambassadors for the continent, sharing the sounds of Africa. And, at Spotify, we are committed to helping them do just that, Jocelyne added.

Spotify also announced the creation of the Africa Podcast Grant to help highlight voices from the continent. The $100,000 fund is open to 10 creators, and they can be up-and-coming or established. This fund aims to amplify underrepresented stories and perspectives in podcasting.

As a part of Sounds of Africa, Spotify is highlighting six African artists and six African podcasters through a digital-first campaign to drive users to their various Spotify pages. For the Record caught up with each creator to learn more about what Africa Day means to them.

Feyikemi Abudu and Jola Ayeye: I Said What I Said podcast

Africa Day, for us, is a day to celebrate Africans and people of African descent all over the world. It allows us to celebrate our growing cultural impacts on the globe while highlighting our diversity in different elements of art, music, fashion, food, and culture. We should always pay homage to Africans who stand out and who have made an effort to place Africa on the map. It should be a time to celebrate the champs of African creatives, businesses, and people across the continent.

Joan, Kibz, Nyamita, and Owen: The Sandwich Podcast

Africa Day reminds us of the sense of individuality that we have been able to achieve as a continent and celebrates the uniqueness of our African culture. This is also an opportunity for different creators to interact. This brings us unity, which we have always celebrated and will always continue to celebrate each and every day.

Eli Mwenda and Oscar Koome: Mantalk.ke podcast

Africa Day for us is a time of African renaissance, African celebration, and people celebrating a continent that is rich with culture and wildlife.

Taymesan: Tea With Tay podcast

Africa Day is for celebrating Africa's heritage and cultural impact on the world while highlighting our uniqueness and diversity, expressed through music, art, craft, advocacy, and fashion.

It is also very important to recognize outstanding Africans whose efforts have served to place Africa on the global map. The triumphs of African creatives, leaders of industry, and pioneers from across the continent must be celebrated as a reminder of how special we are.

Nicole Engelbrecht: True Crime South Africa podcast

For me, Africa Day is about celebrating the immense pool of talent we have on this continent. Whether it's singing or podcasting, Africans have amazing stories to tell through their art, and I think Africa Day provides us with a platform for more people to hear and celebrate our uniqueness.

Gugulethu Nyatsumba: After School Is After School with Sis G.U podcast

Africa Day is a day where we get to celebrate our continent's rich cultural identity and our many different heritages. To me, it's a day where I get to be that much prouder of my roots, my people, and my continent. I try my best to learn something new about this beautiful environment I live in.

LADIPOE

To be honest, I feel like every day is Africa Day. But I'm grateful that it's now a day that we're using to celebrate the fact that there are 54 countries that make up this continent and that so much can be achieved when we move in one accord. It's really something to celebrate.

I feel like I became a much better writer when I began to tell the stories of my people and myself within my country and within my continent because there's no place like Africa. The stories are a way to connect with the people. So when I sing how far with Lagos on a Monday/traffic is as bad as the news on the front page/judging by my salary/I might as well be unpaid,' trust me, the people who are living where I live understand what I'm talking about.

Prey

As an artist, Africa Day means reflecting on all the influences the continent has given me. There is so much raw talent here, and the range of sounds is crazy. The more I become a student of my art, the more I see how the diversity of the sounds I'm drawn to-everything from jazz to soul, funk, and folk-end up bringing me right back to this continent.

Living in, and listening to, Africa already affects the kinds of rhythms I come up with. When I grew up as a kid, I loved the sound of Nollywood, and the drama of it. The soundtrack literally tells you the whole story because it's so vivid. There's also the fact that there are so many languages here. Every language is its own song, and hearing all Nigeria's languages has definitely influenced my melodies and harmonies-the flow, the inflections, cadences, and the drops.

I try to incorporate sounds from my part of Nigeria specifically, like the drum patterns, chanting vocals, and Pidgin English. My dad is from Okrika in the south of Nigeria, and my Mom is Igbo in the southeast, so I grew up hearing their languages, and
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-05-25/sounds-of-africa-creators-brin...
See more stories from spotify

Europe Stories

28/11/2025

4 Reasons Why Keeping Your Spotify App Updated Matters and What You Might Be Missing

It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...

28/11/2025

Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey that unlocks a month of free content from the home of sport

Friday 28 November 2025 Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...

28/11/2025

Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds three billion euros for the first time

Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...

28/11/2025

Changing children's lives for good: Donations for the RT Toy Show Appeal 2025 open tonight

Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...

27/11/2025

Sky unveils first look image from high-stakes action thriller Prisoner, coming 2026

Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...

27/11/2025

Sky Arts Reveals the Nations Greatest Basslines and Queen Reign Supreme

Thursday 27 November 2025 Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...

27/11/2025

Arqiva Achieves Five-Star GRESB Rating

Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...

27/11/2025

Retail Media Audits Explained: What Networks Need to Know

What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...

27/11/2025

Katie Taylor, Rachael Blackmore and Arthur Gourounlian among the guests on this week's Late Late Show

World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...

27/11/2025

Tonight on RT Prime Time, serious child protection concerns emerge over online gaming platform, Roblox

Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...

26/11/2025

10 Book Podcasts You Can't Miss

Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...

26/11/2025

YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for Sustainability

YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025 YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...

25/11/2025

Tracy Bonareri Onchoke: Winner, Young Journalist Award 2025

Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2025. The 26-year-old-sele...

25/11/2025

5 Reasons to Try Spotify Premium This Holiday Season

The best playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks bring a little extra magic to your daily routine. With new features and offerings, Spotify Premium delivers even mo...

25/11/2025

New Study Reveals Australians Love Discovering New Music

Comprehensive new research confirms what we already knew: Australian music fans love the quality, quantity, and access they have to new and local music on strea...

25/11/2025

Why Use a SIM Card With The SNYPER-5G

Applicable Products Objectives The purpose of this application note is to give a brief background on 5G (NR) wireless communication an explain the reason a SN...

25/11/2025

Key takeaways from OnDAM 2025

25. November 2025 Cecilia Pierron Last week, we took part in OnDAM 2025, an educational conference fully dedicated to DAM, hosted by Activo Consulting. The ...

25/11/2025

VEON's QazCode and MeetKai Sign Agreement to Power National LLM Training and Local-Language Agentic Services Across VEON Markets

25 Nov 2025 VEON's QazCode and MeetKai Sign Agreement to Power National LLM...

25/11/2025

UKTV acquires three shows from Paramount Global Content Distribution for U, U&W and U&alibi

UKTV has acquired a high-profile slate of US dramas from Paramount Global Conten...

25/11/2025

Will Sharpe, Paul Bettany and Gabrielle Creevy star in a spectacular five-part event series Amadeus: Full Trailer Released

A symphony of genius, rivalry and vengeance, boldly reimagined from Peter Shaffe...

25/11/2025

Bradford Young named 2025 FilmLight Colour Awards Jury President'

Article courtesy of Cinematography World Read the article FilmLight has finalised the prestigious 2025 FilmLight Colour Awards jury and welcomed award-winning...

25/11/2025

Correccin de color en Chespirito: Sin Querer Queriendo

Article courtesy of Prensario Read the article La serie fue dirigida por Juli n de Tavira, Rodrigo Santos, y David Leche Ruiz, con direcci n de fotograf a a...

25/11/2025

Nosferatu,' Sinners,' The Studio' and Severance' Colourists Nominated for FilmLight Colour Awards

Article courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter Read the article The awards, celebr...

25/11/2025

Harbor rolls out Nara globally

Article courtesy of Televisual Read the article Already live in Los Angeles and rolling out in New York and London, Nara gives producers, colourists, conform ...

25/11/2025

ARTONE FILM integrates Baselight M

Article courtesy of Digital Media World Read the article ARTONE post-house in Tokyo is the first facility in Japan to integrate Baselight M, choosing its prec...

25/11/2025

Inside the Secret World of Hollywood's Master Colourists

Article courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter Read the article Once hidden in post-production suites, the artists who make movies and TV shows look the way they ...

25/11/2025

FilmLight Colour Awards The Winners

Article courtesy of Deadline Read the article The Brutalist' & Bad Bunny's Nuevayol' Music Video Among 2025 FilmLight Colour Award Winners - Cam...

24/11/2025

Spotify and Acne Studios Welcome Robyn Back to the Stage in Los Angeles

Robyn made her long-awaited return to the stage this week, as Spotify and Acne Studios brought friends and top fans together for an unforgettable evening at the...

24/11/2025

Bara Is Back: The New Spotify Camp Nou Opens Its Gates

After more than two years of redevelopment, FC Barcelona returned to its spiritual home on November 22, hosting Athletic Club in the first La Liga match at the ...

24/11/2025

Kyivstar Launches Starlink Direct to Cell Satellite Connectivity in Ukraine

24 Nov 2025 Kyivstar Launches Starlink Direct to Cell Satellite Connectivity in Ukraine Today's Launch Makes Ukraine the First Country in Europe Where Star...

24/11/2025

THREE NEW PRO DANCERS JOIN THE CAST OF DANCING WITH THE STARS FOR 2026

Ahead of the new ninth series of Dancing with the Stars, kicking off in January 2026, RT and Shinawil have announced the arrival of three new faces to the hit ...

21/11/2025

Explore the Lands of Oz on Spotify With This Exclusive Wicked' Experience

Fans have been counting down the days until the final theatrical chapter of Wicked is revealed. To celebrate the highly anticipated release of Wicked: For Good ...

21/11/2025

Spotify House Seoul Delivered Unforgettable Performances From Central Cee, The Kid LAROI, Jay Park, ZICO, GroovyRoom, and More

Last week, Spotify turned up the volume in Seoul with the return of Spotify Hous...

21/11/2025

Training success at SGL Carbon in Meitingen

Wiesbaden, November 21, 2025. The SGL Carbon site in Meitingen has reason to celebrate as one of its trainees received a special award. Elias Stemmer was honore...

21/11/2025

GoodGym named Grand Prix winner of the 2025 Sky Zero Footprint Fund

Sky Media's £2m award-winning sustainability initiative crowns its first charity as this year's standout changemakerFriday 21 November 2025 GoodGym nam...

21/11/2025

Standards Pavilion concludes COP30 with call to embed International Standards in every step of climate action

As COP30 draws to a close, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ...

20/11/2025

5 Ways to Get More out of Your Playlists on Spotify

Your playlists are personal. They're the soundtracks to your road trips, your quiet mornings, and your biggest celebrations; collections of memories and dis...

20/11/2025

Spotify, Trk mziinin efsanelerine sayg duruu niteliindeki ICON Trkiye'yi duyurdu

Spotify, uzun s redir zerine al t T rk m zik k lt r n n ikon haline gelmi ...

20/11/2025

Spotify and The Hollywood Reporter' Partner on the First-Ever Podcaster Roundtable

For the first time, Spotify has teamed up with The Hollywood Reporter to cohost ...

20/11/2025

Spotify and the ARIA Awards Mark a New Era for Australian Music

This year's ARIA Awards marked a turning point for Australian music, and Spotify was right at the heart of it. For the first time in the awards' nearly ...

20/11/2025

Cinegy wins the Swedish Hockey League

15 March 2012 SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Cinegy and Vericom are pleased to announce the recent deployment of Cinegy Archive for production and as...

20/11/2025

2012

6 September 2012 SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email FIC Turkey supplies media content to Pay TV under Fox TV Channel brands in Turkey. At the start of s...

20/11/2025

VIVA Indonesia broadcasting the World Cup Brazil 2014 with Cinegy

25 June 2014 SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Last month VIVA finalized its Cinegy installation in order to produce and broadcast the World Cup Brazil ...

20/11/2025

2014

1 October 2014 SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email With 5 locations spread out around Baden-W rttemberg, Schw bisch Media required a scalable end to end s...

20/11/2025

Strictly Come Dancing Goes with a Cinegy Workflow

27 April 2015 SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Cinegy, which develops and produces media asset management products that are used in flagship production...

20/11/2025

Cinegy announces new Latin America partnership

12 August 2015 SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Munich, Germany, 26 October 2015 - Cinegy, which develops and produces software technology for digital ...

20/11/2025

2015

5 November 2015 SHARE Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Munich, Germany 3 November 2015 - Cinegy, which develops and produces software technology for digital ...