Afrobeats' impact on music has extended beyond West Africa's borders; it has also served as a platform for the export of food, dance, and languages. This week's edition to Spotify's Afrobeats:Journey of a Billion Streams website focuses on the cultural exportation that is currently occurring as a result of Afrobeats' popularity in the international media.
The Afrobeats rise from West Africa to the international arena has been documented on a website that Spotify launched last month. The site has thus far traveled through the Afrobeats origins in Ghana and Nigeria, the transition into the current sound, and its fusion with other genres.
this week's new
The rise in popularity of afrobeats can be attributed to a number of elements, such as global collaborations, the influence of social media, the expansion of music streaming, and the African diaspora. Afrobeats' development, in the opinion of 28% of fans polled by Spotify-commissioned Kuvora study, is mostly due to international partnerships.
This week's site update includes the study's results as well as a comprehensive piece on Afrobeats as a vehicle for cultural export. The experts are back and sharing their knowledge of the spread of Afrobeats around the world. The videos this week include:
West Africa Editor for Spotify, Benewah Boateng
Ghanaian artist Efya
Nigerian singer-songwriter Seyi Shay
Ghanaian music producer Kofi Bansah
Obi Asika, CEO of Storm Records, a pioneering record label in Nigeria
UK-based Afrobeats pioneer and singer May7ven
Since Spotify's regional introduction, Afrobeats streams in Ghana have increased by 181% annually. The top Afrobeats tracks being streamed in Accra are:
Asiwaju Ruger
Omah Lay is okay.
Xtra Cool Young Jonn
Rush's Ayra Starr
Fireboy Asake DML - Bandana
more data updates
The updates also contain fresh information on:
Best Afrobeats albums exported
renowned Afrobeats exports
Top Afrobeats tracks exported
Top female Afrobeats tracks exported
The development of Afrobeats has been fascinating to follow, and the genre's export success from Mexico to Saudi Arabia has been very encouraging. African music is now being heard by new listeners worldwide. According to Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify's Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, "We know Afrobeats is going to continue shattering even more ceilings and we are so excited to see how this genre has taken African culture to the world."
At the moment, Cultural Export is available on afrobeatsz.bySpotify.com.