Ghanaian Star Moliy named Spotify EQUAL Africa Artist for January 2026

Ghanaian singer and songwriter Moliy has been unveiled as Spotify’s EQUAL Africa Artist for January 2026.

Born Moliy Ama Montgomery, she sits comfortably at the intersection of African pop and global culture.

The recognition places her at the center of the streaming platform’s effort to spotlight women shaping the continent’s music landscape.

She also appears on the cover of the EQUAL Global playlist, underscoring her growing role in Africa’s cultural expansion and global musical presence.

Moliy has built a reputation for a sound that blends afro-pop, afro-fusion, and pulsating dancehall.

Her music is marked by soft, melodic tones carried by confident delivery, a style she describes as playful but intentional.

These elements have helped her attract a fast-growing audience, stretching beyond Ghana’s borders.

Born and raised in Accra, Moliy's path into music developed from what she called “curiosity into a purpose-driven career.”

She grew up listening to the Ghanaian staple sounds of Daddy Lumba, Rex Omar, R2Bees, and 4x4, as well as female artists including Ebony, Eazzy, Itz Tiffany, and Sister Deborah, who have shaped her sense of confidence and individuality, Spotify noted.

Their influence, she said, helped her cultivate a sound that lives “where emotion meets movement.”

Her breakthrough moment came in December 2024 when she released “Shake It To The Max (FLY),” a single that went viral internationally.

The song propelled her onto global playlists, amplified her visibility, and attracted attention from globally renowned dancehall artists.

By 2025, the momentum carried her into Spotify Wrapped results, where she ranked as the most-exported Ghanaian artist.

Moliy said her identity and artistic expression represent a shift in how African women are seen worldwide.

Through her visuals, performances, and personal style, she embraces themes of femininity, individuality, and freedom.

"Young women deserve to take up space fiercely, and without apology," she said.

Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, said Moliy’s recognition aligns with EQUAL Africa’s mission to elevate women who are shaping modern sound.

According to Okumu, "The artist’s work reflects a generation that is fluid, expressive, and unbound by borders."

In conversation with Spotify, Moliy presented a calm, introspective contrast to her lively stage persona.

“I’m actually quite introverted,” she said. While she enjoys performing, she values quiet time with family and friends, watching films, or playing online games.

Peace, she noted, is central to her creative balance, while tracing her true commitment to music back to 2018.

At the time, the platform said she felt “stuck in other areas” but found clarity by pouring herself into her craft and creating intentionally.

She also sensed the global rise of African sound and believed she had something distinct to offer.

“That’s when I knew there was space for me,” she said.

Asked how she navigates the industry as a woman, Moliy said she remains grounded in her identity.

“There’s pressure to fit into boxes,” she said, but she prefers to keep her perspective fluid. Her music, she noted, comes from a place of confidence and vulnerability.

Moliy also shared a message for young artists hesitant to pursue their dreams and encouraged them to act with consistency.

“Do whatever is in your power right now,” she said.

For Moliy, joining Spotify’s EQUAL cohort marks another step in a journey built on self-trust.

“Being a woman in this industry has taught me to trust my voice even when the room is loud,” she said.