Drake, Chris Brown Kenya's most streamed artists on Spotify

Five years after its launch in Kenya, music streaming platform Spotify says it has recorded steady growth in the way Kenyans stream, discover and engage with their favourite music.

Since February 2021, Spotify’s presence has reshaped listening habits, creating a generation of digitally connected music fans.

“The big picture: listening keeps compounding,” Spotify said, highlighting that Kenya’s year-on-year listening growth has climbed steadily since launch.

Early momentum was strong, and growth continued through last year, with an average growth rate of 68 per cent reflecting a young, engaged audience that is constantly exploring new music.

According to Spotify, a significant driver of this growth has been Amapiano, the South African-born genre that has captured Kenyan listeners.

Between 2021 and 2025, streams of Amapiano in Kenya grew by an impressive +1,404per cent, demonstrating the genre’s rapid rise.

The platform also reported that other popular sounds are expanding fast.

Gospel and Praise music grew by +1,103 per cent, R&B by +737 per cent, Afrobeats by +680 per cent and Hip-hop/Rap by +520 per cent.

Spotify’s data also shows a surge in interest for Kenyan indigenous languages.

“Listening to music in Kenyan indigenous languages is rising sharply, both inside Kenya and beyond,” the report said.

Locally, indigenous-language listening increased by more than 101 per cent over the past five years.

Globally, growth was similarly strong, with a 128 per cent increase in 2024 and a year-on-year growth rate of 69 per cent.

This trend signals a growing appetite for local-language storytelling and sound.

Over the past five years, Kenyan listeners have returned consistently to both international and local artists.

The most-streamed artists in Kenya include Drake, Chris Brown, Future, Burna Boy and Travis Scott.

On the song front, tracks like “Asiwaju” by Ruger, “Rush” by Ayra Starr, and “Bandana” by Asake and Fireboy DML, dominated playlists.

Other notable songs include “Inauma” by Bien, “Lonely At The Top” by Asake, “Aki Sioni” by Njerae, “Beta” by Mutoriah, “Last Last” by Burna Boy, “WAIT FOR U (feat. Drake & Tems)” by Drake, Future, and Tems, and “Sina Noma” by Charisma.

The platform has also become a hub for Kenyan creators.

The number of Kenyan artists on Spotify has grown by +112 per cent since launch, reflecting an expanding pipeline of local talent reaching audiences both at home and abroad.

Listening habits have also evolved alongside the growing catalogue.

Last year alone, Kenyans streamed over 203 million hours on Spotify.

Podcast listening is also on the rise, with more than 35 million hours streamed since launch.

Users are increasingly engaged in discovery, with the average listener streaming 124 different artists in a recent month.

The typical Kenyan Spotify listener is 26 years old, demonstrating the platform’s appeal to a digitally native audience shaping culture in real time.

Furthermore, Kenyans have created over nine million user-generated playlists in the past five years, illustrating how actively listeners are curating and sharing music.

The data highlights a clear shift in how Kenyans consume music since it is no longer just about following trends; it is about exploring, discovering, and supporting both local and global artists.

Spotify’s report captures a vibrant ecosystem of listeners who are not only streaming more but also embracing diversity in sound, language, and culture.

Five years after its arrival, Spotify in Kenya is more than just a music platform but a window into the country’s evolving soundscape and a reflection of a young, culturally connected generation that is constantly pushing the boundaries of what they put on repeat.