Kenyans listened to more local music on Spotify this year

Wrapped is Spotify’s yearly look back at the songs, artists, albums and playlists that people listened to throughout the year.

The top streamed local artist honour goes to Sauti Sol, for the second time in a row, followed by Wakadinali, while Buruklyn Boyz, who are part of Spotify’s RADAR Africa programme, are the third most streamed Kenyan act in Kenya this year.

Otile Brown is down one spot from last year, making him the fourth-most streamed Kenyan artist, with Nyashinski rounding off the top five.

The most streamed Kenyan song is ‘Kishash’ by Lilmaina, followed by ‘Geri Inengi’ by Wakadinali featuring Sir Bwoy. Bien-Aime Baraza and Aaron Rimbui’s ‘Mbwe Mbwe’ is third on the list, followed by Nyashinki’s ‘Properly’ featuring Femi One.

Bien makes another top-stream entry with his most recent single, ‘Inauma’, completing the top five most streamed Kenyan songs of 2022.

“We are so encouraged by the trends we are seeing on Spotify in Kenya this year, especially when it comes to the increase in local music consumption,” Spotify’s artist and label partnerships manager for East Africa, Monica Kemoli-Savanne, said.

“This upward trend means that Kenyan creatives can find inspiration to create more content that resonates with local music lovers. Beyond that, this year’s Wrapped paints a very interesting picture of what music moves Kenyans.”

Meanwhile, African Heat is the most popular Spotify-curated African playlist in Kenya.

Below is a breakdown of what Kenyans streamed the most this year:

Top streamed Kenyan songs

• Lilmaina – Kishash
• Wakadinali ft. Sir Bwoy – Geri Inengi
• Bien and Aaron Mbui – Mbwe Mbwe
• Nyashinski – Properly (feat. Femi One)
• Bien – Inauma
• Nikita Kering' – Ex
• Fully Focus ft. Bien – Dimension
• Bensoul – Thick Thighs (feat. Bien)
• Nviiri the Storyteller – Nikita
• Nviiri the Storyteller ft. Bien – Niko Sawa

Top streamed artists in Kenya 

• Drake
• Burna Boy
• Chris Brown
• The Weeknd
• Future
• Lil Baby
• Gunna
• Fireboy DML
• Kendrick Lamar
• Justin Beiber

Top streamed songs in Kenya

• Burna Boy – Last Last
• Rema – Calm Down
• Pheelz ft. Bnxn – Finesse
• Oxlade – KU LO SA – A COLORS SHOW
• Lojay ft. Sarz – Monalisa

Most loved songs

• Rema – Calm Down
• Burna Boy – Last Last
• Pheelz – Finesse (feat. BNXN fka Buju)
• Burna Boy – For My Hand (feat. Ed Sheeran)
• CKay – Emiliana
• Oxlade – KU LO SA – A COLORS SHOW
• Ruger – Girlfriend
• Mavins – Overloading (OVERDOSE)
• Camidoh – Sugarcane (Remix) (feat. King Promise, Mayorkun & Darkoo)
• Burna Boy – It’s Plenty

Top streamed playlists

• African Heat
• Hot Hits Kenya
• Afro Hits
• Today’s Top Hits
• Afropop
• Made In Kenya
• RapCaviar
• Soft Pop Hits
• Chill Hits
• Afro Party Anthems