Apple Music launches campaign to celebrate African gospel music

The campaign features playlists from South Africa’s Joyous Celebration, Ntokozo Mbambo, Hle and Dr Tumi, as well as Nigeria’s Sinach, Mercy Chinwo, Nathaniel Bassey, Tim Godfrey and Ada Ehi. Also featured are US gospel artists Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin and Donald Lawrence, among others.

“The Easter season marks a time of renewal and encourages us to reconnect with those dear to us,” Apple Music said. “So it’s no wonder that the music dedicated to this time of family and celebration is bursting with joy and gratitude. Spirits Rejoice is our collection of the sounds of Easter featuring exclusive playlists, curated by Africa’s biggest and most celebrated gospel stars.

“Joyful, powerful and inspirational, these are the tunes that can lift any mood. From choral to contemporary, Spirits Rejoice provides a dose of inspiration and hope on demand, featuring the biggest Christian and gospel hits from your favourite artists.”

The campaign also features gospel music videos such as ‘Great You Are Lord’ (Sinach), ‘Someone Like Me’ (Dr Tumi), ‘Uyalalelwa’ (Joyous Celebration) and ‘Congratulations’ (Ada Ehi).

“As one of the top-streaming genres on the African continent, gospel music is characterised by emotion, choral voices and soulful sound that conveys a range of emotions that move the listener with every note,” Apple Music said. “Gospel music has its roots firmly in Africa with its call-and-response style originating from numerous African tribes.”