Spotify names six African acts in global RADAR programme

The roster, comprising artists from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, includes DBN GOGO, Ayra Starr, Black Sherif, Victony, BNXN and Buruklyn Boyz. They join other top African names including Elaine, Willy Cardiac, Tems and Focalistic who joined the programme in 2020.

Since its launch, RADAR has driven an increase in listening and furthered fan-artist connections. This year’s selected artists will receive editorial, on-platform and off-platform support from Spotify to help broaden their respective fanbases. As part of its Global Hub launch, Spotify will prioritise the promotion of RADAR playlists, RADAR podcasts, Spotify Singles, and priority releases from RADAR artists across all regions.

The artists

Born in Benin, Nigerian singer Ayra Starr is behind an eponymous EP and the 19 and Famous album, amassing a base of more than 1.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Ghana’s Black Sherif, who currently boasts more than 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, is among the country’s biggest rising voices. He shot to nationwide fame thanks to the ‘First Sermon’ and ‘Second Sermon’ hip hop singles and is already a multiple-award winner at both the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards and the 3Music Awards.

Lagos-born Afro-fusion singer Bnxn has cultivated a monthly listenership of more than three million on Spotify and is behind some of the most successful local hits in the past year.

Nigerian singer-songwriter and rapper Victony, who was last week named as Apple Music’s latest Africa Rising artist and enjoys more than 752 000 monthly listeners on Spotify, blends R&B, trap and Afropop influences into his craft. Behind successful singles such as ‘Pray’ and ‘Holy Father’, Victony has a number of collections under his belt, the latest being the Outlaw EP.

A hip hop crew fronted by Mr Right and Ajay from Nairobi, Kenya, Burukulyn Boys are credited as among the flag bearers of Kenya’s drill music movement and have more than 45 000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

With more than 335 000 monthly listeners on Spotify, South African DJ, musician, and music producer DBN Gogo is among the most successful emerging acts in the country.

“It gives me so much joy to bring back our RADAR Africa programme, and to do so within a deservingly bigger and better format,” Spotify Africa’s head of music, Phiona Okumu, said. “It is so important that we continue to identify and find ways to offer developing artists a fair chance at success on and off-platform. We have six outstanding ones from the region, to begin with, and look forward to sharing in their journey while we provide the resources to elevate them to the next level of their respective careers, and hopefully make thousands more Spotify fans around the world.”