Fast rising award winning star, Nikita Kering is the most streamed female artiste in Kenya with her 'Ex' hit song while the most-streamed Kenyan artist is Sauti Sol followed by Sol Records’ Nviiri The Storyteller.
This is according to a research done by Spotify.
Otile Brown is third, then Nyashinski and finally the other Sol Records artist, Bensoul. Niko Sawa by Nviiri The Storyteller and Bien is the most streamed Kenyan song. Nikita Kering’s Ex is second, a huge feat for the 19-year-old star who is also the only woman in the top ten.
An ode to the city’s dating scene, Nairobi by Bensoul comes in third. H_art the Band’s My Jaber (Friday) is fourth, followed by Dusuma by Otile Brown.
Local artists have found a megaphone for their work, and the top exported local artists are Sauti Sol, followed by Jeff Kaale, then Otile Brown. Ayub Ogada is the fourth top exported local artist and Nviiri The Storyteller rounds off the top five.
Eight out of the ten songs exported are all collaborations, probably due to the combination of two different fan bases. Wanani Remix by Bahati, Benzema, Mejja, Odi Wa Muranga and Petra Ssaru is the top exported song, with most of the plays coming in from the USA.
Bensoul’s collaboration with Mejja, Nviiri The Storyteller and Sauti Sol in Nairobi puts it in second place. It is followed by Melanin, a collaboration between Sauti Sol and Patoranking. Ayub Ogada’s Kothbiro is fourth and the only non-collaboration song in the top five. Extravaganza, the song by Sauti Sol and featuring Bensoul, Crystal Asige, Kaskazini and Nviiri The Storyteller, is fifth.
The countries where the top five exported songs were most-streamed are the USA, UK, Canada in that order, except for Ayub Ogada’s Kothbiro where it was most streamed in the USA, Germany then the Netherlands.
The top emerging artist is Wanavokali, and the top local genre is Gengetone.
There were a total of 1.2million user-generated playlists, but the Spotify playlist that users loved most is Hot Hits Kenya. Uniquely local playlists are a core part of Spotify and a number have been created in the year since launch.
NairoBae, derived from the term of endearment that the city dwellers call Nairobi, highlights the best RnB from the city. 254 Flow is for all rap lovers who want to explore the rap scene in Kenya while New Music Friday Kenya spotlights newly released music from the country, every Friday.
Zilizopendwa is a throwback playlist with tracks from the 80s and 90s that made radio what it was back then. Spotify is celebrating one year since it was launched and the average number of artists streamed per user has grown by 17%.
The full breakdown of the top lists is below.
Most streamed Kenyan artists
Sauti SolNviiri The StorytellerOtile BrownNyashinskiBensoulWakadinaliBURUKLYN BOYZH_art the BandMejjaKhaligraph Jones
Most streamed Kenyan songs
Nviiri The Storyteller, Bien - Niko Sawa
Nikita Kering’ - Ex Bensoul, Mejja, Nviiri The Storyteller, Sauti Sol - Nairobi
H_art the Band, Brizy Annechild - My Jaber (Friday)
Otile Brown, Meddy - Dusuma
Nviiri The Storyteller - Kitenge
Chris Kaiga, Mutoriah - I Want
Chris Kaiga, Nyashinski - Hapo Tu
NDOVU KUU, Khaligraph Jones, Boutross Munene - NDOVU NI KUU
Mbuzi Gang, Mejja - Shamra Shamra
Top exported Kenya artistsSauti SolJeff KaaleOtile BrownAyub OgadaNviiri The StorytellerWilly PaulBensoulStella MwangiNyashinskiKarun
Top exported Kenyan songs
Bahati, Benzema, Mejja, Odi Wa Muranga, Petra Ssaru - Wanani - Remix
Bensoul, Mejja, Nviiri The Storyteller, Sauti Sol - Nairobi
Sauti Sol, Patoranking - Melanin
Ayub Ogada - Kothbiro
Sauti Sol, Bensoul, Crystal Asige, Kaskazini, Nviiri The Storyteller - Extravaganza
Sauti Sol, Nyashinski - Short N Sweet
Willy Paul, Alaine - I Do
Otile Brown, Meddy - Dusuma
Sauti Sol - Suzanna
Sauti Sol, Red Fourth Chorus - Kuliko Jana
Emerging / breakout artists
Wanavokali
Taylor Torch
Bon’eye
Groovy Jo
Nikita Kering’
Top Spotify playlists
Hot Hits Kenya
Today’s Top Hits
African Heat
Made In Kenya
Rap Caviar
Soft Pop Hits
Mood Booster
Mega Hit Mix
Afropop
Gengetone Fire
