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How Gen-Zs Shaped Pop Culture and Musical Preferences in 2023
Gen Zs shaping musical preferences and growing artists’ fandom across Sub-Saharan Africa
Which artists and songs does this generation gravitate towards?
This past year has seen many artists drop countless brilliant songs which have been streamed numerous times on Spotify, particularly by Gen Zs, who are the most tech-savvy generation currently alive. While a lot can be said about this generation, aged between 11 and 26 years, what we can all agree on is their influence on popular culture, music being no exception.
And while listening behaviours differ from one person to another, an exercise in which artists and tracks unite Gen Z across Sub-Saharan Africa is perhaps one step closer to understanding what makes the African Gen Zs move and groove, as seen in this year’s Spotify Wrapped.
Which artists came out on top?
Canadian rapper Drake takes up the number one spot in 2023, in part thanks to his collaborative album with 21 Savage on Her Loss which dropped in late 2022, as well as the release of his highly anticipated album For All the Dogs in October.
Afrobeats continues to be a very popular genre amongst Gen Z’s as Nigerian Afrobeats artists such as Burna Boy, Asake, Davido, Rema and Omah Lay find themselves on the top ten list thanks to their consistent contributions throughout the year. Burna Boy, Asake and Davido all dropped new albums this year while Rema and Omah Lay released deluxe versions of their previous albums.
However, it was not only Afrobeats musicians whom Gen Z gravitated towards this year, Drake’s Canadian counterpart The Weeknd was also streamed numerous times by Gen Z’s this past year which can be credited to the release of the deluxe version of his 2016 album Starboy. American Hip hop artist Travis Scott dropped his highly anticipated album Utopia which fans had been anticipating for 5 years, so naturally he too is in the top ten most streamed artists by Gen Zs in SSA.
Despite not releasing solo projects throughout the year, 21 Savage and Future are also on the list of most streamed artists by Gen Z’s across Sub-Saharan Africa, showing the generation’s affinity for international rap music.
Which were the grooviest songs of the year?
If the top songs streamed by Gen Z tell us anything, it is that they were in the mood to dance the whole year. Nine out of the top 10 songs are African and are either rooted in Afrobeats or Amapiano, with a couple of songs fusing both genres.
Despite being the only Hip hop song in the top 10, Sprinter by British artists Dave and Central Cee is in second place in a dance-genre-dominated list, which is no surprise as the song received global love from Gen Z, who enjoyed the banger made by two of England’s most popular stars.
Nigeria dominates this list too, with Ruger’s Asiwaju coming at the top, and also making an appearance is Asake’s Lonely At The Top, the artist’s testimonial on the life of fame. Off his highly anticipated album Timeless, Davido has two songs that the Gen Z’s cannot get enough of, FEEL and UNAVAILABLE featuring Musa Keys, both in the top ten.
Mnike, the Amapiano song that took social media by storm is the only South African song in the top ten, showing that there is something to be said about the power of virality. Meanwhile, Ayra Starr’s Rush is the only track by a female artist that’s in the top ten.
What does this tell us about Gen Z’s?
Gen Z’s are known for being hip and full of “vibes”, so it is no surprise that most of the artists and songs that they are streaming are mostly rooted in dance genres such as Afrobeats and Amapiano. Mnike, one of the biggest Amapiano songs to come out of South Africa this year, birthed several dance challenges on social media which had a huge role to play in the success of the song.
What makes these songs unite Gen Z’s is their ability to not only bring out the urge to dance but also their spiritual and love undertones. Songs like Asiwaju and Sprinter are two completely different songs, but their subtle and less subtle braggadocious nature help represent a whole generation which has often been thought of as being too expressive, while Rush by Ayra Starr taps into Gen Z’s desire to grind and pursue success without the negative energy.
Gen Z’s value authenticity and self-expression, and all these ten songs capture these values either through the use of African music to tell authentic stories of love, success, and pain, or through Sprinter’s employment of UK rap which Gen Z’s have grown to love and appreciate over the past few years.
Spotify 2023 Wrapped data show that Afrobeats is not only the biggest genre across Sub-Saharan Africa, but it also unites different generations in a region that thrives off authentic, self-expression music that captures their love for dance and a sense of freedom.
Some kids want superheroes. Some want animals. Others will happily sit through a funny story about a girl trying to figure out boarding school after being raised by goats.
That last one is Goat Girl, one of the new shows joining the kids’ lineup on GOtv this August. The series follows 13-year-old Gigi as she leaves the mountain life she knows behind and starts boarding school, where making friends and understanding human behaviour turn out to be a whole new adventure.
And Gigi is not the only new character young viewers will be meeting this month. August brings imaginative adventures, rescue missions, comedy, LEGO chaos and stories about friendship and family, giving different kinds of kids plenty to find themselves in.
For Kids Who Love a Rescue Mission: RoboGobo Season 2
Some children will always choose the show where somebody needs saving, and that is where RoboGobo comes in. Dax and the rescue team are back with upgraded Robo-Suits that can transform into Robo-Vehicles as they continue helping animals in trouble.
Season 2 airs Saturdays and Sundays at 12:25 pm on Disney Junior GOtv Ch 82.
For the Ones Who Want Something Funny: Goat Girl
Gigi’s story is probably not what you would call a normal school experience. Raised by mountain goats, the 13-year-old has to adjust to boarding school and figure out how to fit into a world that is very different from the one she knows. Her attempts to navigate friendships, school and human behaviour make Goat Girl an unusual and funny addition to the lineup.
It airs Monday to Friday at 5:20 pm on Cartoon Network GOtv Ch 89.
For the LEGO Fans: LEGO City: No Limits MAX
If your child can turn almost anything into an adventure, LEGO City: No Limits MAX should keep them busy. Jason and his friends find themselves dealing with zombies, cowboys, strange creatures and one particularly mysterious banana. Basically, you never quite know what is coming next.
The new series airs Monday to Friday at 4:20 pm from August 17 on Cartoon Network GOtv Ch 89.
For the Ones Who Love Family Stories: Wylde Pak
Lily and Jack are half-siblings who suddenly have to spend the summer together, while also helping out with their family’s pet grooming business. Naturally, things do not go smoothly.
Wylde Pak follows the pair as they navigate sibling rivalry, a new family dynamic and the everyday chaos that comes with working together. It is a story about family, friendship and figuring out how to get along when you have no choice but to spend time together.
Catch it Monday to Friday at 5:15 pm on NickToons GOtv Ch 86.
Something for Every Kind of Kid
The best thing about this month’s lineup is that there is no single type of child it is trying to entertain.
The little ones can follow Maisy’s imagination. The animal lovers have RoboGobo. Kids who enjoy unusual comedy can meet Gigi in Goat Girl. LEGO fans have another adventure to get into, while Wylde Pak brings family and sibling drama into the mix.
So when the inevitable “Mummy, what can I watch?” comes up during the holidays, you already have a few answers.
And with new stories arriving across CBeebies, Disney Junior, Cartoon Network and NickToons, they might not run out of things to watch anytime soon.
To upgrade, subscribe or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
The Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemates facing possible eviction this week are Tram, Barry, Goddessa, Yusuf, Temi Nkem, Sultex, Abi, Araga, Flora, Nomy, Ricky, Kamsy, Sheba, Oyin, Keivo, Gerad and Bells.
The 17 housemates emerged from this week’s nomination process, which saw the housemates vote to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction.
Conspiracy Hour
Ahead of the nomination process, Biggie announced Conspiracy Hour, giving the housemates the opportunity to rally together, discuss their thoughts and share who they would like to save ahead of the nominations.
This was followed by the nomination process, where the housemates were asked to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction. Chimsom Chuka, the Most Influential Player of the Week, Neche, the Head of House, and Nomy, the Benchwarmer, were exempt from the process.
Cassi, Bluethopia and Gerad were initially saved by their fellow housemates. However, as Head of House, Neche had the power to remove one housemate from the list and chose to remove Gerad.
Neche Wins Head of House Challenge
Neche emerged as this week’s Head of House after going head-to-head with Chimsom Chuka in the final round of the Head of House challenge.
The final stage was an endurance test, with Neche outlasting Chimsom Chuka to claim the Head of House position and its accompanying privileges, including immunity from this week’s nominations.
Biggie Introduces BB Bucks
Biggie also introduced the housemates to BB Bucks, the official currency of the Big Brother house.
The BB Bucks have no value outside the house but can be earned through tasks, challenges and other activities. While the housemates can earn BB Bucks, they can also lose them depending on how they choose to use them.
The BB Marketplace will also open in the house, giving the housemates the opportunity to spend their BB Bucks on items and privileges available to them during their stay.
Voting Is Now Open
With the nomination process completed, voting is now open, giving viewers the opportunity to decide which of the nominated housemates will remain in the competition.
Fans can cast their votes through the MyDStv app, MyGOtv app or the official Africa Magic website before voting closes at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Catch all the drama live and 24/7 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49. BBNaija Season 11 is also available to watch on DStv Stream and GOtv Stream.
For updates and exclusive news, visit the official Africa Magic Big Brother Naija page or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BBNaija.
The Big Brother Naija Season 11 House has recorded its first evictions on Sunday night, with Martins and Mercedes leaving the competition after polling the fewest votes from viewers.
Speaking with host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu after his eviction, Martins remained positive about what comes next, saying he plans to surprise the world with his next steps outside the House.
For Mercedes, the eviction was not something she considered a loss. She said she gave the experience everything she had and was proud of how she spent her time in the House. On what comes next, she revealed plans to perform globally while continuing to build her massage and concierge businesses. She also shared that one of her priorities is paying for her father’s surgery.
Chimsom Chuka Takes the First Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW) Title
While two housemates said goodbye to Biggie’s House, the evening also brought a new advantage for Chimsom Chuka, who emerged as the first Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW). The title earned him the betPawa Elite Award and immunity from next week’s eviction.
This adds another layer to the competition as the remaining housemates settle into the reality of the game, with strategies, alliances, and individual influence already beginning to take shape.
Nomy Receives Strike and Final Warning
Moments before the live eviction show, Big Brother summoned the housemates for a meeting following repeated violations of his instructions by Nomy. After addressing the importance of following the House rules, Big Brother issued Nomy a strike and final warning, making it clear that housemates cannot choose which of his instructions to follow.
With two housemates already out of the competition and Chimsom Chuka holding immunity for the coming week, the race for the N160 million grand prize is fast heating up.
Keep up with all the drama, suspense and gameplay in Big Brother Naija Season 11 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49, or watch it live on DStv Stream. Download the DStv Stream app and sign up – no dish, no decoder needed.
