Showbiz
How Have Podcasts Contributed to the Rise of Afrobeats?

By Ncebakazi Manzi
The rise of Afrobeats over the past decade or so has been nothing short of remarkable. From the streets of Nigeria and Ghana, it has become a global phenomenon, with some of the world’s biggest artists collaborating with Afrobeats icons and emerging artists alike.
In a sign of how rapid the ascent of Afrobeats has been, Spotify recently held events in Nigeria celebrating 13 billion streams of the genre. The growth of Afrobeats is unlikely to slow down anytime soon either, especially as streaming continues to grow across Africa. According to research firm Statista, the continent’s streaming market is set to grow from US$362.5 million this year to US$513.2 million in 2027. Combine that expansion with significant diaspora populations and you have the ingredients for further inter-continental pollination and growth.
But there are other forces advancing the growth of Spotify. Podcasts in particular are playing an increasingly important role. That’s true not just on the African continent, but around the world too.
Africa’s podcast growth
Before looking at how podcasts and music streaming services have complemented each other to drive Afrobeats’ growth, it’s worth providing some additional context around the evolution of podcasts in Africa.
Thanks to rising smartphone adoption and increasingly affordable connectivity, the medium has seen significant growth across the continent. In fact, podcast listenership in Nigeria grew by an astonishing 222% between 2021 and 2022.
Unsurprisingly, it’s not just listenership that’s grown but production too. While it’s difficult to get an exact idea of how many African-produced podcasts there actually are, you only need to open your podcasting app and type a few continent and country-specific search terms in to see how much choice there is today. These podcasts cover a growing number of niches too, including Afrobeats.
At the recent Afrobeats celebration events that were held in Lagos, Nigeria, the first day featured Spotify for Podcasters sessions which were focused on empowering creators and showcasing top podcasts. These events included a workshop on the basics of podcasting followed by a panel discussion with Nigerian podcasters. Next were live podcast recordings of a Spotify for Artists Masterclass on “Afrobeats Intelligence” and “I Said what I Said” featuring Afrobeats artists, Pheelz and Nissi. The day ended with a surprise performance by Pheelz bringing Afrobeats lovers and the expanding community of podcasters together.
Spreading the word about Afrobeats
There are a number of high-quality podcasts with an Afrobeats focus that not only highlight tracks from the genre but also delve into meaningful discussions related to the music.
Take Afrobeats Intelligence, for example. Founded by award-winning Nigerian music journalist Joey Akan, the podcast is a spin-off of his newsletter of the same name. And while it may be rooted in Nigeria, the podcast celebrates creative excellence from across the African continent.
Terms and Conditions by Pulse, meanwhile, dissects worthy culture-related conversations with insights and varying perspectives. Hosted by Neo Akpofure, ex-BBNaija housemate, Oyindasola Chekwa ESQ, a lifestyle influencer and content creator and Sayo AK an artist, planner, and entrepreneur. The podcast was launched in 2021 and also provides invaluable insights into the music industry from people who’ve been in the thick of it.
An older offering comes in the shape of Loose Talk, hosted by the trio of veteran media and music journalists Osagie Alonge, Steve Dede, and Ayomide Tayo. Founded in 2016, when the African podcasting scene was still in its infancy, the show discusses all things music and culture. After a three-year hiatus, Loose Talk started putting out new episodes this year.
Complementary mediums
That these and other shows have built sustainable offerings not only demonstrates the hunger to learn more about Afrobeats as a genre but also their potential to grow the genre’s popularity both in Africa and around the world. That shouldn’t be too surprising either. Being audio-driven mediums primarily, podcasts and music can be incredibly complementary mediums.
This ability to act as a promotional vehicle is underlined by our own Spotify data. It shows that the country with the highest number of Afrobeats podcast listeners is the UK, beating out Nigeria, with the US in the third spot.
For listeners, it’s easy to imagine how this symbiosis between streaming and podcasts comes about. They might have a friend recommend an Afrobeats artist or have their curiosity sparked by a song featured on the soundtrack for a movie or series. Once they’ve listened to those songs, they’ll likely want to find out more about the artist or to discover other, similar artists.
Podcasts offer them a convenient way of doing that (especially if they can access said podcasts from the same app), while also providing insights into the genre and news on the latest artist releases, collaborations, and developments.
Afrobeats and beyond
While Afrobeats has undoubtedly been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Africa’s podcasting explosion, there is no doubt that other genres are benefitting and will benefit in the future too. As more and more African producers launch their own podcasts and smartphone penetration and connectivity continue to grow across the continent, that symbiotic influence will only keep growing.
Ncebakazi Manzi is the Podcast Manager at Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa
Showbiz
Spotify, United Masters Empower Emerging Nigerian Artists

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
For three days, some emerging independent Nigerian artists were tutored in Lagos on how to navigate the challenging showbiz terrain and remain afloat.
This was through a collaborative initiative between Spotify and United Masters known as Fresh Finds Sessions.
The three-day camp focused on comprehensive artist development, offering invaluable industry insights and music recording sessions.
This programme provided invaluable networking opportunities and comprehensive industry insights for participating talents as one of them, Rigo Kamp, confirmed.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but after having my session, I’m just in awe and happy about my involvement. For Spotify and United Masters to find me worthy to participate in this programme is an honour,” Kamp said.
It was learned that at a Q&A session the hosted by United Masters’ Head of Africa, Mr Niyi Osadipe, a renowned producer, Sarz, advised young music acts to be real.
“I think one of the most important things I have learnt over the years is being authentic to yourself, and that authenticity is a byproduct of everything else that you may desire, including success and accolades,” he advised.
Another producer, Loudaa, urged producers to always connect with artists during sessions because it helps with the inspiration process.
“Creativity as a whole comes from a deep place and different things can inspire what you create,” Loudaa noted.
The event had recording sessions, which featured emerging producers, Twitchpapi and LeMav, who collaborated with promising artists Kyla Blac, DEELA, Tolani and the current face of Fresh Finds Africa’s playlist, Rigo Kamp, with songwriter Vito Rali also joining them during these sessions.
On the final day, those present were treated to a showcase featuring Amaeya, Fitzy West, FirstKlaz, and Romi; songwriter Shorae Moore, producers Ramoni and Dunnie.
“Spotify has always been intentional about creatives and their growth. Being able to serve the creative community in this way has been an honour and we’re grateful to our partners, United Masters, for collaborating with us,” Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa, Mr Victor Okpala, said.
Showbiz
Spotify Updates App With New Custom Create Cover Art Feature

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Popular streaming platform, Spotify, has updated its application with a new Create Cover Art playlist, giving users a fun way to personalise their playlists and show off their imagination.
The feature is embedded with fonts, stickers and graphic elements that allow users to take their playlists to a whole new level.
The company said this innovation signifies a continuation of its vision of encouraging people’s individuality and helping them make their playlists even better.
To access it, all users have to do is open the Create Cover Art tool from the Spotify mobile app; to select an existing playlist or to create a new one, tap the context menu.
From there, they can start to play around with features that allow them to add text, choose images and create some design elements.
Once they’re done, save it and share your playlist with your friends or on your social network.
Over 8 billion playlists have been created by Spotify users on the platform and they have been showing their creativity through their music choices.
Now with things like font options, stickers and graphic tools, they can take their playlists to the next level and make them look as good as they sound.
Thus, Spotify continues to lead the way in making playlist creation both a visual and auditory experience, allowing people to fully embody their playlists and take pride in them as pieces of work.
Showbiz
FG, Ecobank, Firm to Launch 2025 Design and Innovation Exhibition

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
All seems to be set for the unveiling of the inaugural Design and Innovation Exhibition 2025 organised by Design Week Lagos in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy.
The event will feature the Manufacturer and Designer’s Pavilion, spotlighting collaborations between manufacturers and designers, as well as the Designer’s Pavilion, where 50 individual designers will present new concepts across a variety of design disciplines, including furniture, toys, automotive, and industrial design, reflecting the diversity of Nigeria’s creative landscape.
A standout feature of the event will be the Titi Lai Lai Showcase, a curated concept store that will present exclusive pieces from renowned Nigerian designers and artists such as Victor Ekpuk, Banke Kuku, Mama Nike, and the Nike Art Gallery.
This collaboration will highlight the fusion of art and design, celebrating the use of local materials and the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.
“This exhibition offers a distinctive avenue for our nation’s economic advancement. By harnessing the synergy between Nigerian creativity and the manufacturing sector, we can modernize and innovate our products, promote the production of Nigerian creativity and furniture, and strengthen our economic connections,” the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Ms Hannatu Musa Musawa, stated.
The Head of SME, Partnerships, and Collaboration at Ecobank, Ms Omoboye Odu, said, “Ecobank is the solution for African banking, and we are committed to giving our customers the platform to network, collaborate, and partner to promote innovation and creativity. We are proud to be part of the process to spotlight homegrown innovations and sustainable practices across various sectors.”
Also speaking, the founder of Design Week Lagos and the Design, Innovation, and Inventors Hub of Nigeria, Ms Titi Ogufere, said, “The Design and Innovation Exhibition 2025 is more than a celebration of design; it represents a bold step toward positioning Nigeria at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“By fostering collaborations between designers and manufacturers, we aim to develop innovative products that not only serve local markets but also establish Nigeria as a global leader in design and manufacturing exports. This initiative underscores our commitment to building a sustainable industrial ecosystem that celebrates local talent and drives economic growth across Africa.
“At a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s creative economy, the Design and Innovation Exhibition 2025 will showcase the finest in furniture, product, and industrial design. This year’s exhibition will focus on the theme Building a Made-in-Nigeria Brand, celebrating the creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship of Nigerian designers and manufacturers while emphasizing industrialization and export potential.”
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