Spotify reports steady growth in Kenya five years after launch

According to the figures, year-on-year listening in Kenya has increased consistently over the past five years, recording an average annual growth rate of 68% through to 2025. The data indicate strong early momentum following launch, followed by continued expansion in overall streams.

Genre trends show significant increases across multiple categories. Amapiano recorded the sharpest rise, with streams growing by 1,404% between 2021 and 2025. Other genres also posted notable gains over the same period, including gospel and praise music (1,103%), R&B (737%), Afrobeats (680%), and hip hop and rap (520%).

Spotify’s data also point to increased engagement with music in Kenyan indigenous languages. Local listening of indigenous-language music rose by more than 101% over the five-year period. Globally, consumption of Kenyan indigenous-language music also expanded, including a 128% increase in 2024 and year-on-year growth of 69%, suggesting rising international exposure for local-language releases.

The most-streamed artists in Kenya over the past five years were Drake, Chris Brown, Future, Burna Boy, and Travis Scott.

The most-streamed songs during the same period were ‘Asiwaju’ by Ruger, ‘Rush’ by Ayra Starr, ‘Bandana’ by Asake and Fireboy DML, ‘Inauma’ by Bien, ‘Lonely At The Top’ by Bien, ‘Aki Sioni’ by Njerae, ‘Beta’ by Mutoriah, ‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy, ‘WAIT FOR U’ by Drake, Futue and Tems, and ‘SINA NOMA’ by Charisma.

The number of Kenyan artists distributing music on Spotify increased by 112% since 2021, reflecting growth in digital distribution among local creators.

User activity has also expanded. Over the five-year period, Kenyan listeners created more than nine million user-generated playlists. In 2025 alone, listening time in Kenya exceeded 203 million hours. Podcast consumption has also grown, with more than 35 million podcast hours streamed since launch.

Spotify’s data further show widening patterns of music discovery. In the most recent month measured, the average listener in Kenya streamed music from 124 different artists. The average listener age is 26, indicating a predominantly young and digitally engaged audience shaping listening trends in the country.