Rwanda: Somi named Spotify EQUAL Africa Artist for August

The announcement coincides with the release of her new album, What Does It Take to Bloom?, which is scheduled for 7 August through Salon Africana. The 13-track album is led by the single ‘We’re All Falling’ and explores themes of identity, self-discovery and belonging.

Co-produced by Somi and Benjamin James of Nigerian highlife duo The Cavemen., the album features The Cavemen. and jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. It was recorded in Dakar, Lagos, Paris and New York.

Born in Illinois to Rwandan and Ugandan parents, Somi has built a career combining African musical influences with contemporary American jazz. She became the first African woman to receive a Grammy nomination in a jazz category, earning a Best Jazz Vocal Album nomination for her live album Holy Room.

Spotify’s EQUAL Africa programme supports women artists by increasing their visibility and connecting them with audiences in Africa and internationally.

“Somi’s artistry is a powerful testament to the rich, transcendent legacy of African jazz and storytelling,” Spotify head of music for Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu said. “As a barrier-breaking artist who continues to carve out space for African women on international stages, she perfectly embodies the spirit of the EQUAL programme. We are honoured to celebrate her voice and vision this August.”

Somi said the recognition was significant because of the challenges women continue to face in the music industry.

“To make music as a woman, to lead bands, build a label, and hold onto your own voice, is to work in rooms that weren't designed for you. That work is often invisible and rarely without cost,” she said.

“EQUAL matters to me because it insists that women’s voices don't just belong here; they shape what this industry becomes. To be lifted alongside so many women artists around the planet, at this moment in my life, and in this chapter of my work, means so much. Thank you for the honour.”

The EQUAL Africa selection adds to a career in which Somi has used music to explore African identity and connections between the continent and its diaspora. Her latest album continues that approach, bringing together musicians and recording locations from different parts of the world.