On Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Spotify used the occasion to honor a group of African innovators who are making their voices heard and, as a result, demonstrating the diversity of African creativity to the rest of the globe. The initiative, dubbed Sounds of Africa, included six singers and six podcasters and was promoted on social media in the week running up to May 25. It all came to a head during a party in Johannesburg, South Africa, where several of the founders as well as music business insiders were in attendance.
Mantalk.ke and The Sandwich Podcast from Kenya, I Said What I Said and Tea with Tay from Nigeria, and True Crime ZA and After School is After School with Sis G.U. from South Africa were among the six podcasters.
Chris Kaiga and Nikita Kering' from Kenya, Ladipoe and Preyé from Nigeria, and Nomfundo Moh and Zo Modiga from South Africa were among the six performers.
Patricia Kihoro, a multi-talented woman, was the evening's host, and she got things off with a fireside talk with Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify Africa's Managing Director. Muhutu-Remy spoke about the Spotify journey in Africa and how platforms like Spotify can help put African storytelling on the map in her first ever interview in the job. Eli and Oscar of Mantalk will be on a panel of creators. Ky, Jola from the podcast I Said What I Said, and South African artist Zo Modiga all stressed the need of speaking our own experiences in order to change people's perceptions of Africa.
Spotify also announced the launch of the Africa Podcast Grant, which will aim to promote African voices. A $100,000 prize will be offered to ten innovators who are conveying the story of Africa. The goal of this fund is to increase the visibility of underrepresented voices and views in podcasting.
Blinky Bill got the celebration started with an amazing show that got everyone dancing, and a couple of Kenyans in the audience even joined him on stage. Following that, South African dancer-turned-artist Kamo Mphela performed a building-shaking performance. DBN Gogo followed with an Amapiano set before Nasty C, the night's main artist, hit the stage. The Coolest Kid in Africa did not disappoint, finishing with his smash song Particular.
Juls went to the decks to round off the night with an Afrobeats set that left everyone wanting more.
"This is the first of a series of projects. We'd like to spotlight even more African innovators on a larger stage, so that the rest of the world understands that Africa isn't just a passing fad; it's here to stay, and it's THE moment." - Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify SSA's Managing Director.