In February, Spotify announced a groundbreaking expansion into over 80 new global markets including Zimbabwe. Many of those markets are in Sub-Saharan African nations, which will give access to the continent with the world’s largest youth population. This move is an extremely promising one for the African Heat playlist and the artists featured on it. Before, the artists from places that created the majority of the music on the playlist weren’t able to listen to it. But now, with the expanded access, one can only imagine the possibilities that will come from African artists being able to engage with one another’s work in a way that was not possible just a month ago.
To celebrate African dance music and the playlist itself, Spotify launched the “African Heat to the Streets” campaign and the #AfricanHeatChallenge. With a just-released campaign video, directed by South African filmmaker Zandi Tisani, groups of acclaimed and talented young dancers in Johannesburg, London, Lagos, Accra, and New York showcase a barrage of synchronized dance moves on rooftops, alleyways and roads. It’s important to note that they’re all dancing to: “Ke Star” by Focalistic, a track that’s featured on the African Heat playlist and an example of the playlist’s commitment to amplifying the hottest music coming from the continent.
"It’s more of a collaborative effort by my team as we monitor hits coming from the continent right now, be it West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, Central Africa; or tracks from the diaspora focusing on the USA, UK, France, Netherlands, Brazil, and maybe a sprinkling of those that could be potential hits that fans should look out for. Our decisions are informed by a combination of data and editorial instinct. With Spotify’s expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa we will now have access to even more accurate data on the listening trends and habits from the continent." Says Melanie Carmen Triegaardt, the playlist’s editor, speaking about the work that goes into curating African Heat.
Which Zimbabwean Artists do you think will be the first to be featured ?
Stream African Heat below.
