Nathaniel Bassey, Maverick City Music Lead Gospel Streaming in 2024 – Spotify
Nathaniel Bassey, a renowned Nigerian gospel artist, and Maverick City Music, an American contemporary Christian music collective, have been named the most-streamed gospel artists on Spotify across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, revealed the data in a statement on Friday, noting the growing influence of gospel music in the region. Gospel music claimed the ninth spot among the most-streamed genres in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.
Okumu highlighted the contributions of other top gospel artists, including Joyous Celebration, Spirit of Praise, Moses Bliss, Dunsin Oyekan, Chandler Moore, Sunmisola Agbebi, Mercy Chinwo, and CeCe Winans.
“Africa’s love for gospel music has reached unprecedented heights,” Okumu stated. “From the vibrant choirs of South Africa to the soulful voices of Nigerian gospel artists, this genre is inspiring millions and reshaping the global music landscape.”
She noted that South African choirs like Joyous Celebration and Spirit of Praise, along with Nigeria’s 1Spirit & Theophilus Sunday, are redefining gospel music with their exceptional vocals and innovative arrangements. Solo artists like Nathaniel Bassey, Moses Bliss, Dunsin Oyekan, and Benjamin Dube are also making significant waves with their uplifting messages and soulful melodies.
Female gospel artists, including Nigeria’s Sunmisola Agbebi and Mercy Chinwo, as well as South Africa’s Xolly Mncwango and Lebo Sekgobela, have further enriched the gospel music scene, inspiring audiences within and beyond the continent.
Okumu also emphasized the rise of Afro-gospel as a cultural movement, blending African rhythms with contemporary gospel to create a unique worship experience. While international acts like Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, and CeCe Winans remain popular, African gospel artists now dominate the charts, with 16 of the top 20 most-streamed gospel artists in the region being African.
The top-streamed gospel tracks in Sub-Saharan Africa for 2024 include:
“B’Ola (Honour)” by Sunmisola Agbebi
“I Will Pray” by Ebuka Songs
“Praise” by Elevation Worship, Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, and Chandler Moore
“You Are Great” by Moses Bliss, Festizie, Chizie, and others
“Thath’Indawo (Live)” by Spirit of Praise and Mpumi Mtsweni
Other notable tracks include Xolly Mncwango’s “Ungukuphila”, Hillsong Worship’s “What A Beautiful Name”, and “Jireh” by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music.
Spotify’s data highlights the enduring appeal and evolving global influence of African gospel music in 2024.
