Ghana is not called the ‘Gateway to Africa’ for nothing. Ghanaians may proudly support their own, but as this year’s Spotify Wrapped data shows, they’re also enabling other creators and artists from other countries on the continent to thrive.
The country’s music scene is brimming with global hits, churning out some of the continent’s promising breakout artists. And, as digital streaming platforms continue to be the dominant way for artists to reach their fans globally and for fans to explore their musical and audio content tastes, what exactly are Ghanaians listening to? How does this influence culture? What does this reveal about Ghana’s music scene in general?
“This year, Ghanaians have shown that music is indeed a universal language. Spotify Wrapped results show Ghanaians are as welcoming of international influences as local ones and those from the wider African continent,” says Spotify’s head of music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu.
Ghana’s Spotify Wrapped results for 2022 – an annual round up of the top artists and music of the year as streamed by users around the world, shows how Ghanians are listening to music.
- Ghanaians love a good party, and they start this from 5:00pm when the sun is about to go down through to 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm according to the latest Spotify Wrapped data. It is no surprise that the day when they stream the most music is Friday, followed by Saturday.
- The playlist that they jam to the most is African Heat – Spotify’s curated playlist which compiles all the tracks heating up the continent.
- It goes without saying that Ghanaians love their own, as local music consumption keeps soaring with an impressive 193% year on year increase from from 2021 to 2022.
- Nigerian artists are enjoying a sweet spot in Ghana, as Burna Boy takes the top spot as the most streamed artist in the country this year. Home grown talent Black Sherif continues to have a stand out presence in music, ending the year as the second most streamed artist locally.
- The two also clinched top spots for the most streamed albums of the year with Love, Damini by Burna Boy leading followed by Black Sherif’s The Villian I Never Was .
- Spotify RADAR Global Artist Ayra Starr topped the list as the most streamed female artist in Ghana. She’s followed closely by the Grammy-nominated Tems, with Africa’s first to join Spotify’s EQUAL Programme, Gyakie at third place.
- Black Sherif’s meteoric rise to fame which he chronicled in his Kwaku The Traveller got the most heart hits among Ghanaians.
The full breakdown of the top lists is below.
| MOST STREAMED ARTISTS IN GHANA | MOST STREAMED ALBUMS IN GHANA | MOST STREAMED FEMALE ARTISTS IN GHANA |
| Burna Boy Black Sherif Drake Asake Sarkodie Kwesi Arthur Fireboy DML Davido Lil Baby Wizkid | Love, Damini – Burna Boy The Villain I Never Was – Black Sherif Mr. Money With The Vibe – Asake Playboy – Fireboy DML Son Of Jacob – Kwesi Arthur 5 Star – King Promise No Pressure – Sarkodie Made In Lagos: Deluxe Edition – Wizkid Boy Alone – Omah Lay Rave & Roses – Rema | Ayra Starr Tems Gyakie Darkoo Rihanna Adele Beyoncé Nicki Minaj Teni Doja Cat |
| MOST STREAMED SONGS IN GHANA | MOST STREAMED GHANAIAN ARTIST | MOST STREAMED GHANAIAN ALBUM |
| Last Last – Burna Boy Overloading (OVERDOSE) – Mavins Kwaku The Traveller – Black Sherif Finesse – Pheelz Bandana – Fireboy DML Buga (Lo Lo Lo) – Kizz Daniel Down Flat – Kelvyn Boy KU LO SA – A COLORS SHOW – Oxlade For My Hand (feat. Ed Sheeran) – Burna Boy It’s Plenty – Burna Boy | Black Sherif Sarkodie Kwesi Arthur King Promise Stonebwoy Shatta Wale KiDi Gyakie R2Bees Camidoh | The Villain I Never Was – Black Sherif Son Of Jacob – Kwesi Arthur 5 Star – King Promise No Pressure – Sarkodie The Golden Boy – KiDi JAMZ – Sarkodie Back 2 Basics – R2Bees Black Love – Sarkodie Anloga Junction – Stonebwoy Same Earth Different Worlds – Omar Sterling |
| MOST STREAMED GHANAIAN SONGS | MOST STREAMED PLAYLISTS IN GHANA | MOST HEARTED SONGS IN GHANA |
| Kwaku The Traveller – Black Sherif Down Flat – Kelvyn Boy Sugarcane (Remix) [feat. King Promise, Mayorkun & Darkoo] – Camidoh Non Living Thing (feat. Oxlade) – Sarkodie Friday Night – Lasmid Sugarcane |
