Spotify has announced its most-streamed podcasts for 2024 across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, highlighting the growing popularity of the medium in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ncebakazi Manzi, Spotify’s Podcast Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, shared the rankings in a statement on Thursday, emphasizing the diverse preferences among listeners in the region.
In Nigeria, “Apostle Femi Lazarus” retained its spot as the most-streamed podcast, followed by “Motivation Daily by Motiversity,” “Success Addicted Podcast,” “Apostle Joshua Selman,” and “The HonestBunch Podcast.”
South Africa’s top five included “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett,” “What Now? With Trevor Noah,” “Motivation Daily by Motiversity,” and “Podcast and Chill with MacG.”
In Kenya, the leading podcasts were “The97sPodcast,” “So This Is Love,” “The Mkurugenzi Podcast,” “Mic Cheque Podcast,” and “The Sandwich Podcast.”
Manzi attributed the growth of podcasting in Africa to its ability to give creators control over their narratives. “Podcasting is here to stay because it lets creators tell their stories on their terms while bringing their communities along for the journey,” she said.
According to Spotify, Sub-Saharan Africa listened to nearly four billion minutes of podcast content in 2024, with South Africa accounting for over two billion minutes, making it the region’s largest podcast market. Nigeria followed closely, with 700 million minutes consumed and half of the year’s new shows created in the country.
“Motivational content continues to dominate in all three markets, focusing on topics such as finances, relationships, and personal growth,” Manzi explained.
She highlighted the popularity of shows like The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, Motivation Daily by Motiversity, and Success Addicted Podcast, which appeal to listeners seeking inspiration and practical advice.
Manzi also noted the significant influence of spirituality on podcast rankings in Nigeria and South Africa.
“Christian Motivation had one of the most-shared episodes in South Africa, while Apostle Joshua Selman remained a favorite in Nigeria,” she said.
Additionally, conversation-style podcasts such as “I Said What I Said” and “The HonestBunch Podcast” have gained traction in Nigeria, reflecting listeners’ interest in engaging discussions on diverse topics.
“Podcasts are personal, but we see trends emerging across Africa’s leading markets,” Manzi concluded, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to supporting storytelling across the continent.
