What artists, songs and albums unite the East African region?

Spotify recently released Wrapped 2022, which provided some interesting insights into how people listened this year. Unsurprisingly, people are loving Burna Boy (and his new album Love Damini), further cementing his status as an African Giant. Social media also plays a huge role in streaming, with most of the top-streamed songs also trending online.

The love, however, does not stop with Burna Boy. There are certain songs, artists, and albums that cut across East Africa, specifically Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, in 2022.

Below, is a breakdown of some of these tunes that united the region: 

Artists

1. Burna Boy

To say that Burna Boy has had a great year would be an understatement; he is the top streamed artist in Uganda, and second in Kenya and Tanzania. He is also the top streamed artist in Sub-saharan Africa

2. Drake

Drake topped the charts in all three countries during last year’s Wrapped. This year he retained that spot only in Kenya. He was second in Uganda, and third in Tanzania, where Burna Boy and Diamond Platnumz took the top two spots

3. Fireboy DML

Adedamola Adefolahan who goes by Fireboy DML released his latest album, Playboy in August 2022. The album contained his mega-hit Peru, which he remixed with Ed Sheeran, as well as Bandana, his more recent release.  He is the third most streamed artist in Uganda, seventh in Tanzania, and eighth in Kenya

4. Justin Bieber

The final artist who is streamed across all three countries is Justin Bieber. He is the only artist on the list without an album released in 2022. He is fifth in Uganda, eighth in Tanzania, and tenth in Kenya

Songs

1. Burna Boy – Last Last

Arguably his biggest single of the year, Burna Boy’s Last Last which samples Tony Braxton’s 2000 hit He Wasn’t Man Enough, saw massive success in the region. It is the most streamed song in Kenya, second in Uganda and fourth most streamed song in Tanzania

2. Pheelz – Finesse (feat. BNXN fka Buju)

Pheelz and BNXN came together to give the people the YOLO anthem they did not know they needed. The social media love definitely translated into streams, making it the top-streamed song in Uganda. It is third in Kenya and eighth in Tanzania

3. Rema – Calm Down

Rema’s global hit released in February, topped charts throughout the year, making it the top streamed song in Tanzania. It was second in Kenya, and third in Uganda

4. Oxlade – KU LO SA – A COLORS SHOW

Another viral hit thanks to social media, everyone must have seen a KU LO SA dance challenge at some point in the last few months. The hit is the fourth most streamed song in Uganda and Kenya, and fifth in Tanzania

5. Mavins – Overloading (OVERDOSE)

Mavins has a talented roster of artists, so when they all came together to make Overloading (OVERDOSE), it was bound to be a hit. It takes up the sixth spot in both Uganda and Tanzania, and is the eighth most streamed song in Kenya

Albums

1. Burna Boy – Love, Damini

This album gave us Last Last, It’s Plenty and For My Hand which features Ed Sheeran, so it tracks that it is the most streamed album in all three countries

2. Ayra Starr – 19 & Dangerous

In a male-dominated list, Ayra Starr shines with her album 19 & Dangerous, making her the only top ten female artist who is streamed across the region. The album is second in Kenya, third in Uganda and fifth in Tanzania

3. Rema – Rave & Roses

Rema’s reign is not letting up; his 2022 album which hosts hits such as Calm Down and Soundgasm is the third most streamed album in Kenya, fourth in Tanzania, and sixth in Uganda

4. Omah Lay – Boy  Alone

The 25 year old Nigerian crooner’s album released in July this year is loved across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It is the seventh most streamed album in all three countries

5. Ed Sheeran – =

West Africans seem to be picking up all the streams in East Africa, with a few exceptions, such as Ed Sheeran’s = which is third in Tanzania, fourth in Kenya, and fifth in Tanzania