The transformation of African music has been incredibly captivating. Starting from the melodies of highlife music performed in local bars and broadcasted over radios to commanding international stages with electrifying shows, the continent’s sound has gained unprecedented relevance globally. Yet, African music defies categorization. In 2016, Spotify acknowledged the undeniable emergence of Afro R&B within Africa’s music realm. This recognition birthed TANTALIZERS, among Spotify’s earliest playlists leaning toward Afro sounds. It acknowledged R&B’s profound resonance among African artists and audiences, solidifying its place within the continent’s diverse musical landscape.
This playlist celebrates the fusion of R&B’s soulful melodies with diverse local influences spanning Africa’s extensive and dynamic musical landscape. What drives the creation of TANTALIZERS? What defines its rhythm? And why do Thursdays and Fridays provide the ultimate immersion? Benewaah Boateng, Spotify’s West Africa Editor, shares insights. Each track featured on TANTALIZERS leads the listener through an auditory expedition showcasing the top R&B and Afro R&B compositions by Africa’s foremost vocalists. This thoughtfully curated selection transcends being merely a playlist, encapsulating the pinnacle of songwriting and melodies originating from Africa. Consider the hundreds of cultures within Africa, yet how they coalesce around this singular musical expression.
The enchantment originates within the genre itself. R&B surpasses linguistic and geographical barriers, forging connections among audiences through timeless themes of love, intensity, and sentiment. Within the TANTALIZERS community, there’s a diverse mix of genders, interestingly leaning slightly towards male listeners. This inclination shouldn’t astonish anyone familiar with the genuine nature of African men, known for their adeptness as ardent admirers. A considerable segment of TANTALIZERS’ followers originates from Kenya, illustrating the burgeoning R&B and R&B fusion movement sweeping through East Africa. However, the allure of this musical style isn’t confined to one region, as both the West and South, particularly Nigeria and South Africa, are closely following suit.
In reality, though, this R&B revolution is not unexpected. In its own way, R&B has always been a substantial part of Africa’s soundscape. Artists like Ghana’s Kojo Antwi and Nigeria’s 2Baba explored R&B and love ballads between the 1980s and early 2000s, setting the stage for the genre’s current resurgence. Yes, Afrobeats and Amapiano dominate the conversation today, but R&B is quietly and steadily making its mark, offering a genre that’s both nostalgic and fresh through every generation of music lovers. The most-streamed songs on TANTALIZERS all share a common thread – a little bounce and an up-tempo melody. Tracks like Jeune Lio’s Test Me and Tyla’s Girl Next Door have become instant favourites, thanks to the subtle bounce in their production that gets listeners grooving. According to Spotify data, Thursdays and Fridays emerge as the top listening days for TANTALIZERS. The reason? It’s simple – the weekend vibe. Africans love the leisure of the weekend where we can connect with each other on a deeper level. Nothing sets the mood better than the smooth and rhythmic tunes of R&B.
So, what should you look out for from this list of homegrown R&B acts? Don’t sleep on Xenia Manasseh’s exceptional songwriting skills or the soul-touching melodies of Botswana native Titose. To call these the future of African R&B would not be an overstatement. And if you like the modern R&B melodies of American Frank Ocean, Bryson Tiller, and SZA, check out what Uganda’s very own singer-songwriter MAUIMØØN can do.
Spotify prides itself in understanding young African’s tastes based on the data available. Part of this is what makes TANTALIZERS the leading R&B playlist across anglophone, francophone and lusophone Africa and beyond, with majority of listeners coming from the 18-29 year olds And what does the data say about the number of tracks that makes a playlist feel just right? The sweet spot is 45 to 60 songs, and that’s what TANTALIZERS gives.
Get into the heartbeat of African R&B with TANTALIZERS on Spotify. Tune in, turn up the volume, and let TANTALIZERS be the soundtrack to your rediscovery of feelings that only R&B can stir up deep within you.
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