Gospel music is growing nearly six times faster than drill among young listeners in Nairobi, as Kenya’s Generation Z continues to embrace a wider range of music genres, new Spotify data shows.
The streaming platform’s listening data for June 2026 found that Nairobi has the highest share of Gen Z listeners among three major African cities, with people aged between 18 and 24 accounting for 53.7 per cent of all streams in the city.
The figure is higher than Lagos, where the age group accounted for 44.4 per cent of streams, and Johannesburg, where they made up 29.9 per cent.
The data, released ahead of Spotify’s Greasy Tunes programme in Nairobi, shows young Kenyans are not gravitating towards a single genre.
Instead, they are expanding their listening across several music styles at the same time. Dancehall recorded the fastest growth among Kenyan listeners aged 18 to 24, rising by 95 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Bongo Flava followed with a 75 per cent increase, highlighting growing musical exchange between Kenya and Tanzania.
Gengetone, a genre that originated in Nairobi, also continued its growth, recording a 48 per cent increase. Gospel music posted a 37 per cent increase, significantly outperforming drill, which grew by just six per cent over the same period.
Amapiano continued its popularity among Kenyan listeners, growing by 34 per cent, while Afrobeats increased by 25 per cent.
R&B and Afropop also registered growth of 28 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. The data also points to clear generational differences in music preferences.
Genres such as deep house, jazz, classic country and rumba congolaise attracted fewer streams among 18 to 24-year-olds compared to the wider listening population.
Spotify’s findings further show that Nairobi’s Gen Z listeners are active throughout the day. Listening peaks at midday for the 18 to 24 age group, while 6pm is the busiest listening hour across all age groups in the city.
The period between 10am and 4pm accounts for 39.7 per cent of Gen Z’s daily listening, while the evening hours between 5pm and 10pm contribute another 30.5 per cent.
Even during the early morning hours between 2am and 5am, the age group accounts for 55 per cent of all streams in Nairobi.
Beyond music, Nairobi’s Gen Z audience is also consuming more podcasts than their counterparts in Lagos and Johannesburg.
Spotify said podcast listening among the age group is 2.5 times higher than in Lagos and 1.7 times higher than in Johannesburg, with Arts, Society and Culture, Comedy, and Health and Fitness ranking among the most popular categories.
The data was released ahead of Greasy Tunes Nairobi, a 12-day programme running from July 15 to 26 at Heltz House.
The event will bring together music, podcasts, food, fashion, sport and community activities, reflecting the diverse ways Nairobi’s young people engage with culture and audio.