Dancehall has become the fastest-growing music genre among Nairobi’s Generation Z listeners on Spotify, according to new data released by the music streaming platform.
The report shows that Dancehall recorded an impressive 95 percent growth compared to the previous year, making it the fastest-rising genre among young listeners in the city.
Bongo Flava followed with 75 percent growth, while Gengetone recorded 48 percent. Gospel music also continued to attract more listeners with 37 percent growth, followed by Amapiano at 34 percent. R&B registered 28 percent growth, Afrobeats 25 percent, Afropop 21 percent, and Drill music 6 percent.
Spotify also revealed that young people aged between 18 and 24 accounted for 53.7 percent of all music streams in Nairobi during June 2026. This placed Nairobi ahead of Lagos, which recorded 44.4 percent, and Johannesburg at 29.9 percent.
The data further showed that most music listening took place around midday. However, many Gen Z users also remained active between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., accounting for 55 percent of streams during those hours.
Podcast listening is also growing rapidly among Nairobi’s young audience. According to Spotify, Nairobi has a Gen Z podcast audience that is 2.5 times larger than Lagos and 1.7 times larger than Johannesburg.
Popular podcast categories include Arts, Society and Culture, Comedy, and Health and Fitness.
The findings were released ahead of Spotify’s Greasy Tunes programme, which will run from July 15 to July 26. The event will feature live music performances, artist showcases, gospel and alternative music nights, football watch parties, fashion displays, food experiences, live podcast recordings, and discussions about the music industry.
The latest report highlights Nairobi’s growing influence in Africa’s digital entertainment scene, with Gen Z continuing to shape music and podcast trends across the continent.