Spotify has announced its list of the top five most-streamed podcasts for 2024 in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. The results showcase the continent’s growing appetite for podcast content, with billions of minutes listened to across Sub-Saharan Africa.
In a statement today, Ncebakazi Manzi, Spotify’s Sub-Saharan Africa Podcast Manager, highlighted that podcasting continues to thrive in the region. She pointed out that “Apostle Femi Lazarus” retained its position as the most-streamed podcast in Nigeria. This spiritual podcast leads a list that includes “Motivation Daily by Motiversity,” “The Success Addicted Podcast,” “Apostle Joshua Selman,” and “The HonestBunch Podcast.”
South Africa’s podcasting landscape offered a different flavour. The country’s top five included globally renowned shows such as “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett.” Local favourites like “What Now? With Trevor Noah” and “Podcast and Chill with MacG” also made the list, alongside the motivational “Motivation Daily by Motiversity.”
In Kenya, the podcast charts highlighted local storytelling. Leading the way were “The97sPodcast,” “So This Is Love,” “The Mkurugenzi Podcast,” “Mic Cheque Podcast,” and “The Sandwich Podcast.” These shows reflect the diversity and creativity of Kenyan podcast creators.
Manzi emphasized that podcasting has become one of Africa’s favourite ways to share stories. She revealed that listeners in Sub-Saharan Africa played nearly four billion minutes of podcast audio in 2024 alone. South Africa led the region with over two billion minutes, while Nigeria and Kenya also contributed significantly.
“These numbers don’t lie,” said Manzi. “Podcasting is here to stay. It allows creators to take control of their narratives and share their stories in their voices while engaging with their communities.”
The popularity of motivational content was a recurring theme across all three countries. Shows like “The Diary of a CEO,” “Motivation Daily,” and “The Success Addicted Podcast” attracted listeners looking for advice on managing finances, improving relationships, setting goals, and maintaining health. Inspirational stories resonated strongly with audiences, reflecting their desire for personal growth.
Spirituality also stood out as a dominant category, especially in Nigeria and South Africa. Manzi noted that “Christian Motivation” was among the most-shared episodes in South Africa, while Nigerian audiences continued to embrace “Apostle Joshua Selman.” Nigeria, as the continent’s second-largest podcast market, streamed 700 million minutes in 2024 and produced half of all new shows in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite the dominance of spirituality and motivation, conversation-style podcasts remain popular. Shows like “I Said What I Said” and “The HonestBunch Podcast” demonstrate a demand for relatable discussions on various topics. This trend extends beyond Nigeria, with audiences in Kenya and South Africa showing similar preferences.
Podcasting in Africa is evolving rapidly. With its unique ability to connect creators and listeners, it is redefining how stories are shared across the continent. As 2024 draws to close, the data underscores that podcasts are more than a trend—they are a powerful medium for communication and inspiration.
