Spotify: 5 Namibian artists with highest monthly listeners

In March 2021, Spotify expanded into the Namibian market, making the streaming platform accessible to thousands of listeners across all 14 regions. As music streaming gains popularity in Namibia, it’s worth examining the numbers to see which local artists are resonating most with listeners.

Leading the pack is Namibian-born and -based Pierre Pienaar, who has been a staple on the trance scene for years. While perhaps not a household name, he commands a cult following with 23 096 monthly listeners. He is particularly popular in Mexico City, London and Berlin.

Namibian-born music producer and DJ Gina Jeanz is hot on his heels with an impressive 22 300 monthly listeners. Known for her dynamic beats and unique sound, Gina Jeanz has carved out a significant international presence, with her fan base extending well beyond Namibia. Currently based in Switzerland, she continues to captivate audiences around the globe.

In third place is Shishani, an international, multi-award winning vocalist, guitarist and songwriter whose versatility moves beyond genres and cultures. Loved for their smooth and powerful voice, Shishani's music is comforting yet has a strong social consciousness to it.

In fourth place is controversial hitmaker Young T WokOngha, who boasts 12 300 monthly listeners. Young T’s philosophical and catchy tunes have made him a household name in Namibia, attracting a loyal following.

DJ Vuyo follows closely, securing the fifth spot with 12 100. His seamless hit-making skills have earned him a substantial fan base.

Honorable mentions

Holding their own is One Blood and Gazza, with the latter hailed as the Artist of the Decade. They have 11 900 and 11 800 monthly listeners respectively, a testament to their enduring popularity and influence in the Namibian music scene.

Beyond these top artists, several other Namibian musicians also deserve recognition for their impressive listener counts. The trio PDK has garnered 7 239 monthly listeners, while Tate Buti and newcomer Yeezir have attracted 5 457 and 5 256 respectively. These artists, though not in the top tier, continue to make significant contributions to Namibia’s vibrant music scene.

As Spotify continues to grow in Namibia, these monthly listener statistics offer valuable insights into which artists are capturing the hearts and ears of the nation. The increasing popularity of streaming services not only provides a platform for local artists to reach wider audiences, but also highlights the rich and diverse musical talent emerging from Namibia.

But it’s important to clarify that Spotify’s monthly listener metric differs from the total number of streams an artist has accumulated over time. Monthly listeners are calculated based on the number of unique users who have played an artist’s music within a 28-day period. This data provides a snapshot of an artist’s current reach and popularity, without factoring in the total number of streams or repeated listens by the same user.

It's also only fair to note that Spotify is just one of the platforms Namibian artists' music is available on. Some of those we have mentioned here may have more plays on other platforms. Meanwhile, there are many Namibian-born artists who have gone on to find success elsewhere in the world, and who are not mentioned here.