Spotify, an online streaming platform, says gospel music featuring chants is gaining more prominence globally.

In a statement in Lagos on Saturday, Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for Sub-Saharan Africa, said this was according to the streaming platform’s data.

Okumu said gospel music has continued to grow, captivating audiences of all ages, “offers solace during challenging times and inspires hope for a better future”.

“As the genre evolves, we are witnessing exciting new developments and fascinating shifts in Nigerian gospel music, with chants emerging as a notable trend.

“Listeners on the platform streamed 160 per cent of gospel music with chants in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023 globally; in Nigeria, the trend is even stronger, with a more than 282 per cent increase in streams in the same period,” said Okumu.

Okumu stressed that gospel music with chants improves spiritual connection and is an unfiltered expression of faith.

According to Spotify data for 2024, the top five Nigerian gospel artistes renowned for worship chants are Sunmisola Agbebi, Ebuka Songs, Dunsin Oyekan, 1 Spirit & Theophilus Sunday, and Nathaniel Bassey.

Okumu described chants in this new gospel style as distinctively minimalist.

“Gospel music typically lacks traditional lyrics, backup singers, or other hallmarks of conventional gospel songs; instead, chanters often perform in a freestyle manner, accompanied only by simple string instruments.

“Forty-five per cent of the listeners are between 18 and 24 years old, 26 per cent fall into the 25 to 29 age group, and 13 per cent are between 30 and 34 years old,” she said.

(NAN)