Music streaming platform Spotify says Africans are increasingly using shared playlists to stay connected with friends across cities, countries and continents.

Spotify disclosed this in a statement on Friday to mark the 2026 International Friendship Week.

The platform noted that music has become an important tool for maintaining friendships in spite of physical distance.

According to the platform, more Africans are relocating for work, education and other opportunities thereby making intentional efforts to stay connected with friends through music.

It said new platform data showed that more than 128,000 friendship-themed playlists had been created and shared across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The streaming service added that over 82,000 playlists featured the words “friend” or “friends” in their titles while more than 14,000 playlists were dedicated to best friends.

Spotify said the figures underscored how playlists had evolved beyond collections of songs to becoming expressions of affection and friendship.

The company also revealed that users across the region had created more than 1,300 collaborative playlists, allowing friends to build shared music collections regardless of their locations.

The report highlighted that features such as Blend, which creates a shared playlist from two users’ listening tastes, and Jam, which allows friends to listen together remotely, have helped deepen connections.

According to Spotify, African music continues to dominate many friendship playlists with tracks such as ‘Mario Kart’, ‘Me & U’, ‘Chanel’, ‘Remember’, ‘How Are You (My Friend)’ and ‘Doha’, featuring prominently.

The platform said playlists also showcased works by leading African artistes including Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Omah Lay, Seyi Vibez, Tems, and Wizkid.

Others include Asake, Rema, Tyla, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Kelvin Momo, Babalwa M and Sipho Gumede.

It added that international songs such as ‘Back to friends’ by Sombr, ‘We can’t be friends (wait for your love)’ by Ariana Grande and ‘Birds of a Feather’ by Billie Eilish also featured prominently, reflecting themes of nostalgia, distance and enduring friendships.

Spotify said playlists had become ongoing conversations for many young Africans, allowing friends in different time zones to share music, memories and emotions without needing to be online simultaneously.

It added that the trend demonstrated that while distance had changed how African friendships were maintained, music continued to serve as a powerful means of staying connected. 

(NAN)