In the bustling midst of South Africa’s own Pride Month, Spotify unveiled its GLOW South Africa playlist, a dazzling addition to its global GLOW initiative, dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ artists year-round. This launch reaffirms Spotify’s commitment to amplifying queer voices in South Africa, extending far beyond Pride Month to honour them every day.
Excitingly, South Africans are already embracing the global GLOW playlist, with streams soaring by 57% year-on-year in vibrant cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. The playlist showcases homegrown queer talent, spotlighting artists like Angie oeh, Dee Traits, and Lelowhatsgood, ensuring local representation takes center stage. Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, told us: “We’re dedicated to ensuring that queer artists have the visibility and amplification they truly deserve, all year round.”
Spotify’s devotion to the LGBTQIA+ community extends beyond playlists. Recent collaborations, including an album with South African icon Thandiswa Mazwai and events like the Mother of Music showcase in Cape Town, underscore their long-term commitment to nurturing the local queer music scene. To celebrate the launch of GLOW South Africa, Spotify hosted an electrifying event on October 19, highlighting the incredible talents within the community.
The GLOW South Africa playlist epitomizes Spotify’s mission to elevate queer voices and celebrate the rich, diverse musical landscape of South Africa.
