Spotify has named Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, songwriter and playwright Somi as its EQUAL Africa Artist for August, the audio streaming company said in a press release dated August 10, 2026 in Nairobi.
The company said the selection coincides with the release of Somi’s 13-track album, What Does It Take to Bloom?, which it said was released on August 7 on Salon Africana. Spotify said the project was co-produced by Somi and Benjamin James of Nigerian Highlife duo The Cavemen, and includes guest appearances by The Cavemen and jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. According to the statement, the album was recorded across Dakar, Lagos, Paris and New York City, and is led by the single We’re All Falling.
The announcement adds to Spotify’s EQUAL Africa programme, which the company said is designed to spotlight women artists on the continent and connect them with broader audiences. For Kenya’s music and creative economy, Spotify’s editorial programmes are among the distribution channels that can influence discovery and streaming-driven revenues, particularly as more local listeners adopt subscription and ad-supported streaming as their primary listening mode.
Spotify said Somi, who was born in Illinois to parents from Rwanda and Uganda, is “the first African woman ever nominated in a Grammy jazz category,” citing her nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album for her live album Holy Room.
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the company viewed Somi’s selection as aligned with the EQUAL initiative. “Somi's artistry is a powerful testament to the rich, transcendent legacy of African jazz and storytelling,” Okumu said. “As a barrier-breaking artist who continues to carve out space for African women on international stages, she perfectly embodies the spirit of the EQUAL programme.”
Somi said the programme’s focus on women in the industry reflected structural barriers she has experienced. “To make music as a woman to lead bands, build a label, and hold onto your own voice, is to work in rooms that weren't designed for you. That work is often invisible and rarely without cost,” she said. “EQUAL matters to me because it insists that women's voices don't just belong here; they shape what this industry becomes.”
In an accompanying Q&A included in the press release, Somi said she is also a playwright and actor who has worked on Broadway. She described her sound as “story-based songs framed by modern jazz, pan-African grooves and soulful intimacy.”
The statement also included Spotify’s latest global user metrics, which provide context for the scale at which playlisting and programme-based promotion can impact listening behaviour. Spotify said it has 751 million monthly active users and 290 million premium subscribers across 184 markets, and that its catalogue includes more than 100 million tracks and more than 7 million podcast titles.
For East African artists and labels, industry observers note that platform-led initiatives such as EQUAL can contribute to cross-border discovery, particularly when paired with touring, radio syndication and social media distribution. However, sustained commercial impact typically depends on consistent releases, rights management and audience development beyond a single campaign window.
Spotify did not disclose the commercial terms of Somi’s inclusion in EQUAL Africa or provide market-specific streaming data for Kenya or the wider region in the statement. The company said Somi would be featured as its EQUAL Africa Artist for August.