Spotify has concluded its 12-day Greasy Tunes Nairobi programme, held from 15 to 26 July at Heltz House in Nairobi, after two weeks of events spanning food, fashion, podcasts, workshops, live performances and a closing party. The audio streaming company said the activation was designed as a physical gathering space for young listeners, artists and creative communities, using its own listening data to shape the schedule.
In a media statement dated 28 July 2026, Spotify said its internal June 2026 listening data for Nairobi showed users aged 18 to 24 accounted for 53.7% of music streams, which it described as the highest Gen Z share among Nairobi, Lagos and Johannesburg. The company added that listening in Nairobi peaked at 18:00 and that its “evening and unwind” window represented 30.5% of daily listening among its 18–24 audience. Spotify also reported that “dinner-adjacent hours” from 18:00 to 21:00 made up 20.9% of daily music listening for the same age group, generating 25.3 million streams, according to the statement.
The programme’s first week was themed “Starters” and, according to Spotify, aimed to illustrate how music intersects with broader urban culture in Nairobi, including food, fashion, podcasts, faith and sport. Activities included a Greasy Tunes Café and Hotspot set-up intended as a daytime hub, a “Kitchen Opening Party with The BAG,” and “Karibu Night,” hosted by Studio 18, which Spotify linked to its “Made In Kenya” playlist.
Spotify said “Karibu Night” combined music and fashion, with Studio 18 designing a Greasy Tunes jersey and scarf and designers from its community styling the items. The company also said artists associated with the “Made In Kenya” playlist were present, including Buruklyn Boyz. Spotify added that during the programme it changed the “Made In Kenya” playlist cover daily to reflect artists connected to each day’s events, featuring Buruklyn Boyz on day two and Coster Ojwang on day three, according to the statement.
Podcast-led sessions also featured in week one, including a Culture Club recording with Eric Musyoka and The 30% Podcast. Spotify said its Kenya-wide podcast data for 18–24 listeners showed Arts, Society & Culture and Comedy among leading categories, which it framed as consistent with the event’s emphasis on conversation-driven formats.
“Greasy Tunes brings the energy people experience on Spotify into a shared physical space. The programme reflects how music already connects Nairobi’s young listeners, whether through food, conversation, creativity or community,” said Agnes Opondo, Artists & Labels Partnerships Lead, Spotify East Africa, in the statement.
The second week, themed “The Mains” and running from 20 to 26 July, expanded into poetry, workshops, comedy and fan-focused events, according to Spotify. The company listed sessions including “Gufy’s Room: Poetry, Music & Storytelling,” a “Blueprint Workshop with Kasi Flavour,” a Studio 18 pop-up, a premium fan event with Nyashinski, an EQUAL workshop and showcase with Ongeza Volume, The Standup Collective, Fresh Finds/Nakili Sessions, a MIC Chequ podcast recording, “Brunch with Citizen Digital,” and a “Strictly Soul Closing Party.”
For Kenya’s music and creator economy, the programme signals intensifying competition among global platforms to deepen local cultural relevance beyond digital distribution. Offline activations that link streaming behaviour to live, community-led programming can strengthen artist discovery pipelines, expand partnerships with local media and creative collectives, and support monetisation opportunities around events, merchandise and brand collaborations, even as the underlying market remains sensitive to disposable incomes and data costs.
Spotify said the programme’s continuation would be reflected through its “Made in Kenya” editorial playlist, which it described as focused on Kenyan music. The company did not disclose attendance figures, budgets or commercial partnerships for the Nairobi activation in the statement.