Asake will curate Spotify’s African Heat playlist for a New Year’s Eve takeover, featuring top African tracks and high-energy Afrobeats for 2026
Afrobeats star Asake has been announced as the curator of Spotify’s ‘African Heat Playlist’ for an exclusive New Year’s Eve takeover, welcoming the arrival of 2026.
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The announcement was made by Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, in a statement released on Wednesday in Lagos.
She said the playlist will feature Asake’s chart-topping hits alongside defining sounds from across the African continent.
“African Heat is about capturing the energy and confidence of African music as it exists today. Having Asake as the cover reflects the kind of artists shaping how African sounds move through the world, rooted at home but resonating everywhere,” Okumu said.
African Heat, which boasts over one million followers, has evolved from a playlist into a global movement, providing a platform for African artists to reach wider audiences and spotlighting the continent’s influential songs and cultural milestones.
“With Asake, one of the most-streamed artists in Sub-Saharan Africa, fronting the playlist, the takeover celebrates the expanding global footprint of African music,” Okumu added.
She noted that Asake’s dominance is reflected through multiple era-defining albums and sold-out international arena tours.
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The Spotify initiative underscores the growing influence of Afrobeats as a global cultural force, with African Heat serving as a key platform for the genre’s international reach.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
