Nations of nostalgia: African music, across the diaspora – DJ Mag

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A group of people dance enthusiastically in a crowded room, many with their hands raised, as African music pulses through the speakers. The image, reminiscent of a vivid DJ Mag cover, has a yellow tint.

Today, the page boasts a similar format. There’s an amapiano playlist and Kenya’s Gengetone right at the top, but there are also more esoteric additions: one named Gone Abroad, another titled Internet Famous. The former includes Nigerian TikTok favourite CKay and, puzzlingly, DJ Snake; the latter has the simple description, “iykyk” (or, “if you know, you know”). 

By late 2021, Spotify had successfully launched in 40 more African countries, leaving the Swedish company fewer than 10 countries away from total penetration of the…