Spotify Data Reveals Global Appeal of Nigerian Gospel Music During Easter

As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Easter, Nigerians are gearing up for a season of festive family meals, church services, and of course, local Gospel music.

With its unique blend of local sensibilities and global faith, Nigerian Gospel music has become a source of inspiration and upliftment to listeners not just in Nigeria, but around the world.

According to data from the streaming platform Spotify, Nigerians listen to more gospel music during the Easter period than any other time of the year.

“Nigerian Gospel is a very special offering that combines local sensibilities with the exalting message and belief of a global faith,” says Victor Okpala, Artist and Label Partnerships Manager, West Africa for Spotify.

“We’re excited to deliver those songs alongside Gospel essentials from the world over as part of this unique experience to inspire the faithful during this important celebration.”

But Nigerian Gospel music isn’t just popular in Nigeria. Some of our favorite local Gospel songs have also found massive global audiences outside Nigeria, and become big music exports enjoyed by Christians around the world.

Kumama Papa by Grace Lokwa, Moses Bliss and Prinx Emmanuel is the most exported of the bunch, with more than half of its streams coming from the UK, United States, Ghana, France, Canada and Kenya.

Nara by Tim Godfrey and Travis Greene follows at No. 2 with God Turned It Around by Nathaniel Bassey, Tim Bowman Jr. and Tim Godfrey at No. 3.

For Nigerian listeners, there’s no shortage of Gospel classics to soundtrack the Easter season. However, data from Spotify suggests that certain songs strike a chord among listeners uniquely during the Easter period, leading to massive spikes in listenership during the holiday.

Of the Easter favorites among Nigerians, Chandler Moore’s Worthy of My Song (Worthy of It All) saw a 43% increase in streams during the Easter season in past years.

It’s followed by Diana Hamilton’s Adom Grace which inspired a 30% spike during Easter. Local gospel is represented by Onaga, the collaboration between Tim Godfrey, Youthful Praise and JJ Hairston, which has seen a spike of 24% during the season.

Easter Gospel: These are the songs soundtracking Nigeria’s Easter celebrations

[Lagos] April 6, 2023 – For Christians around the world, the 7th of April kicks off the celebration of Easter, the annual Christian celebration of the Resurrection. Global streaming platform Spotify hosts an Easter playlist featuring some of the most definitive gospel tracks to lift spirits and help listeners channel their belief and inspire their faith during one of Christianity’s most venerated holidays.

Typically, the celebration is marked by church services, festive family meals, Easter eggs decoration and gift giving. For Nigerians, it’s also a time to commemorate that great sacrifice that defines Christianity by bonding over local Gospel music. Spotify data shows that Nigerians listen to more gospel music during the Easter period. 

“Nigerian Gospel is a very special offering that combines local sensibilities with the exalting message and belief of a global faith. We’re excited to deliver those songs alongside Gospel essentials from the world over as part of this unique experience to inspire the faithful during this important celebration,” says Victor Okpala, Artist and Label Partnerships Manager, West Africa for Spotify.

According to data from Spotify, listenership trends around gospel music from Nigeria during Easter paint an interesting picture. Even more so, the music of Nigerian artists has traveled far and wide and as Easter comes nearer, becomes a source of upliftment to fans in multiple territories globally. 

Gospel Exports

Nigerian music is one of the country’s most popular exports, even more so during the streaming era. In keeping with this trend, some of our favorite local Gospel songs have also found massive global audiences outside Nigeria, and become big music exports enjoyed by Christians around the world. Kumama Papa by Grace Lokwa, Moses Bliss and Prinx Emmanuel is the most exported of the bunch. According to Spotify data, more than half of its streams come from the UK, United States, Ghana, France, Canada and Kenya. Keeping up the spirit of collaboration, Nara by Tim Godfrey and Travis Greene follows at No. 2 with God Turned It Around by Nathaniel Bassey, Tim Bowman Jr. and Tim Godfrey at No. 3.  His Words by Grace Tena is the only solo track in the top 5.

Easter Favourites

For Nigerian listeners, there’s no shortage of Gospel classics to soundtrack the Easter season.  However, data from Spotify suggests that certain songs strike a chord among listeners uniquely during the Easter period, leading to massive spikes in listenership during the holiday. Of the Easter favorites among Nigerians, Chandler Moore’s Worthy of My Song (Worthy of It All) saw a 43% increase in streams during the Easter season in past years. It’s followed by Diana Hamilton’s Adom Grace which inspired a 30% spike during Easter. 

Local gospel is represented by Onaga, the collaboration between Tim Godfrey, Youthful Praise and JJ Hairsto, which has seen a spike of 24% during the season. Further down the line are Travis Greene’s You Waited and Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s For Your Glory – Live, both of which have seen spikes of 23% during the Easter season.

See the full lists of Nigeria’s top gospel exports and Easter favorites below:

1. Worthy of My Soul (Worthy of It All) – Chandler Moore, Maverick City Gospel Choir, Maverick City Music, Phil Wickman
2. Adom Grace – Diana Hamilton
3. Onaga (It’s Working) – JJ Hairston, Tim Godfrey, Youthful Praise
4. You Waited – Travis Greene
5. For Your Glory (Live) – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
6. King of Kings – Chandler Moore
7. Be Lifted (Live) – MOGMusic
8. You Know My Name – Jimi Cravity, Tasha Cobbs Leonard
9. Your Spirit – Kierra Sheard, Tasha Cobbs Leonard
10. Won’t Let Go – Travis Greene