Every year, Spotify Wrapped gives music fans a snapshot of the songs, artists, and trends that defined the past year. In 2025, it’s shining a spotlight on some of the most unexpected influencers: Africa’s youngest listeners.
In many African homes, music has always been more than just entertainment, it’s a form of care. Parents and caregivers sing to soothe toddlers, hum during chores, or play familiar songs to ease long journeys or bedtime routines.
In communal households, where siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles all interact daily, a child’s favourite track can quickly become a shared household anthem, whether in a flat, townhouse, or sprawling family compound.
This tradition has seamlessly moved into the digital age. Spotify’s 2025 streaming trends show that children are driving household playlists, with parents relying on digital lullabies and playful songs to comfort, educate, and engage little ones.
Even with the ever-present debate over screen time, music continues to connect families and create pockets of joy and routine throughout the day.
The Stars Kids Can’t Stop Listening To
Across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and beyond, children are tuning into global favourites like CoComelon, Pinkfong, and Super Simple Songs, while timeless classics from artists such as Connie Francis continue to delight new generations.
Educational tracks from Nursery Rhymes ABC, as well as popular soundtracks like Zombies-Cast, also feature prominently. Meanwhile, local-language lullabies and regional hits ensure that familiar African melodies remain a vital part of the mix.
Songs on Repeat
Certain tracks have become integral to daily life: CoComelon’s “Wheels on the Bus”, Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark”, and Connie Francis’ “Pretty Little Baby” can be heard from morning routines to bedtime cuddles. Sing-along staples like Christina Perri’s
“You Are My Sunshine” and CoComelon’s “Baa Baa Black Sheep” have found their way into car rides, homework sessions, bath time, and quiet evenings at home.
When Children’s Music Becomes Family Culture
What starts as music for the little ones often evolves into a shared soundtrack for the entire household. The melodies children respond to become woven into daily life, creating unintentional but deeply felt cultural moments. The living room transforms into a space where generations meet through music, and songs once meant to calm toddlers now resonate with the whole family.
In sub-Saharan Africa, children may not be the ones hitting “play,” but their presence, reactions, and routines are quietly shaping the sound of home. As digital platforms expand, the songs that resonate with today’s young listeners could influence African music far beyond the living room, from classrooms to charts and beyond.
BY queen serem
