Nigerian Singer becomes Spotify EQUAL Africa ambassador for July
Spotify, music streaming giant has announced Nigerian singer and songwriter, Simi Ogunleye, popularly known as “Simi”, as Spotify EQUAL Africa music programme ambassador for July.
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.
This announcement followed the release of her latest album, “TBH (To Be Honest)”, which came out in June.
Okumu said that Simi joined other Nigerian artistes like Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr, Asa, and FAVE to be part of EQUAL Africa, which aims to spotlight and amplify the voices of talented African female artists making waves in the music scene.
She said Simi had also become the second African artiste after Tiwa Savage, to be named as an EQUAL global and EQUAL Africa artiste.
“Spotify welcomes Simi to the EQUAL programme which aims to foster gender equality and provide a platform to celebrate influential female artistes.
She joins a list of talented African women who are driving the culture and breaking through barriers in the music industry.
“We are proud to welcome Simi to the EQUAL programme, and we are so excited to see where her talent continues to take her from strength to strength,” she said.
Reacting, Simi said, “Striving and thriving as a woman in a male-dominated industry has taken years of practice to master.
“You go from being scared of it, to being intimidated by it, to being brave enough for it and then finally, to conquering it.
“I have almost always had to do way more than my male peers to prove myself but because of my love for music, I have been relentless and proud to do this work.
I certainly hope, with all my heart, that the women who continue to come after me find it easier to shine in the way they deserve.”
The EQUAL programme spans seven categories, which include the EQUAL artistes of the month and the EQUAL local playlists.
The latest artiste to join the EQUAL Africa and Global Music Programs, Simi, will be featured on the EQUAL Africa and the EQUAL Global playlists.
Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, better known by her stage name Simi, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. She started her career as a gospel singer, releasing her debut studio album in 2008, titled Ogaju she also played as one of the top judges in the season 7 of Nigerian idol Tv show in 2022.
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