The founder and lead pastor of Light Nations formerly Sphere of Light, Apostle Femi Lazarus has once again emerged as Nigeria’s most-streamed podcast creator, solidifying his position as a favorite among listeners.
This announcement was made by Spotify’s Sub-Sahara Africa Podcast Manager, Ncebakazi Manzi, as part of the streaming platform’s 2024 podcast rankings for Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
The rankings highlight the growing popularity of podcasts across the region, with spiritual, motivational, and conversational themes dominating listener preferences.
In Nigeria, Apostle Femi Lazarus led a top five list that included “Motivation Daily by Motiversity,” “Success Addicted Podcast,” “Apostle Joshua Selman,” and the crowd-pulling “The HonestBunch Podcast.”
Manzi revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa’s podcast listenership hit a milestone in 2024, with nearly four billion minutes of audio consumed.
Nigeria, the region’s second-largest podcast market, contributed 700 million minutes of listening time and produced half of all new podcasts in the region.
“The numbers don’t lie. Podcasting is here to stay because it allows creators to control their narratives while building a community,” said Manzi.
South Africa led the region with over two billion minutes of listening time, featuring globally recognized shows like The Joe Rogan Experience and The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, alongside local hits such as What Now? With Trevor Noah and Podcast and Chill with MacG.
In Kenya, the preference for homegrown content stood out, with shows like The97sPodcast, So This Is Love, The Mkurugenzi Podcast, Mic Cheque Podcast, and The Sandwich Podcast dominating the charts.
In Nigeria, spiritual content continued to command attention, with both Apostle Femi Lazarus and Apostle Joshua Selman ranking among the most-streamed.
However, motivational content addressing personal growth, relationships, and finances also resonated strongly. Manzi noted that shows like Motivation Daily by Motiversity and Success Addicted Podcast have become go-to resources for Nigerians seeking self-improvement and inspiration.
Conversation-based podcasts also thrived in Nigeria, with The HonestBunch Podcast and I Said What I Said attracting diverse audiences eager for relatable and engaging discussions.
Manzi emphasized the continent’s growing appetite for podcasts, attributing the medium’s success to its ability to deliver intimate and relatable storytelling.
“Podcasts are personal,” she said, “but trends do exist across the continent’s leading markets and beyond.”
