Former President of the United States Barack Obama has shared his favorite music of 2024 and some African songs made the list. Obama shares his favorite music alongside movies, books and reading list on yearly basis.
Nigerian afrobeats stars Rema and Asake and including South African songstress Tyla were the African acts whose song made it the list of the former Head of State’s favorite music of the year.
“Here are my favorite songs from this year! Check them out if you’re looking to shake up your playlist – and let me know if there’s a song or artist I should make sure to listen to,” Mr Obama shared the list and captioned his post.
While Rema got featured on the lost with ‘Yayo’ off his ‘HEIS’ album, Tyla made it the list with ‘Jump’ featuring Gunna and Skillibeng and Asake ‘Active’ featuring American rapper Travis Scott.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up” is the first song named on Obama’s list, which has selections including Billie Eilish’s “Lunch,” Hozier’s “Too Sweet,” Leon Bridges’ “Peaceful Place,” Jack White’s “That’s How I’m Feeling” and Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” among many others.
Several tracks got a coveted spot on both Obama’s summer playlist (shared in August) and his favorite music of 2024 list.
The former President having Rema, Tyla and Asake on his favorite playlist is a testament to the rising influence and global takeover of African music. It also testifies to the musicians’ growing popularity and appeal in the Afrobeats, amapiano and R&B scenes.
” Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Bonny Light Horseman’s “Old Dutch,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Artemas’ “I Like the Way You Kiss Me,” Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby,” and Myles Smith’s “Stargazing” are all found on Obama’s summer list and his year-end list.
Obama also shared his favorite movies of 2024, a list which included All We Imagine as Light, Conclave, The Piano Lesson, The Promised Land, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Dune: Part Two, Anora, Dìdi, Sugarcane and A Complete Unknown.
His book list also has just 10 picks (and a reminder to support independent book shops and libraries). Obama’s favorite books of 2024 were Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo, Alexei Navalny’s Patriot, Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, Aysegul Savas’ The Anthropologists, Arlie Russell Hochschild’s Stolen Pride, Martin MacInnes’ In Ascension, Daniel Susskind’s Growth, Dinaw Mengetsu’s Someone Like Us and Adam Moss’ The Work of Art.
