Fast-rising Afro-Indie star Njerae has been selected as the Spotify EQUAL Africa Global Ambassador for June 2025, a well-deserved recognition that accentuates her musical impact in Kenyan and Africa at large. Known for her soulful and refreshing sound, Njerae’s journey from an introverted youth to an influential voice has made her an artist to emulate even as she navigates a challenging industry. Her selection shows her artistic dexterity, resilience, and commitment to empowering female voices across the region.
Njerae will cover the EQUAL Africa playlist for the month of June, representing the continent in Spotify’s global campaign, staked at amplifying women’s voices through creating meaningful opportunities for representation.
Her rise is particularly noteworthy as she joins a roster of women artists being celebrated through Spotify’s EQUAL program, which strives to amplify the voices of women in music across the globe. “This is such a huge opportunity for me, and I’m super excited to have my face on such a platform. It’s such an amazing program, especially one that focuses on putting females on top, empowering them, and I love that,” she shares.
In a world that often underrepresents women, especially in the arts and culture space, Njerae’s musical journey shows that women, especially young, talented artists, can realize their dreams, provided they put in the work. “Nothing good ever comes easy. It’s gonna be a lot of hard work. Special people are the ones who will be put down,” she reflected. Many people told me that my music is too wordy or too white, and I’m glad that I didn’t really pay attention to them,” she added. “At the end of the day, the dream is mine and I’m the only one who knows why I’m doing it and the satisfaction I want from it.” Through her music, she has chiselled a path that has seen her go from writing poetry in times of political unrest to becoming one of the most influential voices in contemporary African music.
For Njerae, being selected as the Spotify EQUAL Africa Global Ambassador is not just a personal victory but a monumental achievement for women in African music. “Being a female artist is not easy, but one thing I’m particular about is that I don’t let that deter my journey,” she noted. Her strength lies in her ability to navigate the convolutions of the music industry while remaining closely knit to her values.
Her candidness about the challenges she faces as a female artist is empowering for emerging female artists in Kenya and the rest of the continent. She shares: “I never shy away from expressing that I need access to certain things that would make life more bearable for example – a designated changing room, having space for a make-up artist, or little things like a mirror or wipes – but I definitely don’t let my gender affect me or my qualification as an artist. I keep doing what I’m doing with my chest and my head held high.”
Njerae’s ambitions are set high for the remainder of 2025. “This year is all about discovering Njerae. A lot of people don’t know me away from “Aki Sioni” and “OTD,” she explains. “I want people to see me and hear me for all of me. There are a lot of unexpected collaborations that I think everyone’s gonna love. There should be an EP that comes out before the end of the year, some singles, and meaningful collaborations that can help me grow out of my shyness and become comfortable being around all these amazing artists.”
As she prepares for the release of her projects in the coming months, Njerae continues to demonstrate the passion and tenacity that have been the foundation of her success. Her selection will give her global exposure as her music will reach a wider audience. This will open doors to international collaborations, visibility, and enhance her musical career positively.