Apple Music selects DJ Grauchi for Sound of Africa

Apple Music has launched a new global initiative dubbed  The Sounds of Africa, celebrating five of Africa’s most influential music capitals: Nairobi, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, and Johannesburg.
According to Apple Music, the celebration is in recognition of the fact that Africa’s influence on the global music industry has never been stronger.
In an effort to highlight the incredible efforts and achievements of African rhythms, five playlists have been specially curated by a selection of artists, music executives, tastemakers and media personalities who embody the sounds of their cities, featuring a selection of new and catalog tracks that celebrate the unique and diverse spirit of African music.
In addition to the five playlists – The Sounds of Nairobi, The Sounds of Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, and Johannesburg – Apple Music has also created a series of exclusive DJ mixes in collaboration with renowned DJs from each country.
For The Sounds of Nairobi, DJ Grauchi got the nod to curate the one-hour, 13-minute playlist, which features a mix of 54 Kenyan songs from genge to gengetone to arbantone.
Described as a city where genres collide and innovation thrives, The Sounds of Nairobi is spearheaded by voices like Xenia Manasseh, Nikita Kering, and Njerae, who each contributed to the playlist.
Speaking about the playlist, DJ Grauchi said;
“This mix features the best artists Nairobi has to offer right now and a touch of the classic acts from back then, whose music is timeless and still banging in Nairobi.
As for Manasseh, she describes The Sounds of Nairobi as rebellious.
“There’s a rebellious & conversely free nature of the people in Nairobi that is revealed through our art and specifically our music. Our music is spiritual, revolutionary, fun, and experimental, and doesn’t conform to any set of rules. I just wanted to select music that showed that we can and have always been able to do anything.” She says.