Spotify has named Ghanaian trailblazer Amaarae as its EQUAL Africa artist for August, celebrating her as one of the continent’s most fearless and boundary-pushing creatives.
Born Ama Serwah Genfi and raised between Ghana and the United States, Amaarae has built a unique sound blending alternative, pop, R&B, and Afrobeats. Her global appeal lies in her ability to draw from diverse cultural influences while staying unapologetically authentic.
Her music journey began in 2009 in a Ghanaian computer lab, where she taught herself to make beats on a cracked version of FL Studio. That spark would lead to acclaimed projects such as The Angel You Don’t Know and the global hit SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY. Earlier this year, she earned a spot on Spotify’s Global Impact List for the first half of 2025, recognising her as one of Ghana’s top artists making waves internationally.
Amaarae’s latest album, BLACK STAR, embraces her Ghanaian heritage while serving as “a rallying cry for youth culture around the world.” She sees the project as a bold move to bring the alternative community into the spotlight.
“I navigate the music world with balance, willpower, and strength,” she says. “When I come across another woman on the journey, especially a Black woman, I do my best to share knowledge, create opportunities, and lighten the load where I can.”
The Spotify EQUAL programme, which amplifies women’s voices globally, aligns perfectly with her ethos. “Amaarae embodies the spirit of boundary-pushing creativity that EQUAL stands for,” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Her artistry is bold, distinct, and unapologetically authentic.”
Her influences range from Ghanaian legends like Daddy Lumba, Terri Bonchaka, and MzBel to Obrafour’s Pae Mu Ka album, Sarkodie, and Kwadwo Antwi. Quirky and candid, she even reveals, “I’m one step away from being legally blind! My vision is a -7 and I have astigmatism!!”
Amaarae prefers listeners to define her music for themselves, challenging them: “If you’ve never heard my music, I dare you to go listen!”
Her advice for aspiring dreamers? “The regret does more damage than the effort.”
