Fifteen years ago, hiplife artiste, Chinedu Okoli, better known as Flavour N’abania, dropped something truly special onto the music scene, Uplifted, and it was a first showcase of his talent. With powerful vocals, masterful highlife production, and a deep connection to his cultural roots, the album solidified his reputation as a gifted artiste.
  
At the time of its release, Uplifted smashed through borders and cultural divides, all thanks to the Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix) crooner’s deep commitment to celebrating his Nigerian roots, especially his Igbo heritage. This powerful connection to his culture has made him a major force, not just in Nigeria, particularly in the East, but also among the Igbo community dotted around the world.
 
The sheer success of Flavour’s cultural expression is highlighted by Spotify data from Uplifted and his other music projects. Even though his songs are deeply rooted in his culture and often delivered in Igbo language, they are getting massive plays all over the globe.
  
Uplifted itself has stayed a big deal on streaming platforms, with its standout tracks racking up some serious numbers. Among the most-streamed hits from the album are Ashawo Remix, Adamma, and Oyi (I dey Catch Cold).
 
These tracks, along with other timeless fan favourites like Time To Party, Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix), and Game Changer (Dike) have all contributed significantly to Flavour’s overall streaming success, proving their lasting appeal.
 
Reflecting on the album’s anniversary during an exclusive chat with Spotify, Flavour revealed that Adamma truly captured the essence of Uplifted. Flavour’s music really does have a universal pull. His songs have popped up in over two million user-made playlists, which shows just how much people are connecting with and sharing his tunes.
 
In the last three years, from 2022 to 2024, his music has seen a growth in streams, with a total stream increase of 134 per cent globally, and a 573 per cent increase across Sub-Saharan Africa. While 51 per cent of his total audience is in Nigeria, his influence stretches far and wide with the UK, Canada, USA, South Africa, and France all among his top listening countries; solidifying a global footprint, reaching across Africa, Europe, and America.

Leading Flavour’s listenership in Nigeria is a strong showing from Lagos, accounting for 38 per cent of his audience. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State also follow closely, making up 22 per cent and 16 per cent respectively, together claiming 76 per cent of his Nigerian audience.
  
He also enjoys love in the Eastern region as two cities, Enugu and Onitsha, break into his global top 10. Cities such as Greater London, Johannesburg, and New York City feature prominently too. This wide geographical spread shows how his music crosses all sorts of borders.
   
Flavour’s audience is diverse with Gen Zs (18-24 year olds) as his biggest fans globally and across Sub-Saharan Africa. This strong youth appeal is vital for his long-term success. While his music celebrates women, men form the majority of his listeners globally —57 per cent— and in Sub-Saharan Africa —63 per cent.
  
Uplifted’s enduring success showcases the music industry’s seismic shift, thanks to digital streaming. Platforms like Spotify have become powerful tools for artistes like Flavour to reach global fans.
 
Streaming data now offers a precise metric for measuring an artiste’s impact, revealing that Flavour’s culturally rich narratives in fluent Igbo resonate deeply with audiences worldwide, transcending geographical boundaries.