Nigerian Music Stars, Tems, Rema, Make Obama’s 2024 Summer Playlist
Former United States President Barack Obama has unveiled his annual summer playlist, featuring 44 songs that span various genres and artists from around the world. Among the artists highlighted this year are Nigerian stars Tems and Rema, who are the only Nigerians to make the prestigious list.
Obama shared his playlist on X.com on Monday, stating, “With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I’ve been listening to lately – and it wouldn’t be my playlist if it didn’t include an eclectic mix. I hope you find something new to listen to!”
The inclusion of Tems and Rema on Obama’s playlist continues the trend of Nigerian artists being recognized by the former President in recent years. Previous honorees have included Wizkid and Tems in 2020, Burna Boy in 2022, and Ayra Starr in 2023. Notably, no Nigerian artist was featured in Obama’s 2021 playlist.
Some of the other notable tracks on the 2024 playlist include Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Charli XCX’s “365,” Billie Eilish’s “Chihiro,” Bob Marley’s “Them Belly Full,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” The Miracles’ “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” Samara Joy’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” featuring Pasquale Grasso, and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Wanna Be” featuring GloRilla.
Obama’s summer playlist has become a much-anticipated cultural event, often spotlighting emerging and established artists alike. Last year, Obama confirmed that he curates his playlists, dispelling rumors that they are compiled by someone else. Speaking with comedian Hasan Minhaj, Obama affirmed, “I do! Listen. I am so glad that I have this opportunity. People believe the books and the movies, but the playlists, they somehow think — and this is mostly coming from young people like you — somehow, y’all think you invented rock ‘n’ roll. You invented hip-hop.
“And so the fact that my lists are, you know, pretty incredible — people seem to think, well, he must’ve had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out this latest cut. No, man! It’s on my iPad right now.”
This year’s playlist reflects Obama’s well-known taste for a diverse range of music, offering fans and followers a glimpse into what the former President has been enjoying as summer winds down.
