Josplay partners Sony Music to boost African music discovery
Josplay, an Afrocentric audio platform focused on the global African diaspora, has announced a new content partnership with Sony Music Entertainment aimed at expanding access to African music for listeners
- By Samuel Oamen
Josplay, an Afrocentric audio platform focused on the global African diaspora, has announced a new content partnership with Sony Music Entertainment aimed at expanding access to African music for listeners worldwide.
The deal will make a significant portion of Sony Music’s catalogue available on Josplay, including recordings distributed through The Orchard, as well as the full catalogues of Lusafrica and Africa Nostra. Both labels were acquired by Sony Music France and Sony Music Publishing France in 2025.
Together, Lusafrica and Africa Nostra offer more than 4,000 tracks spanning over three decades of Lusophone and African music. The collection includes works from renowned artists such as Cesária Évora, Bonga, Boubacar Traoré, and Lura, highlighting the depth and diversity of African musical traditions.
Josplay said the partnership reflects its mission to present African music as a rich and diverse global soundscape, rather than a subset of “world music.” The platform noted that music plays a central role in identity and cultural connection for the African diaspora, linking communities across borders and generations.
Commenting on the development, Josplay Chief Operating Officer, George Ogala, said the collaboration strengthens the platform’s catalogue while reinforcing its founding vision.
“This partnership deepens the catalog available on Josplay while reinforcing why we built this platform in the first place. African music is not one thing — it is Juju and Gnawa, Morna and Amapiano, Afrohouse and Tishoumaren,” he said.
To mark the partnership, Josplay also announced plans to expand access to “Frames,” a feature designed to personalise listening experiences based on users’ cultural preferences and daily activities. The feature allows listeners to build dynamic sessions around selected songs, albums, or artists, while introducing new music tailored to their tastes.
The company said the collaboration with Sony Music will enhance its ability to deliver culturally relevant music experiences, while broadening global access to African sounds.
