When djrobblog started in January 2015, no one could have predicted that nearly four years later the continent that would generate the second-largest readership of the music blog would be… Africa.
From its humble beginning, the bulk of djrobblog’s readership has been in the United States – and by extension North America. However, since late 2016 and powered primarily through sponsored Facebook boosts, the blog began to catch on in places like Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Senegal and other African countries with large English-speaking populations.
Nigeria in particular has been very supportive, with over 100,000 of djrobblog’s nearly 600,000 registered clicks since it began in January 2015, according to the blog’s WordPress stat tracker. And most of those 100,000 Nigerian reads have occurred in just the past two years, including 83,000 this year – as shown in the above graph. Kenya is second with just over 30,000, with South Africa trailing at about 28,000 clicks since 2016.
As far as continents go, North America still leads with about 284,000 registered clicks, followed by Africa with about 180,000, and Europe placing third (led by the U.K. with about 50,000 clicks).
The subject that has garnered the most attention from the Mother Continent is American hip-hop. Nigerians in particular are passionate about hip-hop, demonstrating the worldwide reach and influence of popular artists like Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Drake, J. Cole, Jay-Z, Kanye West and others.
However, the article that has generated the single-most interest – surprisingly – is a non-hip-hop one: the tribute to Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the world-famous Jackson family who passed away this past June. The djrobblog memorial to him has registered nearly 90,000 Facebook clicks (with 45,000 reads on the blog’s stat tracker) since June, with almost all of them coming from Nigeria and Kenya. By contrast, fewer than 500 people clicked the article here in the United States. The Joe Jackson article has been shared 1200 times on FB, with over 1100 comments generated.
The heavy interest in the Jacksons of course extends to the late King of Pop, Michael, whose twin 35th-anniversary articles for “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” each garnered over 20,000 clicks in Africa.
Djrobblog wants its readers in Nigeria, Kenya and other countries in the motherland to know that your support is truly appreciated. We wouldn’t be able to continue without your clicks and I plan to keep the articles coming as long as you keep reading.
To all our readers everywhere, I humbly thank you from the depths of my soul for your continued support of this still-growing music blog.
Very respectfully,
DJRob
I don’t know how I became a regular on this wonderful blog but I sure know it had something to do with Hip Hop. Africans and Nigeria (Naija) that I know follow Hip Hop keenly with the likes of Nas, Eminem, Jay Z, Kendrick, J. Cole, Drake and a lot more taking the front row with truckloads of fans. And just like y’all in the US, Biggie and Pac are worshiped, they’re like gods. A lot of heads are here in this motherland too only shinning in our caves. And you’ll have to dig deep to get a glimpse for some might never make it to the surface. Thankfully though, we have you and through you we see the world and how music still brings us close regardless of race. Thank you too #DJRob… Naija dey hail:
(Nigeria sends her regards)
Thank you so much! I am truly blessed to have readers like you!
Love you DJROB. You have loved music for the over 30+ years that I have known you. I remember in 1984 your ability to name the Number 1 Billboard artist at any point in time. I am so happy that you are able to share your love of music with the world. ?✌?
Love you too, sis! I’m finally putting that knowledge to use!
This is an excellent blog/review. It’s amazing that real HipHop, R&B, and Classic Soul is valued so greatly in the African countries, and so dismissed or watered down in the U.S. During the time I lived in Ghana, I traveled to Nigeria to see the artist Joe, and was amazed at his popularity. I now see that American artist are revered, and respected in the African countries. Thank you for this blog which creates an epiphany for those of us wanting to connect with the Motherland. Kudos to you my bruhdah!