British Airways has teamed up with Nigerian-born musician and DJ Cuppy to bring the sounds of Afrobeats to its passengers. Starting November 1, 2023, flyers can enjoy an exclusive playlist curated by Cuppy on the airline’s in-flight entertainment system.
Cuppy, whose real name is Florence Otedola, is a global sensation who has performed in over 30 countries worldwide. She is also a philanthropist who supports education and empowerment initiatives for young Africans. Her playlist features some of the hottest tracks from the continent, including her own hits like “Jollof On The Jet” and “Feel Good,” as well as songs by Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tems, Buju, Omah Lay, and more.
The partnership between British Airways and Cuppy is part of the airline’s efforts to celebrate and connect with its diverse customers and destinations. It also coincides with the launch of a new route from Accra to London Gatwick, which adds to the existing daily service to London Heathrow. This gives travelers more choice of flight times and airports when flying between Ghana and the UK.
British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: “Enjoying the latest music, films, and boxsets is one of the things our customers most look forward to when they fly with us, so we’re really pleased to partner with Cuppy and bring more exclusive mixes to flyers’ fingertips. This year, we’ve doubled the entertainment content available on board, and music lovers can settle in and enjoy curated playlists and popular podcasts from every genre.”
Cuppy expressed her excitement about the collaboration, saying: “Like British Airways, music has the power to transport us to different places around the world, so I’m super excited to partner with them on their first ever Afrobeats playlist, bringing feel-good vibes right to flyers’ seats. I’m pleased to add this exclusive mix to their extensive music collection and hope customers sit back, plug in their headphones, and turn the volume up!”
Afrobeats is a genre of music that originated in Nigeria in the late 2000s and has since spread across Africa and beyond. It blends elements of hip-hop, reggae, dancehall, highlife, and other styles with catchy beats and lyrics that often reflect social and political issues. Afrobeats has become a global phenomenon, with artists like Beyoncé, Drake, Ed Sheeran, and Justin Bieber collaborating with or being influenced by Afrobeats stars.
British Airways is not the only airline that has recognized the popularity and potential of Afrobeats. In 2022, Emirates launched a dedicated channel for Afrobeats on its inflight entertainment system, featuring over 100 songs from artists across Africa. Qatar Airways also added Afrobeats to its music selection in 2022, as well as other genres like Bollywood, Arabic, and Latin.
British Airways customers can also enjoy other benefits when flying with the airline, such as WiFi connectivity, refurbished lounges, new uniforms designed by Ghanaian-British fashion icon Ozwald Boateng, and the latest generation business class seat, Club Suite. The airline also operates its newest and most fuel-efficient aircraft type, the A350, on its flights from London Heathrow to Accra.
With British Airways and Cuppy’s Afrobeats playlist, travelers can experience a taste of Africa’s vibrant culture and music before they even land at their destination.
Source: Business Day NG
