Chinese singer-songwriter Chisway is drawing attention to his cross-cultural sound after emerging as the face of Spotify’s Global Afrobeats playlist.
Afrobeats continues to reach new audiences around the world, and Chinese singer-songwriter Chisway is becoming part of the conversation. Also known as AfroChis, the Chengdu-based artist is gaining attention for a sound that brings together Afrobeats rhythms, Mandarin lyrics and elements of traditional Chinese music.
His recent appearance as the cover artist for Spotify’s Global Afrobeats playlist has further placed him in the spotlight.
Rather than simply adopting an established sound, Chisway is developing a musical identity around the meeting of different cultures, languages and production styles.
Chisway’s approach to Afrobeats centres on musical fusion. His songs bring together Mandarin Chinese, Nigerian Pidgin and English, allowing him to move between different linguistic expressions while retaining the rhythmic qualities associated with the genre.
One of the records helping introduce Chisway to a wider audience is “KOLO,” released in February 2026 under his AFROCHIS imprint.
Built around the expression “Girl you dey make me kolo,” the song uses Nigerian Pidgin to communicate the feeling of being overwhelmed by love or attraction.
“KOLO” was followed by “Overflow” in March, continuing his run of releases in 2026. Both songs have helped establish the direction of his current musical chapter.
In October, Chisway expanded that approach with “Voodoo,” a collaboration featuring Liberian singer JZyNo and Chinese vocalist 斯丹曼簇 (Sidan Mancu).
Released on October 22 through RainLabs, the single brings together performers from different musical backgrounds, making the cross-cultural direction that defines Chisway’s current work.
Chisway’s appearance on the cover of Spotify’s Global Afrobeats playlist represents another notable moment in his growing profile.
The placement connects his name with a global platform dedicated to the genre and its international reach. It also puts his musical identity in front of listeners who may not have encountered his releases before.
The playlist-cover feature is distinct from an individual song being added to a playlist, but it still offers a valuable promotional platform as Chisway continues to develop his audience.