In 2023, African music captivated a global audience. Here are the 10 African artists who dominated the streaming charts in terms of monthly listens on Spotify:
REMA / 34.7M
listens Rema, a 23-year-old Nigerian singer-songwriter born in Benin City, gained popularity with his song "Calm Down," featuring Selena Gomez.
He is now one of the most popular artists in the Afrobeat scene. It is mpossible to escape from this musical genre born in West Africa, which has experienced a growth of 550% since 2017, on the platform.
TYLA / 30.3M listens
Tyla, a 21 y/o South African sensation, blends Pop, Afrobeat, contemporary R&B, and Amapiano.
Born in Johannesburg, she gained worldwide recognition with her single "Water" (2021) and her explosive stage presence.
BURNA BOY / 16.5M listens
Burna Boy, a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer, is one of the most influential African artists of his generation. His song "On the Low" contributed to his global recognition. Burna Boy won several awards, including a Grammy for Best World Music Album for "Twice as Tall" (2021).
He is also the first African artist to perform at Coachella, the renowned California festival.
TEMS / 15.4M listens
Tems, a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer born in Lagos, started her musical career in 2018 with the single "Mr Rebel." She gained international attention when Wizkid invited her to collaborate on the song "Essence."
In February 2023, Tems became the first Nigerian female artist to win a Grammy for her feature with Drake and Future.
LIBIANCA / 11.6M listens
Libianca, a 21-year-old Cameroonian-American composer and performer, is the new voice of Afro-soul. After studying singing and piano, Libianca released her first single, "People," in 2022,
which was an instant success, earning her international recognition.
AYRA STARR / 11.5M listens
Ayra Starr is a rising star in the Nigerian music scene. Born in Benin, she debuted in 2021 with her self-titled EP "Ayra Starr." Her tracks like "Away," "Ditr," and "Sare" quickly gained popularity.
Ayra Starr embodies the new wave of African talents pushing the musical boundaries, making her an artist to closely follow.
GIMS / 11.2M listens
After leaving the group Sexion d'Assaut, the Congolese artist GIMS found solo success with singles like "Bella," earning him the Golden Single award in France in 2014. He is one of the best-selling French-speaking artists of all time, contributing to the popularity of Afrobeat in France and Europe.
Gims has collaborated with numerous international artists such as Sia, Lil Wayne, and Maluma. He is also involved in several philanthropic projects.
SOOLKING / 10.7M listens
Algerian rapper Soolking, born in El Hammamet, gained immediate popularity in Algeria with his debut single "Indépendance" in 2013, arousing interest in the French rap scene.
Soolking then continued with several singles and albums, merging elements of rap, raï, reggae, and oriental music.
WIZKID / 10M listens.
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer Wizkid, born in Lagos, started his career in 2009 with the single "Holla at Your Boy." With albums like "Made in Lagos" (2020), he achieved critical and commercial success and collaborated with international stars like Drake, Beyoncé, and Chris Brown.
CKAY / 9.9M listens.
Known as "Africa's boyfriend," versatile Nigerian artist CKay started as a producer before launching his artistic career. His single "Love Nwantiti" (2019) became a turning point.
His video featuring Moroccan rapper ElGrande Toto became the most popular on the internet. The song propelled him onto the international stage thanks to its catchy melody and romantic lyrics.
