African music once again took its place on the world stage this week—though not without stirring up debate.
When Rolling Stone unveiled its “100 Best Albums of 2025” on December 3, the list quickly became more than just a ranking. It became a conversation. A celebration. And for many, a puzzle.
Three Nigerian albums and one by a Ghanaian-American star broke into the highly coveted list, signalling the global force African music has become. Yet from Lagos to London, the loudest chatter wasn’t only about the names listed but about the one name conspicuously missing: the African Giant himself, Burna Boy.
At the very top of the continent’s representation is none other than Sarz, the iconic producer who has shaped the sound of modern Afrobeats. His debut studio album, Protect Sarz at All Costs, landed at a stunning No. 27, marking a defining moment in his evolution from behind-the-scenes mastermind to full-fledged artist.
The album, hailed as a “reinvention of his legacy,” hosts heavyweight collaborators including Asake on “Happiness,” while weaving Malian kora traditions into sleek Afropop production on tracks like “Getting Paid.” It’s the kind of project that feels both futuristic and rooted—exactly the blend that propelled it into the upper tiers of the global list.
Next up is Amaarae, whose genre-bending album Black Star secured the No. 37 spot. The Ghanaian-American star continued her rebellion against Afrobeats conventions, crafting a world where Brazilian funk, Ghanaian highlife, and glimmering futuristic pop collide.
Critics were especially enamored with “S.M.O.” and the dance-floor favourite “Stuck Up,” the former snagging the title of third-best song of 2025 from Pitchfork. Amaarae’s vision? Decadent, defiant, and deeply rooted in identity.
Further down the ranking, Afrobeats king Davido appears with 5ive, proudly taking the No. 73 spot. The album stands as a victory lap of sorts, an artist with more than a decade at the top reminding the world why he’s still essential.
Featuring the Grammy-nominated hit “With You” with Omah Lay, alongside the Chris Brown collaboration “Titanium” and the spiritual standout “Holy Water,” 5ive reinforces Davido’s unmatched ability to blend crossover appeal with homegrown energy.
Rounding out Africa’s presence is 24-year-old rising star Fola, whose debut project, Catharsis, grabbed No. 88. His inclusion felt symbolic of a shift toward a more vulnerable, emotionally open strain of Nigerian pop.
Described as an “emotional rollercoaster,” the album trades chest-thumping bravado for introspection on tracks like “Gokada” and “Lost”, featuring Kizz Daniel. For many, Fola’s rise is proof that global audiences are now embracing the softer, soul-baring corners of Afrobeats.
Four African Albums Feature on RollingStone’s “Best 100 Albums of 2025” list
27. Sarz — Protect Sarz At All Costs
37. Amaarae — Black Star
73. Davido — 5ive
88. Fola — Catharsis pic.twitter.com/EUQB4hb88u— NOTJUSTOK (@NOTJUSTOK) December 4, 2025
But the biggest shock? Burna Boy’s absence. His eighth studio album, No Sign of Weakness, released in July 2025, was widely tipped to cut. It wasn’t just commercially visible—it recently earned a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Album, his fifth nod in that category.
Despite impressive features from Mick Jagger on “Empty Chairs” and Stromae on “Pardon,” the project faced a mixed critical response and became Burna’s lowest-peaking album on the Billboard 200, debuting at No. 200.
The Grammys saw its value. Rolling Stone, apparently, did not.
Instead, editors seemed drawn toward emerging narratives, new textures, and fresh sonic risks leaving one of Africa’s most dominant voices on the outside looking in.