This is an updated list of African artists who have reached number #1 on the Billboard world album chart.
Attaining the first spot on the Billboard world album is a big feat and achievement, and here we’ll highlight the African artists who have ever reached number #1 on the Billboard world album chart.
Billboard world album is a chart that ranks the most popular albums in the USA.
However, It generates weekly after tracking album sales and streams in the US regional criterion by the Billboard website.
Also, It is often used to convey the universality and popularity of an album or a particular project.
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Below is the List of African artists that reached #1 on the Billboard world album chart.
Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kidjo is a Republic of Benin Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, actress, and activist, sometimes regarded as heroic, because of her artistic longevity.
Ali Farka Touré
Late Ali Farka Touré is a Grammy award-winning Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist, and one of the African continent’s most globally acclaimed musicians, known for his derivative blends of traditional Malian music.
Ali Farka Touré has two albums that reached number 1 on the chart, ‘The source’ and ‘Talking Timbuktu’ in 1993 ‘The source’ peaked at number #1 and spent 64 weeks, and in 1994 ‘Talking Timbuktu’ peaked at number #1 and spent 37 weeks on Billboard world album chart.
Youssou N’Dour
Youssou Ndour is a Grammy award-winning Senegalese singer, songwriter, and composer, according to Rolling Stone magazine in 2004, he is “perhaps the most famous singer alive” in Senegal and a considerable part of Africa.
Youssou Ndour album titled ‘Eyes Open’ peaked at number 1 and spent 37 weeks on the Billboard world album chart, the album was released in 1992.
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist, primarily sings in a traditional language to promote cultural and ethnic diversity.
Baaba Maal has released many albums, both for local and major labels, his collaborative project titled ‘Johannesburg’ (EP) peaked at number #1 and spent 62 weeks on the chart.
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Ladysmith Black Mambazo
A World renowned South African Singing choral Group founded by Joseph Shabalala, known for its role in introducing traditional Zulu choral music to the world.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
They are the most awarded African creatives in history with five Grammy awards.
Also, their album titled Raise Your Spirit Higher was released in 2004, it peaked at number #1 and spent 6 weeks.
Salif Keita
Salif Keïta is an African singer-songwriter from Mali, sometimes notable not only because of his reputation as the “Golden Voice of Africa” but also because he has albinism.
His album titled ‘Amen’ peaked at number #1 and spent 31 weeks.
Burna Boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy is a Nigerian Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, and rapper.
his fifth studio album titled Twice as Tall peaked at number #1 on the Billboard world album chart and spent 12 weeks.
Wizkid
Made in Lagos is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on 30 October 2020 by Starboy Entertainment and RCA Records.
The album features guest appearances from Burna Boy, Skepta, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Tay Iwar, Projexx, Tems, Damian Marley, and Terri.
African artists that reached #1 on the Billboard world album chart;
- Angélique Kidjo
- Youssou N’Dour
- Baaba Maal
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Salif Keita
- Ali Farka Touré
- Burna Boy
- Wizkid