Spotify has revealed the most-streamed female Afrobeats artist over the last year on its digital streaming platform.
The most-streamed artist on Spotify over the previous year has been unveiled in a bid to mark the genre’s quick rise and the new path one of the biggest digital streaming platforms, Spotify, is taking with it.
Spotify has crowned Ayra Starr as the most-streamed female Afrobeats artist of the last 12 months, cementing her place at the forefront of the genre’s global takeover.
The announcement came as part of Spotify’s Afrobeats: Culture in Motion initiative, a worldwide campaign celebrating the rise of Afrobeats and the voices driving its evolution. The project highlights how the once distinctly regional sound has grown into a global cultural force, generating more than 240 million new discoveries on Spotify in the past year alone.
Central to the rollout is a new documentary, Culture in Motion, which profiles the next wave of Afrobeats stars breaking boundaries. Spotify has also launched an interactive microsite on its For the Record platform, unpacking the genre’s growth through exclusive artist interviews, expert commentary, and fresh global streaming insights.
Women are playing a pivotal role in this breakthrough. Tems recently became the first African female artist to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams on a single song, a milestone that underscores the genre’s worldwide impact. Afrobeats has also shaped a bold visual identity and inspired vibrant fan communities that now act as tastemakers, driving discovery and amplifying trends in real time.
In Nigeria, the birthplace of Afrobeats, the genre is far more than music; it is cultural lifeblood. Nigerians streamed Afrobeats for over 180 million hours in 2025, with Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt ranking as the top hubs. Among Gen Z listeners, moods like “whiny,” “island vibes,” and “playful” dominate playlists, reflecting how deeply the music resonates with young fans.
The community’s influence has been undeniable. Over the last decade, fan-made Afrobeats playlists have surged by nearly 3,000%, demonstrating the role of listeners in shaping the genre’s direction. At the same time, new sub-genres such as Afro-Adura are gaining traction, with streams jumping by more than 4,000%, further expanding Afrobeats’ reach.
🚨Spotify unveils the Top 5 Female Afrobeats Artists of the last 12 months
#1 — Ayra Starr
#2 — Tems
#3 — Libianca
#4 — Aya Nakamura
#5 — Darkoo pic.twitter.com/qM09UC93du— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) September 22, 2025