A new ranking of the top 10 Nigerian Afrobeats artists with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify, as of November 30, 2024, has sparked significant buzz online.
The list, released by Spotify, features notable Nigerian stars, with Ayra Starr leading the pack.
Ayra Starr: 24.1M Monthly Listeners
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Ayra Starr, signed to Mavin Records, emerges as the top Nigerian artist on Spotify with an impressive 24.1 million monthly listeners. Known for her Grammy-nominated hit “Rush,” which has amassed over 378 million streams, Ayra ranks as the second most-streamed Nigerian female artist on the platform, with a total of 1.632 billion streams.
Rema: 21M Monthly Listeners
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Coming in second is Rema, another Mavin Records signee with 21 million monthly listeners. The breakout artist has achieved a monumental 3.666 billion streams, thanks in large part to his global smash hit βCalm Down.” The song, including its remix with Selena Gomez, accounts for over 2 billion streams, with the remix alone contributing 1.4 billion streams.
Burna Boy: 19.3M Monthly Listeners
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Grammy winner Burna Boy ranks third with 19.3 million monthly listeners. Known for his global appeal, Burna Boy boasts a total of 6.226 billion streams on Spotify. His collaborative hit βLocationβ with Dave has reached 545 million streams, while his solo chart-topper βLast Lastβ remains his biggest individual hit.
Tems: 17.7M Monthly Listeners
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Fourth on the list is Tems, who has achieved international fame with hits like “Essence,” a collaboration with Wizkid, and βWait For U,”Β her Grammy-winning feature with Future and Drake. Tems has accumulated over 2.5 billion Spotify streams, with βWait For Uβ leading her catalogue at 800 million streams.
Wizkid: 11.9M Monthly Listeners
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Wizkid, a pioneer in Afrobeatsβ global recognition, is fifth with 11.9 million monthly listeners. His dominance stems largely from βOne Dance,” his collaboration with Drake, which has garnered a staggering 3.212 billion streams. Wizkidβs solo hit “Essence,” featuring Tems, also contributes significantly to his total of nearly 7 billion streams.
Omah Lay: 9.4M Monthly Listeners
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Sixth on the list is Omah Lay, with 9.4 million monthly listeners. The singer has carved a niche in Afrobeats with a total of 1.5 billion streams, led by his hit single “Soso,” which has amassed 174 million streams.
Ckay: 8.5M Monthly Listeners
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Seventh-placed Ckay boasts 8.5 million monthly listeners, with his viral sensation βLove Nwantitiβ contributing 857 million streams to his total of over 2.2 billion streams. This track marked a turning point for African music globally.
Davido: 8.3M Monthly Listeners
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Afrobeats superstar Davido is ranked eighth, with 8.3 million monthly listeners. His Grammy-nominated song “Unavailable,” featuring Musa Keys, has exceeded 159 million streams, pushing his overall Spotify streams past the 2 billion mark.
Fireboy DML: 7.5M Monthly Listeners
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Ninth on the list is Fireboy DML, which boasts 7.5 million monthly listeners. His global hit “Peru,” particularly the remix featuring Ed Sheeran, has gathered over 318 million streams, solidifying his status as a global star.
Asake: 7.3M Monthly Listeners
Closing the list is Asake, with 7.3 million monthly listeners. Known for his remarkable run since 2022, Asake has accumulated over 1.2 billion streams. His collaboration with Fireboy on βBandanaβ remains his biggest track on Spotify, with 121 million streams.
The dominance of Nigerian artists on this list underscores the global rise of Afrobeats, with each artist contributing significantly to the genreβs expanding influence. From Ayra Starrβs groundbreaking success to Asakeβs innovative sound, Nigerian music continues to set new benchmarks for excellence and global appeal.
