It has been a stellar year for music on the continent. Globally, more artists from Africa have taken center-stage introducing the nuances of African sound that’s becoming a firm favorite.
Digital music service provider Spotify has just released its much-anticipated ‘Wrapped’ list that collates the biggest songs, genres, and artists from around the world. According to its data, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing what the streaming service is calling a musical renaissance, with a 114% growth in music consumption, eclipsing other regions.
Leading this charge in 2024 is Nigeria-origin genre Afrobeats, which, according to Spotify, has captivated listeners worldwide.
Wrapped 2024 reveals that Nigerian artists such as Ahmed Ololade, also known as Asake, and Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, dominated the most-listed charts.
“This is a major win for Afrobeats, showcasing its growing global influence,” Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa says. “And with Ogulu, a global icon, still holding strong in the top ranks, it’s clear that Afrobeats isn’t just a trend; it’s a cultural phenomenon.”
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The streaming platform has also noted the rise of female artists in Africa such as Tyla Laura Seethal and Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known as Ayra Starr. Starr takes the crown as the most-streamed female artist, while Tyla leads the EQUAL artist program in SSA.
The South African Amapiano scene also continues globally to take over charts with Tshwala Bam (a song by South African producers TitoM, whose real name is Thato Mathobela, and Bongani Sibanyoni, popularly known as Yuppe) and Imithandazo (song by Kabelo Motha, known to the world as Kabza De Small and Njabulo “Mthunzi” Ndimande) securing spots on the most-streamed list.
“The significant growth in local music consumption reflects the deep connection audiences have with homegrown sounds. Afrobeats continues to captivate the world, while Amapiano’s explosive growth highlights the continent’s ability to innovate and shape global music trends.
“We’re also seeing a rising interest in rap music, underscoring the diversity of African listeners and their appreciation for lyrical and cultural storytelling. This isn’t just about music — it’s about a celebration of identity, creativity, and the cultural heartbeat that makes Africa a global force in music today… Their success is a testament to the power of music to empower and inspire,” Okumu adds.
The Most-Streamed African Artists In 2024
1.Asake
Nigerian singer and rapper, Ololade, first came onto the scene in 2017. When he released his hit single, Mr Money, in 2022, the world began to take note. In 2024, his song Lonely At The Top, was one of the most-streamed.
2. Burna Boy
Known to the world for his vocal texture, as well as singing in a blend of English and Yoruba, last year, Ogulu became the first international Afrobeats artist to obtain the number one spot on the official weekly UK album chart. His track Higher was on the most-streamed list this year.
3. Seyi Vibez
At only 24 years old, Balogun Afolabi Oluwaloseyi’s track Different Pattern was ranked number six this year on the most streamed list. Hailing from Nigeria, in 2023, Oluwaloseyi had his breakthrough with his single Chance (Na Ham), which debuted at number 19 on the UK Afrobeats singles chart and peaked at number 7 on the TurnTable Top 100 chart.
4. Rema
Since his rise to stardom in 2019, Divine Ikubor has continued to reach new heights with his music. In 2023, his hit single Calm Down, also featuring global pop artist Selena Gomez, reached over one billion streams on Spotify.
5. Davido
In 2023, Forbes called David Adedeji Adeleke “The King of Afrobeats”, and he has had a big role in the growth of African music globally. This year, Adeleke released a song with five-time Grammy award winning Benin artist, Angelique Kidjo, which has had over two million streams on Spotify.
6. Wizkid
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun has been regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the “modern-day Afrobeats music scene” as well as considered him as “one of the biggest and most influential African artists of all time”. In 2024, Balogun released his much-anticipated single Piece of My Heart, featuring American singer-songwriter Brent Faiyaz.
7. Bnxn
Afro-fusion has become relatively popular but it’s not a new genre on the continent. However, artists like Daniel Etiese Benson have been at the forefront of this genre since his breakthrough in 2018.
8. Omah Lay
Stanley Omah Didia has become a household name for songs like Soso and Holy Ghost. His album Boy Alone was also ranked number 8 on the most-streamed list this year.
9. Kizz Daniel
Oluwatobiloba Daniel rose to fame in 2014 with his single Woju. In 2024, Daniel has had over four million monthly listeners.
10. ODUMODUBLVCK
As an artist who is known for his genre blend music, (known as ODUMODUBLVCK) Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu’s album EZIOKWU was in the top five for the most-streamed album in 2024.
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