With streaming services making international music more accessible, the former U.S. President’s endorsements often lead to increased visibility for emerging artists, resulting in surges of streams and social media traction.



Former United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama’s 2024 favorite playlist is putting African artists in the global spotlight, once again highlighting the continent’s rising influence on the international music scene.



Among the 25 songs Obama shared on X (formerly Twitter), African stars like Divine &#8216;Rema&#8217; Ikubor and Ahmed &#8216;Asake&#8217; Ololade from Nigeria, and South Africa’s Tyla Seethal, made the cut, indicating the growing popularity of Afrobeats and Amapiano worldwide.



Rema’s hit Yayo secured a spot on Obama’s list, further solidifying his place as one of Afrobeats’ biggest global ambassadors. Since his breakout track Dumebi and the international success of Calm Down, Rema has been at the forefront of a new generation of Nigerian artists dominating international charts and festivals.



Amapiano sensation Tyla also earned recognition with her track Jump, a collaboration featuring American rapper Sergio &#8216;Gunna&#8217; Kitchens and Jamaican dancehall disc jockey (DJ) and rapper Emwah &#8216;Skillibeng&#8217; Warmington. Tyla’s Amapiano-infused sound has propelled her to global stardom, with Jump exemplifying the genre’s seamless integration into mainstream pop and rhythm and blues (R&amp;B).



Singer and rapper Asake’s track Active, featuring U.S. rapper Jacques &#8216;Travis Scott&#8217; Webster II, also reflects the rise of Afrobeats. His collaboration with Scott underscores the growing interest in African sounds by international artists.



Obama’s list also featured English-Northern Irish singer and rapper Jordan Adetunji of Nigerian descent with his genre-blending track Kehlani. Adetunji represents the evolving sound of the African diaspora reshaping global music narratives.



This isn’t the first time Obama has amplified African artists. His previous playlists have featured the likes of Damini &#8216;Burna Boy&#8217; Ogulu, Ayodeji &#8216;Wizkid&#8217; Balogun, and Temilade &#8216;Tems&#8217; Openiyi, signaling Afrobeats’ and amapiano’s growing global reach.



Inviting his followers to “shake up” their playlists, he urged them to &#8220;let me know if there’s a song or artist I should make sure to listen to&#8221;.

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Rema, Tyla, Asake, Jordan Adetunji Shine In Barack Obama’s 2024 Favorite Songs List

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.&nbsp;



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&#8217;s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa says. “And with Ogulu, a global icon, still holding strong in the top ranks, it&#8217;s clear that Afrobeats isn&#8217;t just a trend; it&#8217;s a cultural phenomenon.”



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. &nbsp;



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.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2173625350.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63865" style="width:368px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2173625350.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2173625350-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)</figcaption></figure></div>


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.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2181280997.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63864" style="width:383px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2181280997.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2181280997-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


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.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1658504921.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63863" style="width:449px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1658504921.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1658504921-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


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.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2187245344.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63862" style="width:293px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2187245344.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2187245344-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images for British Vogue)</figcaption></figure></div>


5. Davido In 2023, Forbes called David Adedeji Adeleke &#8220;The King of Afrobeats&#8221;, 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.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2186244849.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63861" style="width:534px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2186244849.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2186244849-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2186244849-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


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.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2187920400.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63860" style="width:427px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2187920400.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2187920400-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BFC)</figcaption></figure></div>


7.&nbsp; 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.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2160689344.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63859" style="width:388px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2160689344.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2160689344-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)</figcaption></figure></div>


9. Kizz Daniel Oluwatobiloba Daniel rose to fame in 2014 with his single Woju. In 2024, Daniel has had over four million monthly listeners.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1443949840.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63858" style="width:504px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1443949840.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1443949840-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1443949840-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Hector Vivas &#8211; FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


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.

Tag: Asake

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