Most Popular Afrobeat Stars Per Country in the World

TL;DR

From Burna Boy topping Spotify’s global Afrobeat streams to Wizkid’s Grammy wins, explore the Afrobeat stars dominating the charts in each country. Data insights highlight their impact worldwide, including Rema’s viral hits and Tiwa Savage’s groundbreaking collaborations.

Introduction: Afrobeat’s Global Takeover

Afrobeat is a cultural phenomenon growing across the globe. Fueled by social media, streaming platforms, and global tours, the genre is captivating diverse audiences. Using Spotify streams, YouTube views, and chart rankings, we identify the most popular Afrobeat stars in key countries.

Africa: The Birthplace of Afrobeat

Nigeria:

• Burna Boy
  • Spotify: Over 2 billion streams globally.
  • Key Stats: His hit “Last Last” earned 550 million Spotify streams and stayed on Billboard Global 200 for 26 weeks.
  • Awards: Grammy Award for “Twice as Tall” (2021).
• Wizkid
  • Spotify: Over 5 billion total streams.
  • Key Stats: “Essence” peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received a Grammy nomination.
  • Social Media: 17 million Instagram followers, making him one of Africa’s most followed artists.

Ghana:

• Stonebwoy
  • Key Stats: “Activate” featuring Davido surpassed 50 million streams on Spotify.
  • Awards: BET Best International Act (2015).
• Sarkodie
  • YouTube: Over 300 million cumulative views.
  • Influence: One of Africa’s top 10 most-streamed rappers on Audiomack.

South Africa:

• Sho Madjozi
  • Key Stats: Her single “John Cena” gained 10 million views in its first week on YouTube.
  • Global Impact: Featured on The Ellen Show and praised by John Cena himself.

Kenya:

• Sauti Sol
  • Spotify: Over 100 million streams globally.
  • Collaborations: Worked with Burna Boy and India Arie.

North America: Afrobeat’s Growing Influence

United States:

• Wizkid
  • Spotify: “Essence” hit 500 million streams.
  • Tour Impact: Headlined sold-out tours in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston.
• Tems
  • Global Hit: Featured on Future’s “Wait for U” (Grammy-winning track).
  • Social Media: Over 4 million followers, with a 15% growth rate in 2024.

Canada:

• Nonso Amadi
  • Key Stats: “Tonight” hit over 50 million streams on Spotify.
  • Recognition: Named one of Spotify’s Rising Afrobeat Artists of 2023.

Europe: Afrobeat Meets Mainstream Music

United Kingdom:

• Tiwa Savage
  • Spotify: Over 1 billion streams globally.
  • Key Stats: Collaboration with Brandy on “Somebody’s Son” earned 100 million views on YouTube.
• J Hus
  • Album Sales: Big Conspiracy debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart.
  • Streaming: Over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

France:

• Aya Nakamura
  • Spotify: Over 3 billion streams globally.
  • YouTube: “Djadja” surpassed 900 million views.

Germany:

• King Promise
  • Key Stats: “Ginger” with Sarkodie gained 30 million streams in Germany alone.

Latin America: A Fusion of Cultures

Brazil:

• Mr Eazi
  • Spotify: “Leg Over” surpassed 100 million streams globally.
  • Impact: Collaborated with J Balvin to introduce Afrobeat to the reggaeton audience.

Asia: Afrobeat’s Unexpected Fans

India:

• Rema
  • Spotify: “Calm Down” reached 1 billion streams globally and topped the Indian Spotify charts for 8 weeks.

Japan:

• Burna Boy
  • Streaming: Japan accounts for over 10 million of his monthly listeners on Spotify.
  • Tours: Sold-out concerts in Tokyo and Osaka in 2024.

Oceania: Afrobeat Finds Its Way Down Under

Australia:

• CKay
  • Streaming: “Love Nwantiti” exceeded 2 billion streams globally, with Australia contributing 50 million streams.
  • Tours: Performed at major festivals, including Splendour in the Grass.

Conclusion: Afrobeat Unites the World

Afrobeat stars like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Rema aren’t just musicians—they’re global icons shaping the culture. With billions of streams, sold-out tours, and collaborations with mainstream artists, Afrobeat continues to be a unifying force across continents.