From Nigeria to South Africa: Africa’s Most Popular Artists
Written By
Franklin IzuchukwuCrypto Writer, Business Writer and Radiographer
One thing we can all agree on at this point is that African music has broken the continental boundaries with some unique sounds that capture hearts worldwide.
We have seen the stars like Burna Boy, Asake, and Tems blend Afrobeats, Amapiano, and highlife with global genres like hip-hop, pop, and R&B to create chart-topping hits that resonate across cultures.
Newer talents like Ayra Starr are dropping anthems like Rush, which racked up over 200 million Spotify streams by early 2025, once again proving that Africa’s musical influence is only getting stronger.
Africa Music Artist's Global Dominance
As African artists continue to rise globally, collaborations with international heavyweights have become a powerful catalyst for their success.
Take Wizkid, for instance; his work with Drake on the smash hit “One Dance” fusing Afrobeat with hip-hop, earned him widespread acclaim, and cemented his place among Africa’s elite talents.
Drake, the Canadian rapper behind the track, brings more than just musical prowess; he’s also known for his lavish lifestyle and high-stakes gambling at Stake, a platform reviewed on StakeHub. Here is a closer look at five most popular African artists in 2025.
Burna Boy, Nigeria
Burna Boy’s music career kicked off in 2012 with his debut album L.I.F.E. (Leaving an Impact for Eternity). It is packed with bangers like “Like to Party” and “Tonight” that makes everyone singing.
With over 1 billion views of his tracks, he’s earned the nickname African Giant simply because he has proven to be a true titan in the African music scene.
What makes Burna Boy unique is his sound, which combines Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop. His songs often carry deep messages about social and political issues while celebrating African culture and identity in a way that hits hard.
That talent has earned him global recognition and landed him collaborations with huge names like Beyoncé, Stormzy, and Ed Sheeran, which have only boosted his international fame.
In 2020, he dropped Twice as Tall, an album loved by critics, and went on to win the Grammy for Best Global Music Album in 2021. This win really locked in his spot as one of Africa’s biggest and most influential artists.
Tyla, South Africa
Tyla, born Tyla Laura Seethal in Johannesburg, has become a global sensation. She received a name “Queen of Popiano”. The 23-year-old singer has put South African music on the map with her irresistible blend of Amapiano, pop, and R&B.
Tyla kicked off her career in 2019 with the viral hit Getting Late. Later, in 2023 she became famous for “Water”, which hit 1 billion streams on Spotify by February 2025 making her the first African solo artist that reached that milestone.
The song earned her the inaugural Best African Music Performance Grammy in 2024, plus three MTV EMA awards later that year for Best Afrobeats, Best African Act, and Best R&B. Her self-titled debut album, which was released in March 2024, has racked up over a billion streams thanks to her newfound fame and popularity!
Amaarae, Ghana
If we’re talking about the most popular motherland artists in 2025, America/Ghana’s Amaarae is definitely a name you can’t skip. She’s got an amazing mix of R&B and Afropop which she calls Afrofuturism. It’s an innovative genre that has been turning heads all over the world.
You’d recognize Amaarae based on her debut album “The Angel You Don't Know”. The song "Sad Girlz Luv Money" featuring Moliy was quite popular on TikTok. In 2021 the song was remixed with a feature from Kali Uchis and charted globally. Pitchfork branded the album "Best New Music" and ranked it the 19th best album of 2020.
Amaarae’s big signing with Interscope back in 2022 has only made her star shine brighter. Her second album, Fountain Baby, is still a total vibe, especially for professional dancers who can’t get enough of its beats and visuals.
Sure, Afrobeats might be Africa’s biggest global export, but Amaarae is out here showing off other incredible genres from the continent, like highlife and hiplife, on the world stage, and we’re loving every second of it!
Rema, Nigeria
Rema burst onto the scene in 2019 with his breakout hit “Iron Man,” which caught the ears of music fans and industry insiders alike. His fresh sound, which mixes Afrobeat, trap, and R&B, sets him apart from the crowd and gives him a distinct edge.
Since then, he’s released a string of successful singles including “Dumebi,” “Bad Commando,” and “Ginger Me,” while showing off his knack for switching genres with ease and keeping things versatile.
Rema’s biggest hit, “Calm Down,” has racked up over 636 million views, not to mention the remix with Selena Gomez which has amassed over a billion views, and helped him make this incredible list of Africa’s most famous musicians.
Asake, Nigeria
Ololade, a talented Nigerian singer and rapper, burst onto the music scene in 2017. Things took off when he dropped his smash hit “Mr Money” in 2022 to grab the world’s attention. Then, in 2024, his track “Lonely At The Top” became one of the most-streamed songs of the year.
Last year, Asake released one of the most amazing collaborations and music videos we have seen for his song “Active” featuring none other than America’s Travis Scott, aka LaFlame. The song even earned a spot on Obama’s 2024 song list, which is huge!