Although the rising genre - influenced by Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat - has been in full form since the late ’90s, Afrobeats is in a new era of success. With roots in West Africa, the genre has begun to captivate music fans across the globe.
According to Spotify, the musical style grew by 550 percent on its platform from 2017 to 2023. “I want it to be the No. 1 genre in the world,” Afropop artist Ayra Starr told Billboard when asked how she would like to see Afrobeats expand in the future. “Everywhere, all over the world. I don’t want it to get diluted, but I love the fact that people have their own translations of Afrobeats. Korean people are doing their own Afrobeats. American people are doing their own Afrobeats. It’s lovely to see because we’ve come such a long way.
The pan-African pop movement has generated significant talent in recent years. The pan-African pop movement has generated lots of fresh and interesting talent in recent years.
Here are some of the top Afrobeats artists you should know:
The Pioneers
Davido
As the musical style continues to make its way into mainstream music, one of the artists who has been integral in its rise is Davido. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Afropop and a key figure in the internationalisation of Afrobeats music. He has influenced younger Nigerian artists and has helped put African music on the global map.
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Since his first major hit, “Dami Duro,” in 2012, he has consistently dropped hit records such as “If,” “UNAVAILABLE” and “Fall,” all of which have crossed over globally. Along with releasing his own music, Davido is the founder of his own record label, Davido Music Worldwide.
As a testament to this, Davido is collaborating with legendary musicians 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige for an unforgettable show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July 2025! VIP tickets for this unmissable experience are on sale now, so secure your place today. Buy 50 Cent, Mary J.
Wizkid
You can’t talk about Afrobeats without mentioning Wizkid. Just like Davido, the artist is widely recognized as one of the top artists to catalyze the genre’s popularity. Wizkid is considered one of the veterans of the Afrobeats genre and is often cited by younger artists as their inspiration for becoming a musician, including Tiwa Savage, Davido, and Burna Boy. With five Grammy nominations under his belt, he is also often credited with the spread of Afrobeats music worldwide.
In 2021, his track “Essence,” which featured Tems, resulted in historic success. The summer track became RIAA-certified quadruple platinum, hit the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance. You just can’t talk about Afrobeats without mentioning Wizkid, and his most recent album Morayo is another victory lap for the artist.
Full of emotion and sensual R&B moments, it builds on the success of his previous album Made in Lagos with themes of love, loss, and legacy.
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● From Ojuelegba to Afrobeat King: Wizkid's Incredible Journey
Burna Boy
Burna Boy has become one of today’s biggest global acts. He always makes sure to incorporate his African heritage into his music, not watering it down for his now international audience. In the 2010s, before mainstream success, he began cementing his footprint in the music industry.
Following his 2013 debut album, L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity, the Port Harcourt native has taken his music worldwide. The singer-songwriter has won a Grammy award for Best Global Music Album for Twice as Tall. Burna Boy is another iconic artist and record producer whose success has led him to be named one of the world’s most influential Afrobeats singers.
Burna Boy has recently announced an exciting show at Co-op Live, Manchester on 21st April 2025, so if you’re a UK Afrobeats fan this will surely be one of the biggest events of the year.
The Rising Stars
Asake
You don’t have to look far to find the next major Afrobeats superstar, the next Burna Boy or Wizkid - it’s Asake. He is incredibly talented and charismatic, as his rapid rise proves. In addition to the release of his debut studio album, Mr. Money With The Vibe, Asake had one of the most explosive runs of singles, which led to his rapid rise to stardom.
After signing to Olamide’s YBNL Nation, the “Lonely At The Top” singer quickly became one of the most sought after Afrobeats artists. Asake is definitely an artist to watch, as he has already been nominated for a Grammy and puts out hit after hit. His sound incorporates trap, dancehall, and highlife, with a heavy emphasis on rhythm, catchy beats, and infectious melodies.
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This month he sold out London’s O2 Arena. Before that he took Miami’s inaugural AfroNation festival by storm with a showstopping set that saw the audience tearing off his clothes. But what makes the deep-voiced Lagotian so compelling isn’t just that - it’s also the embrace of a musical pan-Africanism that feels special. He blows open the Afrobeats formula by introducing influences from all over the continent.
On his most recent album, Lungu Boy, he has featured major artists like Central Cee, Stormzy, and Travis Scott. As of 2024, Asake remains one of the leading stars of Afrobeat and is considered a top artist in the genre.
Rema
Although he’s only 24 years old, Rema is continually named as one of the best and most influential names in Afrobeats. “Another banger!” isn’t just Rema’s music tagline, it’s also the perfect description for his constant career wins. An epic milestone for the Benin City native was “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez becoming the longest-charting and most successful African song of all time, per BBC.
He has managed to expand Afrobeats on the global stage, especially with the release of his single 'Calm Down' featuring Selena Gomez. Since then, he has gained recognition in many places, including awards, soundtrack features, and an inclusion on Barack Obama’s summer playlist. Moreover, Spotify announced that Rema was the first African artist to have a song reach 1 billion streams on its platform. It’s only up from here for Rema, and everyone is excited to see what he does next so early in his career.
Ayra Starr
While Ayra Starr only achieved mainstream recognition and chart success in 2022 with the release of her song 'Rush,' she has proved herself to be a force to be reckoned with in the Afrobeats genre. Ever since Ayra Starr released her eponymous EP in 2021, she has yet to slow down. The Mavin Records signee quickly became one of Afrobeats’ youngest and hottest stars.
Having started singing and playing music at a very young age, Ayra now has 24.8M monthly listeners on Spotify. In addition to snagging a Grammy nomination, one of Starr’s biggest accolades was becoming the youngest African female artist to surpass 100 million views on YouTube for her hit record, “Rush,” according to Billboard. Ayra Starr’s music is pleasantly diverse, mostly categorised as Afropop and R&B, and her voice is soulful and silky smooth, making for easy listening. If you liked Tems’ music you’ll definitely like Ayra’s, as they have a similar sound.
Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage is one of the leading ladies of Afrobeats who is known for paving the way for more African women to thrive in the industry. Often called the ‘Queen of Afrobeats,’ she is recognised as a huge inspiration for many female African musicians. Initially a songwriter and background vocalist for artists like Whitney Houston, the Lagos-born artist has gone on to carve a lane for herself with back-to-back bangers.
Among her hits are “Somebody’s Son” featuring Brandy. Tiwa Savage began her career by doing backing singing for artists like George Michael and Mary J. Blige, but she has absolutely become an incredible artist in her own right. As of 2024, Tiwa Savage remains one of the biggest stars in African music. Her influence continues to grow, not only in the music industry but also in fashion, activism, and business.
Fireboy DML
Fireboy DML is from Nigeria, like many Afrobeats artists, but he’s managed to break out and gain popularity worldwide. Olamide’s discovery of Fireboy DML catapulted him to stardom. The Nigerian musician is one of the handful of African stars who have had the opportunity to cross over. He first gained recognition in Nigeria when his hit single 'Champion' was used by FC Bayern Munich for their UEFA Super Cup celebrations.
He has now had multiple songs featured on soundtracks, such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the FIFA 21 game, and has racked up an impressive amount of streams on Spotify with songs like 'Peru' and 'Bandana' being some of his most popular. Fireboy DML’s songs have a slow groove vibe, fusing R&B and pop with Afrobeats.
Omah Lay
If you’re a fan of mellow Afrobeats, then Omah Lay is right up your alley. Omah Lay is another artist that fuses his Afrobeats sound with R&B, something that makes Afrobeats such an interesting melting pot of a genre. He has become known for the vulnerability and transparency found in his lyrics. Since his debut EP, Get Layd, Omah has only been going up. He even has a song, 'attention,' with Justin Bieber.
Listeners also praise the production on his projects including What Have We Done, Get Layd and Boy Alone. Omah Lay absolutely owns his Afro-fusion sound, as he writes and produces his own music.
Other Notable Artists
Here are some additional Afrobeats artists who are making waves in the industry:
- Kizz Daniel: From social media dance challenges to millions of streams, “Buga (Lo Lo Lo)” by Kizz Daniel featuring Tekno was almost inescapable in 2022 and 2023. Another single from his album Maverick that was also everywhere is “Cough (Odo).” Since hitting the music scene in 2014, Kizz Daniel has held a consistent streak of releasing heat.
- Victony: In 2021, Victony dropped his breakout single “Holy Father,” in collaboration with Mayorkun, and has been on a roll ever since. His hit record “Soweto,” which he made with producer Tempoe, grew even more popular when Don Toliver and Rema hopped on the remix.
- Oxlade: In 2020, Oxlade received a co-sign from Drake for his song “AWAY” from his debut EP, OXYGENE. Following the spike in streams, the Nigerian crooner kept up with releasing new music. His consistency led to his performance of “KU LO SA” on “A COLORS SHOW” in 2022, and the rest is history.
- ODUMODUBLVCK: ODUMODUBLVCK is an upcoming artist to watch in the Afrobeats scene. With his grime, drill and high-life infused music and refreshing style, the Nigerian rapper has created his own signature sound. His breakout singles include “DECLAN RICE,” “BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR” featuring Bloody Civilian and Wale, “WOTOWOTO SEASONING” featuring Black Sherif, and “Cast” with Shallipopi.
- BNXN: Formerly known as Buju, BNXN entered the scene as one of the most promising acts. Inspired by Burna Boy - who he got to collaborate with - the melodic musician fully pursued his aspiration of becoming a singer and songwriter. BNXN is the mastermind behind the hooks for songs like Pheelz’s “Finesse,” LADIPOE’s “Feeling” and Timaya’s “Cold Outside.” While the Afro fusion singer always delivers an infectious hook, he also excels with his solo music.
- Ruger: Ruger is here for a good time, not a long time - and it’s clear in his music. Much of his discography is energetic and lively, which can be heard in songs such as “Asiwaju,” “Girlfriend” and “Dior.” Along with a musical talent, the carefree fun that the “Bounce” hitmaker brings to his artistry has played a part in being able to quickly build a loyal fanbase.
The Afrobeats genre has been growing in popularity recently, with more and more Afrobeats artists gaining mainstream recognition and even bleeding into other genres, like K-pop. With West African artists getting more streams and award nominations, you should really know who the hottest Afrobeats artists are right now.
