Spotify has crowned Burna Boy, Rema, and Wizkid as the front-runners of Afrobeats in 2025.
The streaming giant unveiled its latest ranking on Monday, placing Asake and Ayra Starr in the fourth and fifth spots to complete the top five.
According to Spotify, Afrobeats is spreading across continents faster than ever, with listeners tuning in from Nigeria to Brazil and beyond. The platform highlighted that artists like Burna Boy, Rema, and Wizkid are at the forefront of the movement, driving discovery and global growth.
Spotify also encouraged fans to dive into the tracks fueling this wave. Among the biggest hits are Ayra Starr’s Santa featuring Rauw Alejandro and Rvssian, Moliy’s Shake It To The Max (FLY) – Remix with Shenseea, Silent Addy, and Skillibeng, and Rema’s world-conquering Calm Down with Selena Gomez. Burna Boy’s collaboration We Pray with Coldplay, Elyanna, Little Simz, and Tini also made the list, alongside Libianca’s viral anthem People.
In terms of reach, the United States, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Nigeria emerged as the top markets streaming Afrobeats this year.
Interestingly, some of the genre’s heavyweights didn’t appear on the list. Davido, a long-standing face of Afrobeats worldwide, was notably absent. South Africa’s Tyla, who has clinched multiple awards for Best Afrobeats despite leaning toward Amapiano, also didn’t make the cut. And even Tems, who shone at the 2025 Grammy Awards with a Best African Music win, was missing.
Afrobeats, though often linked to Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat legacy, has grown into a powerhouse of its own. Early pioneers like D’banj, Timaya, Wizkid, Davido, and Tiwa Savage pushed it into global awareness, while today’s stars—Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, Ayra Starr, and Tems—are redefining its reach on the world stage.
Despite questions about whether Afrobeats can rival pop, rap, or Latin music in commercial dominance, its momentum is undeniable. With passionate fan bases across continents and artists breaking records at every turn, the “Afrobeats to the World” movement shows no signs of slowing down.
