Nigerian artist Rema has set a new benchmark for African music on global streaming platforms, with his debut album Rave & Roses (Ultra) becoming the first project from the continent to exceed 3 billion streams on Spotify. The achievement underscores the expanding influence of African artists in shaping mainstream music consumption worldwide.
The album’s success was significantly driven by its lead single, Calm Down, which features American pop star Selena Gomez. Released in 2022, the remix version of the track became the first African-originated song to surpass 1 billion streams on the platform last year. Combined with streams from its original version, Calm Down contributed over 2 billion plays to the album’s total. The remaining 20 tracks on Rave & Roses (Ultra) collectively accounted for fewer than 1 billion streams, highlighting the single’s pivotal role in the project’s historic performance.
South African singer Tyla’s self-titled debut album, Tyla, trails Rema’s record with over 2 billion streams, securing its place as the second-most-streamed African project on Spotify. Other notable entries include Nigerian stars Burna Boy’s African Giant and Love, Damini, alongside Wizkid’s Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition. Nigerian artist CKay’s CKay the First also joins the list, with each of these albums crossing the 1-billion-stream milestone.
The streaming figures reflect a broader trend of African artists gaining unprecedented traction on global platforms. Rema’s fusion of Afrobeats, pop, and R&B—epitomized by Calm Down—has resonated across borders, amplifying Nigeria’s cultural exports and reinforcing the genre’s commercial viability. Similarly, Tyla’s rise with viral hits like Water illustrates South Africa’s growing footprint in international pop.
While collaborations with global superstars, such as Gomez, have proven instrumental in bridging audiences, the data also reveals a reliance on breakout singles to propel album performance. Industry observers note that sustaining listener engagement with full albums remains a challenge, even as streaming numbers for African artists continue to climb.
Spotify’s publicly available data, which tracks real-time metrics, positions these projects as benchmarks for Africa’s thriving music industry. As streaming platforms deepen their investments in regional markets, achievements like Rema’s signal both the potential for broader representation and the competitive landscape emerging within Africa’s creative economy.
