Nigerian singer Tems has become the African artist with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify, reaching 38.3 million and surpassing South Africa’s Tyla, who holds 38.2 million. The milestone underscores Spotify’s role as a primary platform for measuring global music consumption, particularly for artists from regions with rapidly expanding digital accessibility.
This shift follows Tems’ recent releases and collaborations. She has been credited on tracks including ‘What You Need (Colour version)’, ‘Bounce Road Blues’ with J. Cole and Future, and the Dave single ‘Raindance’. These partnerships with internationally recognized artists have extended her reach into key markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, contributing significantly to her listener growth.
Tyla, the South African artist, previously set the continental benchmark for monthly listeners on Spotify, peaking at 40 million earlier in 2024. Her current count stands at 38.2 million. Before Tyla’s surge, Tems herself occupied the top position, illustrating the dynamic and competitive nature of streaming metrics among African musicians vying for global audiences.
Beyond this ranking, Tems maintains her status as the most-streamed female African artist on Spotify. She has accumulated 4.7 billion streams across all her credited appearances, including solo works, features, and songwriting contributions. This figure highlights her sustained impact on the platform, independent of the monthly listener fluctuations.
Tems is now approaching Tyla’s peak of 40 million monthly listeners, a threshold that would establish a new high-water mark for an African artist on Spotify. The alternating leadership between the two musicians reflects the rapid ascent of African music within global streaming markets, driven by cross-continental collaborations and consistent artistic output. Their rivalry and achievements signal a broader trend: African artists are not only gaining visibility but also commanding sizable, engaged international audiences through digital platforms.
