Global music streaming platform, Spotify, has unveiled its list of the Top 5 Female Afrobeats Artistes in the last 12 months, with Nigerian sensation Ayra Starr taking the number one spot.
Spotify described Ayra Starr as “the pop star of Afrobeats,” cementing her rise as one of the genre’s leading voices.
Grammy award-winning singer Tems emerged second on the list, while American-Cameroonian breakout act Libianca took the third spot.
French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura, known for blending Afrobeats with French pop, ranked fourth, while British-Nigerian artiste Darkoo completed the list at number five.
Surprisingly, South Africa’s global breakout star, Tyla, who swept major Afrobeats awards in the past year, did not feature on the list.
Spotify also published a ranking of the Top 5 Afrobeats Artists in Latin America, which was dominated entirely by Nigerians.
At the top of the list is Rema, whose hit “Calm Down” continues to break streaming records worldwide.
Ayra Starr secured the second spot, further proving her global impact, while CKay, famed for “Love Nwantiti”, took third place.
Afrobeats heavyweights Burna Boy and Wizkid followed in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Spotify noted that the lists reflect the growing global appeal of Afrobeats, with Nigerian stars consistently leading both female and general categories.
The platform added that the rankings were based on streaming data across regions, highlighting how Afrobeats has become a dominant sound not just in Africa but also in Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
