Burna Boy Becomes Africa's Most-Streamed Artist on Spotify, Surpasses Tems in Monthly Listeners
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Burna Boy Becomes Africa's Most-Streamed Artist on Spotify, Surpasses Tems in Monthly Listeners

  • July 05, 2026
  • 2 min read min Read
Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy has reclaimed the title of the African artist with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify, moving ahead of fellow Grammy winner Tems.
Burna Boy Becomes Africa's Most-Streamed Artist on Spotify, Surpasses Tems in Monthly Listeners
According to the latest Spotify data, Burna Boy now has more than 40.7 million monthly listeners, narrowly surpassing Tems, who has about 40.6 million. The milestone further cements his position as one of Africa's biggest global music stars. The achievement comes after a remarkable surge in Burna Boy's streaming numbers. While Tems had overtaken him in late 2025 following the success of her debut album and several international collaborations, Burna Boy's audience has grown rapidly in recent weeks, pushing his monthly listener count beyond the 40-million mark. One of the major drivers of Burna Boy's rise is the lasting popularity of his music catalogue. Hit songs including Last Last, It's Plenty, City Boys and On the Low continue to attract millions of streams, while new releases regularly introduce fresh listeners to his older work. His collaborations with international artists across Afrobeats, pop, hip-hop and dance music have also expanded his reach, helping him maintain a strong presence on global streaming platforms. Beyond streaming, Burna Boy's international success has been reinforced by sold-out arena tours, headline performances at major festivals and continued recognition on the global music scene. His ability to consistently attract listeners across different markets has contributed to sustained growth rather than relying on a single viral hit. Despite losing the top spot, Tems remains one of Africa's most successful music exports. She made history as the first Nigerian female artist to reach such impressive Spotify monthly listener figures, thanks to her acclaimed debut project, successful solo releases and collaborations with some of the world's biggest artists. The close competition between Burna Boy and Tems reflects the increasing global influence of Nigerian music and the rapid growth of Afrobeats as one of the world's most popular genres. Spotify's monthly listener metric measures the number of unique users who listen to an artist within a rolling 28-day period, making it a key indicator of an artist's current global reach and popularity. With both Burna Boy and Tems continuing to release new music and expand their international fan bases, the battle for the title of Africa's most-streamed artist is expected to remain highly competitive.
Burna Boy Becomes Africa's Most-Streamed Artist on Spotify, Surpasses Tems in Monthly Listeners
Burna Boy Becomes Africa's Most-Streamed Artist on Spotify, Surpasses Tems in Monthly Listeners
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