Nigerian global music icon has once again rewritten the record books after achieving the biggest streaming year ever by an African artist on , firmly cementing his place at the summit of African music on the global stage.
According to official Spotify data for 2025, the Grammy Award winning star amassed an extraordinary 1.986 billion streams within the year, setting an all time benchmark for African artistes on the platform. The historic milestone places Burna Boy ahead of some of the continent’s biggest and most influential music stars, underlining his dominance in the digital music era.
Popularly known as the “African Giant,” Burna Boy’s record breaking year reflects not only his immense popularity but also the growing global reach of African music. His ability to blend African rhythms with contemporary global sounds has allowed his music to resonate across continents, cultures, and generations.
The “Ye” crooner finished 2025 as the most streamed African artist on Spotify, surpassing a highly competitive field that included fellow Nigerian superstars , , and , as well as South African sensation .
Spotify’s 2025 streaming figures show that Wizkid ranked second with 1.81 billion streams, maintaining his strong global presence and consistent performance across major music markets. Tyla followed closely in third place with 1.67 billion streams, a remarkable achievement that highlights her rapid rise and growing influence beyond Africa.
Rema secured fourth position with 1.63 billion streams, while Davido completed the top five with 1.58 billion streams, further reinforcing Nigeria’s strong grip on Africa’s digital music landscape.
Beyond the top five, the list continued to showcase the depth and diversity of African music. placed sixth with 1.52 billion streams, driven by his energetic sound and loyal fan base. followed in seventh place with 1.47 billion streams, confirming her status as one of Africa’s most streamed female artists.
ranked eighth with 1.38 billion streams, benefiting from the continued global appeal of his catalogue, while claimed ninth position with 1.32 billion streams. Completing the top ten was , who recorded 1.26 billion streams in 2025.
Burna Boy’s dominance in 2025 represents more than just impressive numbers. Music analysts point to the longevity of his catalogue, with both new releases and older hits consistently pulling strong daily streams across multiple regions. His music enjoys heavy rotation on international playlists, radio stations, and social media platforms, contributing significantly to his streaming success.
The achievement also highlights Nigeria’s continued influence as Africa’s leading music export hub. Eight out of the ten most streamed African artists in 2025 are Nigerian, reflecting the country’s creative output, industry structure, and global connectivity.
Tyla’s presence as the highest ranked non Nigerian artist on the list further signals the growing international appeal of South African music, particularly among younger audiences. Her success represents a broader shift toward greater diversity in Africa’s global music representation.
Industry observers believe the rapid expansion of digital streaming across Africa has played a major role in the surge of African artists’ numbers. As Spotify continues to deepen its footprint on the continent, African musicians are reaching wider audiences faster than ever before, breaking barriers that once limited global exposure.
For Burna Boy, the record breaking year further strengthens his reputation as a cultural ambassador for Africa. Beyond streaming figures, his sold out world tours, headline festival performances, and high profile international collaborations have helped push African music into mainstream global conversations.
With nearly two billion streams in a single year, Burna Boy has set a new gold standard for African artists worldwide. As African music continues its unstoppable rise, the African Giant’s historic 2025 achievement stands as a powerful symbol of how far the continent’s creative industry has come.
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