Top African artists are making big waves on YouTube, with their Monthly Audience numbers showing millions of fans tuning in to watch and enjoy their music every month.
In today’s fast-moving music world, where global hits can be born from a 15-second clip and fan-made dance challenges travel faster than radio play, understanding artist influence requires more than just tallying streams. YouTube Music’s recently introduced “Monthly Audience” metric is a big step in that direction, offering a clearer, more holistic picture of how artists are resonating with listeners across the platform.
Updated daily, the feature counts the total number of unique users who’ve watched or listened to an artist’s content, whether it’s an official video, a viral Short, a fan-uploaded dance clip, or even a behind-the-scenes vlog, over the previous 28 days. In essence, it’s YouTube’s answer to Spotify’s long-standing “Monthly Listeners,” but with a multi-format twist that makes it uniquely powerful.
This comes at a time when African music is having a moment, not just on the continent, but across the globe. Afrobeats, in particular, is booming. It’s infectious, it’s emotional, and it’s universally danceable. In 2022, the genre racked up over 13 billion streams on Spotify, marking a 550% surge since 2017. YouTube’s new metric could not have come at a better time to help chart this rise.
But what makes this even more exciting is how the feature favors the ways African music spreads, through community engagement, visual content, viral dance trends, and fan remixes. Unlike platforms that only track official audio plays, YouTube “Monthly Audience” captures the full digital footprint of artists. That’s huge for artists whose success often lives in the space between official releases and the internet’s creative chaos.
The ripple effect is already being felt. For record labels, A&R execs, and brand marketers, this isn’t just another number. It’s an entirely new lens for evaluating reach, cultural relevance, and potential market impact, especially for artists emerging from vibrant but underrepresented regions. And right now, African artists are making waves on YouTube, racking up audience monthly that rival or surpass global stars.
Here’s a breakdown of the African artists with the highest YouTube Monthly Audience, showcasing their impressive reach and cultural influence.
Rema – 307m Monthly Audience
No surprises here. Rema is the undisputed leader, with a jaw-dropping 307 million Monthly Audience. His chart-topper Calm Down, especially the remix with Selena Gomez, is a global juggernaut with 1.18 billion YouTube views and a 58-week run at the top of the Billboard Afrobeats chart.
He’s also the creator of “Afrorave,” a genre-bending style that mixes Afrobeats with Middle Eastern and Indian influences, and his fanbase, known as the “Ravers,” spans continents. His Rave & Roses Ultra made history as the first African album to surpass 2 billion Spotify streams, and his 2024 album Heis earned him a Grammy nomination.
Chella – 109m Monthly Audience
With a reported 109 million Monthly Audience, Chella is quickly becoming one of the most-watched rising stars in Africa’s music scene. While YouTube hasn’t officially confirmed that number in public snippets, Music Metrics Vault shows he’s already surpassed 57 million total plays as of July 2025, and the numbers don’t lie. His breakout track, My Darling has racked up an impressive 52 million views on YouTube alone, capturing the attention of fans across the continent and beyond.
With over 400,000 subscribers on his official channel and strong engagement on his latest releases, Chella’s growth feels organic and explosive. It is a clear sign that listeners are not just passing by, they’re staying. His presence is proof that a new wave is here, and it’s only just beginning.
CKay – 104m Monthly Audience
Ckay has quickly become one of Afrobeats’ most influential voices, thanks to his signature “Emo-Afrobeats” sound, a heartfelt fusion of traditional African rhythms and raw emotion. With a reported Monthly Audience of around 104 million (and some estimates even higher), he’s reaching listeners worldwide like few others. His smash hit Love Nwantiti has topped charts in over 30 countries and accumulated more than 2 billion streams across platforms. The remix alone has pulled in an impressive 346 million views on YouTube, turning it into a global anthem.
Notably, Ckay made history as the first African artist to have two tracks simultaneously in Spotify’s Global Top 30, a reflection of his growing international influence. His debut album, Sad Romance, has amassed over 400 million streams, showcasing his growing popularity. Additionally, Ckay earned a Grammy nomination for his notable contribution to Janelle Monáe’s album The Age of Pleasure, further highlighting his expanding influence in the music world.
Tyla – 63.6M Monthly Audience
With a whopping 63.6 million Monthly Audience, Tyla’s rise in the global music scene has been nothing short of spectacular. Her Grammy-winning single Water took social media by storm, with the video going viral and launching her career to new heights. This success made her the highest-charting African female solo artist on the Billboard charts, a huge milestone. The song has racked up an impressive 689 million plays on YouTube Music, proving just how much listeners connect with her sound.
Tyla is also credited with popularizing “popiano,” a fresh, upbeat mix of pop and South Africa’s amapiano dance music. Her self-titled debut album dropped in 2024 and made a strong impression, debuting at number 24 on the US Billboard 200. With 31 awards won from 105 nominations, including big wins like Best New Artist and Best International Act at the BET Awards, Tyla is clearly a force to be reckoned with in music today.
Davido – 57.8m Monthly Audience
Davido’s reported 57.8 million Monthly Audience (with some sources suggesting even 58.5 million) highlights his lasting impact on the global music stage. Known for timeless hits like Fall, which has over 310 million views on YouTube, and If with more than 203 million views, his total YouTube views surpass a staggering 2 billion.
Beyond his solo success, Davido has built an impressive track record of international collaborations, working with big names like Chris Brown on Blow My Mind, Popcaan on Risky, and Musa Keys on UNAVAILABLE. His recent album Timeless and singles such as Unavailable and Feel have earned him multiple Grammy nominations, cementing his status as a global Afrobeats icon.
Throughout his career, Davido has been a consistent favorite at major African music awards, often taking home the coveted Artist of the Year title, a reflection of his influence, talent, and enduring popularity.
Burna Boy – 30.9m Monthly Audience
They don’t call him the African Giant for nothing. With a reported 30.9 million Monthly Audience, Burna Boy’s status as a global music powerhouse is undeniable. He’s a Grammy winner for Best Global Music Album with Twice as Tall and has repeatedly claimed the BET Award for Best International Act, proving his lasting influence on the world stage.
Burna Boy’s YouTube presence is massive, with over 3.4 billion views to his name. Hits like On the Low, which has over 512 million plays on YouTube Music, and Last Last with more than 423 million plays highlight his broad and passionate fanbase.
His collaborations read like a who’s who of global superstars, from Coldplay to Justin Bieber and Travis Scott, showcasing his ability to bridge genres and audiences. Even Rolling Stone recognized his incredible talent, ranking him among the 200 greatest singers of all time. Burna Boy isn’t just an artist; he’s a global cultural force.
Ayra Starr – 26.9m Monthly Audience (Disputed)
Ayra Starr’s reported 26.9 million Monthly Audience on YouTube Music shows just how far she’s come since her breakout. While some platform snippets suggest a lower figure (around 5 million), her total 899 million+ YouTube views speak volumes about her global reach. Her 2022 hit Rush was more than a song, it became a global anthem, now sitting at 476 million views. Follow-up singles like Commas (138 million views) show her consistency in delivering chart-toppers.
In 2025, Ayra made history as the first Nigerian female to win a BET Award for Best International Act, alongside a MOBO Award for Best African Music Act. With collaborations featuring Giveon and CKay, her influence keeps growing. Ayra Starr is more than a rising star, she’s redefining what it means to be young, African, and globally unstoppable.
Wizkid – 16.1m Monthly Audience
With a steady 16.1 million Monthly Audience on YouTube Music, Wizkid isn’t just a star, he’s a legend who helped pave the way for Afrobeats on the world stage.
His career exploded globally with One Dance alongside Drake, but it was Essence featuring Tems that became a cultural reset, the first Nigerian song to hit the Billboard Hot 100. That track now boasts over 460 million plays, while hits like Joro have pulled in 367 million+.
Wizkid’s shelves are heavy, he’s the most awarded African artist across the BET, Billboard, MOBO, Soul Train, and iHeartRadio awards. From Beyoncé to Justin Bieber, his collabs keep proving his unmatched global pull. Calm, consistent, and always classy, Wizkid remains the blueprint.
Omah Lay – 11.5m Monthly Audience
Meanwhile, with a reported 11.5 million Monthly Audience on YouTube Music, Omah Lay is steadily carving out a powerful space in Afrobeats, one emotional lyric at a time.
Known for his soulful voice and haunting storytelling, he burst onto the scene with “Bad Influence” and never looked back. His hit Soso has racked up over 217 million views, while Understand holds strong with 158 million+.
With 2.43 million YouTube subscribers and over 1.1 billion total views, Omah Lay’s rise feels personal for fans. His collab with Justin Bieber on Attention only amplified his reach, showing that his sound, raw, moody, and magnetic, resonates far beyond Africa. He isn’t just riding the wave; he’s shaping it.
Asake – 9.01m Monthly Audience
With 9.01 million Monthly Audience on YouTube Music and 28.3 million monthly video views (according to Chartmetric), Asake is one of the most electrifying voices in Afrobeats right now.
His breakout debut, Mr. Money with the Vibe, made history as the biggest opening-day African album on Apple Music, a bold entry into the game. Blending Fuji, street anthems, and amapiano, Asake created his own lane with what fans call “Street-Pop.”
His runaway hit Lonely At The Top has racked up 73 million+ YouTube views, while “Terminator” keeps dancefloors busy across the globe. From selling out London’s O2 Arena to shutting down New York’s Barclays Center, Asake is proving he’s not just viral, he’s global. And with collabs alongside Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy, he’s only just getting started.
Tems – 7.9m Monthly Audience
With a reported 7.9 million Monthly Audience on YouTube Music (and 14.72 million listeners on Spotify), Tems continues to be a genre-defying force redefining modern African music. A standout figure from Nigeria’s alté movement, her rich, soul-bending vocals and introspective songwriting have earned her global reverence.
Tems’ breakout came via the chart-smashing Essence with Wizkid, a record that marked a seismic shift in Afrobeats’ global perception. From there, she’s become a go-to collaborator for music royalty: Drake (Fountains), Future and Drake again (Wait For U), Beyoncé (Move), and Rihanna, with whom she co-wrote the Oscar-nominated Lift Me Up.
Her accolades include a Grammy win for Best Melodic Rap Performance, plus Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, achievements few African artists, let alone female, have matched. In 2024, she unveiled her long-anticipated debut album, Born in the Wild, cementing her place as one of the most compelling voices of her generation.
Victony – 7.44m Monthly Audience
Victony’s reported 7.44 million Monthly Audience highlights his steady rise as one of Nigeria’s most dynamic young talents. Originally emerging as a rapper, he transitioned into a genre-blending artist, fusing Afropop, R&B, and hip hop. His breakout hit Soweto became a global sensation, racking up over 164 million YouTube views, with a remix featuring Rema and Don Toliver that pushed it onto international charts.
His 2024 sophomore album Stubborn has been praised for its bold experimentation and lyrical introspection. With over 1.1 billion total streams, Victony is earning both critical acclaim and mainstream attention.
Why these numbers matter
The YouTube Monthly Audience metric levels the playing field for artists who shine in the visual and viral space. For African stars, whose music often flourishes through dance challenges, community remixes, and YouTube Shorts, it offers the most accurate picture yet of global reach.
This metric doesn’t just count streams; it measures influence, across official uploads, fan videos, vlogs, performances, and creative mashups. It’s a mirror of how audiences live with music, not just how they stream it. And as we’ve seen, Africa’s biggest stars are not just competing on the world stage, they’re winning. Africa is watching. And so is the world.
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