African popular music artists
56 published African popular music artists, led by Ayra Starr, Davido and Miriam Makeba.
At a glance
56 published African popular music artists; 108 studio albums have verified cover art.
- Published artists1 tier 1 · 3 tier 2 · 52 tier 3
- 56
- Release groups
- 448
- Studio albums
- 137
- Albums with cover artverified Cover Art Archive
- 108
- Timeline events
- 269
- Monthly listenerssum across artists
- 29.9M
- Average career spanfirst to last dated release
- 12.7 years
- Full biographies
- 33
- Biography words
- 58,744
When they started
Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 2010s (17 artists).
| Decade | Artists |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 1 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 2 |
| 2000s | 3 |
| 2010s | 17 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Where they come from
Countries with the most African popular music artists. Nigeria leads with 33.
Often paired with
Genres that share artists with African popular music. The most shared is hip-hop, with 13 artists in both.
Covers from African popular music
108 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.
Starrgirl
Ayra Starr · 2026
The Year I Turned 21
Ayra Starr · 2024
19 & Dangerous
Ayra Starr · 2021
Oriadé
Davido · 2026
5ive
Davido · 2025
Timeless
Davido · 2023
A Better Time
Davido · 2020
A Good Time
Davido · 2019
Omo Baba Lowo
Davido · 2012
Makeba Sings!
Miriam Makeba · 2015
The Many Voices of Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba · 2011
Homeland
Miriam Makeba · 2000
Leaders
Miriam Makeba has the most release groups (66); Miriam Makeba the longest career (64 years); Diamond Platnumz the most awards (13).
Most prolific
| Artist | release groups |
|---|---|
| Miriam Makeba | 66 |
| Brenda Fassie | 59 |
| Joeboy | 43 |
| Osibisa | 42 |
| Davido | 36 |
Longest careers
first to last dated release
| Artist | years |
|---|---|
| Miriam Makeba | 64 |
| Osibisa | 50 |
| Brenda Fassie | 36 |
| Kojo Antwi | 15 |
| 2Baba | 14 |
Most decorated
| Artist | awards |
|---|---|
| Diamond Platnumz | 13 |
| Miriam Makeba | 8 |
| Yemi Alade | 6 |
| Don Jazzy | 5 |
| Simi | 4 |
Most famous African popular music artists
Ayra Starr
Benin · Person · born 2002
contemporary R&B, African popular music, Nigerian hip hop, alté
19.6M listeners · 35 wikis
Davido
Nigeria · Person · born 1992
pop music, rhythm and blues, dancehall, Afrobeats, African popular music, screamo, screamo rap
10.3M listeners · 29 wikis
Miriam Makeba
Guinea · Person · born 1932
rock music, jazz, world music, African popular music, marabi, township music
97 wikis
Brenda Fassie
South Africa · Person · born 1964
African popular music
41 wikis
Yemi Alade
Nigeria · Person · born 1989
African popular music
33 wikis
2Baba
Nigeria · Person · born 1976
contemporary R&B, gospel music, hip-hop, reggae, Afrobeats, African popular music
22 wikis
Simi
Nigeria · Person · born 1988
soul, rhythm and blues, Afrobeats, African popular music
21 wikis
Omawumi
Nigeria · Person · born 1982
soul, African popular music
18 wikis
Osibisa
United Kingdom · Group · 1969–present
African popular music
18 wikis
Adekunle Gold
Nigeria · Person · born 1987
Afrobeat, African popular music
18 wikis
Niniola
Nigeria · Person · born 1986
soul, rhythm and blues, Afrobeat, African popular music, Amapiano
17 wikis
Sho Madjozi
South Africa · Person · born 1992
electronic music, hip-hop, African popular music, Amapiano, gqom
16 wikis
More African popular music artists
Showing 1–44 of 44 artists
Diamond Platnumz
Tanzania · Person · born 1989
rhythm and blues, Afrobeat, African popular music, bongo flava, rhumba
15 wikis · Tier 3
Joeboy
Nigeria · Person · born 1997
contemporary R&B, Afrobeats, African popular music
15 wikis · Tier 3
Wendy Shay
Ghana · Person · born 1996
Afrobeat, African popular music
14 wikis · Tier 3
Emma Nyra
Nigeria · Person · born 1988
soul, rhythm and blues, African popular music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Kizz Daniel
Nigeria · Person · born 1994
pop music, contemporary R&B, African popular music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Stonebwoy
Ghana · Person · born 1988
African popular music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Cina Soul
Ghana · Person · born 1996
pop music, jazz, neo soul, highlife, African popular music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Lil Khalid4grace
Nigeria · Person · born 1995
rhythm and blues, hip-hop, reggae, Afrobeats, African popular music, rapper
12 wikis · Tier 3
Khadijah Blell
Nigeria · Person · born 1989
pop music, contemporary R&B, Afrobeat, African popular music
12 wikis · Tier 3
Kcee
Nigeria · Person · born 1979
African popular music
12 wikis · Tier 3
MohBad
Nigeria · Person · born 1996
Afrobeats, African popular music, street pop
11 wikis · Tier 3
Amarachi
Nigeria · Person · born 2004
hip-hop, African popular music
11 wikis · Tier 3
Don Jazzy
Nigeria · Person · born 1982
Afrobeat, African popular music
11 wikis · Tier 3
Harrysong
Nigeria · Person · born 1981
rhythm and blues, dancehall, highlife, African popular music, African hip-hop
11 wikis · Tier 3
Iyanya
Nigeria · Person · born 1986
rhythm and blues, African popular music
10 wikis · Tier 3
KiDi
Ghana · Person · born 1993
highlife, Afrobeats, African popular music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Charly Boy
Nigeria · Person · born 1950
highlife, Afrobeats, African popular music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Reekado Banks
Nigeria · Person · born 1993
African popular music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Avril
Kenya · Person · born 1986
African popular music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Ladipoe
Nigeria · Person · born 1985
Afrobeats, African popular music
9 wikis · Tier 3
Mr 2Kay
Nigeria · Person · born 1988
African popular music
9 wikis · Tier 3
Kojo Antwi
Ghana · Person
African popular music
9 wikis · Tier 3
Dice Ailes
Nigeria · Person · born 1996
pop music, hip-hop, Afrobeat, African popular music
8 wikis · Tier 3
Pheelz
Nigeria · Person · born 1994
contemporary R&B, hip-hop, Afrobeat, African popular music
8 wikis · Tier 3
Ycee
Nigeria · Person · born 1993
hip-hop, African popular music
8 wikis · Tier 3
Kuami Eugene
Ghana · Person · born 1997
highlife, Afrobeat, Afrobeats, African popular music
8 wikis · Tier 3
D'Prince
Nigeria · Person · born 1989
African popular music
7 wikis · Tier 3
Olayiwola Olabanji Kokumo
Nigeria · Person · born 1993
African popular music, fuji music
7 wikis · Tier 3
May D
Nigeria · Person · born 1984
African popular music
7 wikis · Tier 3
Kyla-Rose Smith
South Africa · Person · born 1982
African popular music
7 wikis · Tier 3
Jaywon
Nigeria · Person · born 1986
African popular music
6 wikis · Tier 3
Waconzy
Nigeria · Person · born 1983
African popular music
6 wikis · Tier 3
Okyeame Kwame
Ghana · Person · born 1976
hip-hop, African popular music, hiplife
6 wikis · Tier 3
Fancy Gadam
Ghana · Person · born 1988
dancehall, African popular music, hiplife
6 wikis · Tier 3
Sauti Sol
Kenya · Group · 2005–present
African popular music
6 wikis · Tier 3
Harmonize
Tanzania · Person · born 1994
African popular music, bongo flava
4 wikis · Tier 3
Pepenazi
Nigeria · Person · born 1988
dancehall, hip-hop, African popular music
4 wikis · Tier 3
Sjava
Person · born 1988
contemporary R&B, hip-hop, trap music, African popular music
4 wikis · Tier 3
Teddy Osei
Ghana · Person · born 1937
African popular music
4 wikis · Tier 3
Cruel Santino
Nigeria · Person · born 1992
hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, African popular music, alté
2 wikis · Tier 3
Ko-c
Cameroon · Person · born 1992
pop music, pop rap, Afrobeats, African popular music, Amapiano
2 wikis · Tier 3
PsychoYP
Nigeria · Person · born 1998
trap music, alternative hip-hop, drill, African popular music, alté, Afroswing
2 wikis · Tier 3
BOJ
Person · born 1994
hip-hop, African popular music, alté
1 wikis · Tier 3
Naiboi
Kenya · Person · born 2003
contemporary R&B, hip-hop, reggae, African popular music
1 wikis · Tier 3