Afrobeats crossed over in the 2010s and 2020s and rewired global pop. The sound now has dedicated charts in the U.S. and U.K., a growing footprint at the world’s biggest festivals, and a brand-new GRAMMY category recognizing African music on its own terms (Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs; Official U.K. Afrobeats Chart; GRAMMYs Best African Music Performance). The movement’s rise has been chronicled by major outlets for years—and it’s still accelerating (The Guardian on Afrobeats’ world stage; early U.K. scene report).

Below is a data-informed, editorially curated power list of the 50 artists who most shaped the sound and culture of Afrobeats in roughly the last decade—through hits, influence, global reach, artistry, and staying power.

How we ranked this

We weighed bodies of work, signature records, streaming milestones, awards, touring, international collaborations, and scene impact. We prioritized Afrobeats and its close cousins (Afro-fusion/Afropop), while acknowledging cross-pollination with amapiano, dancehall, R&B and hip-hop. Industry barometers such as Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, the U.K.’s Official Afrobeats Chart and flagship awards helped anchor recency and reach (Billboard chart portal; Official Charts’ Afrobeats hub; Headies background).

The definitive 50

1. Burna Boy — A stadium-level storyteller whose Afro-fusion albums pushed the genre into album-craft prestige.
2. Wizkid — The silky architect of crossover minimalism; a lodestar for Afrobeats’ global cool.
3. Davido — Hit-machine charisma and continental A&R instincts that built a modern Afrobeats empire.
4. Tems — Atmospheric R&B x Afrobeats alchemy; a new north star for vocal intimacy on global pop stages.
5. Rema — Genre-melter whose “Calm Down” era reset Afrobeats’ reach for Gen Z worldwide.
6. Asake — Choir-chant bounce and Yoruba street poetry made mainstream.
7. Ayra Starr — 20-something virtuosity with fashion-runway presence and radio-dominant hooks.
8. CKay — The viral balladeer who proved Afrobeats slow-burners can become global anthems.
9. Tiwa Savage — A foundational voice of the modern scene and a blueprint for Afrobeats’ women stars.
10. Mr Eazi — Banku-music pioneer and cross-border dealmaker linking Africa, Europe and LatAm.
11. Olamide — Prolific tastemaker and label boss whose street smarts shaped a generation.
12. Kizz Daniel — Consistency king with earworm hooks and cross-demographic appeal.
13. Yemi Alade — Pan-African touring force blending highlife colors with pop force.
14. Patoranking — Dancehall-leaning Afrobeats ambassador with festival-ready bangers.
15. Omah Lay — Introspective writing and moody grooves that redefined Afrobeats’ quiet storm.
16. Fireboy DML — Album-oriented craftsman balancing tender storytelling and chart energy.
17. Joeboy — Romantic pop technician with a spotless singles batting average.
18. Adekunle Gold — From highlife roots to sleek Afro-pop, a master of reinvention.
19. Ruger — Dance-floor menace with a pirate-flag swagger and sticky melodies.
20. BNXN (fka Buju) — Hook specialist who became a lead-artist force.
21. Oxlade — Falsetto finesse that travels effortlessly across continents.
22. Lojay — Elegant writing over dark, modern production; a collaborator’s favorite.
23. Mayorkun — Crowd-pleasing choruses and dependable live energy.
24. Teni — Personality-forward star whose anthems cut across age groups.
25. Niniola — Queen of Afro-house inflections in mainstream Afrobeats.
26. Falz — Satirical edge and social commentary threaded through pop bops.
27. Tekno — Beat architect and hit whisperer for himself and others.
28. Zlatan — Street-rap energy and zanku bounce exported worldwide.
29. Naira Marley — Provocateur who turned street slang into global catchphrases.
30. Phyno — Igbo-rap heavyweight with Afropop instincts.
31. Runtown — Timeless mid-tempo craftsmanship and global-friendly melodies.
32. Flavour — Highlife giant whose crossover records helped widen Afrobeats’ palette.
33. P-Square — Veteran hitmakers whose reunions still set streaming dashboards alight.
34. Reekado Banks — Smooth operator with a deep feature résumé.
35. Simi — Velvet vocals and writerly intimacy, from solos to A-list duets.
36. Victony — Cutting-edge melodies and a knack for era-defining collaborations.
37. Bella Shmurda — Streets-to-charts grit with undeniable anthems.
38. MohBad — A short, blazing run that left a lasting cultural imprint.
39. Stonebwoy — Ghanaian flag-bearer blending dancehall, Afropop and highlife with ease.
40. Sarkodie — Lyrical technician and award magnet anchoring Ghana’s global presence.
41. Shatta Wale — High-output hitmaker with a fiercely loyal movement.
42. King Promise — Silken crooner turning minimal grooves into big-room moments.
43. Black Sherif — Voice-of-his-moment storyteller with cinematic intensity.
44. Gyakie — Effortless, feather-light delivery with heavy replay value.
45. Tyla — South African pop phenom whose “Water” splash earned the first-ever GRAMMY for Best African Music Performance, a watershed for the continent (category launch and win).
46. Focalistic — Amapiano x Afrobeats bridge-builder dominating club ecosystems.
47. Master KG — “Jerusalema” proved gospel-tinted dance could galvanize the globe.
48. Diamond Platnumz — East Africa’s crossover engine with Afrobeats in constant dialogue.
49. Harmonize — Bongo Flava star whose Afropop hybrids travel far.
50. Sauti Sol — Kenyan harmony masters showing how band dynamics thrive in Afro-pop.

Why this decade matters

The 2015–2025 window is when Afrobeats toppled gatekeeping. Dedicated charts validated demand and gave weekly visibility to what dance floors already knew (Billboard U.S. Afrobeats; Official U.K. Afrobeats Chart). Meanwhile, a new GRAMMY category formalized a lane that artists had carved without permission—Tyla’s historic win in 2024 underscored the shift and the pipeline of nominees (Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Ayra Starr) already operating at pop’s highest tier (GRAMMY announcement and winner). Add years of media attention and diaspora-driven scenes in London, Lagos and beyond, and you get a culture that’s no longer “breaking”—it’s the center of gravity (The Guardian’s global take; early U.K. roots piece).

How to use this list

Editors, curators and new fans can treat this as a starter map. Dig into catalog depth, pair veterans with new-school stylists on playlists, and follow the charts that now track Afrobeats momentum in real time (Billboard; U.K. Afrobeats Chart). For awards history and scene barometers, keep an eye on Africa’s marquee ceremonies (The Headies).

Have a name you think we underrated—or missed? Tell us why, with the songs and milestones to make the case.