Last updated on June 6th, 2023 at 04:13 pm
Who are the top 50 most popular musicians in Africa 2023?
Well, this is an ever-changing list and today you and I will be looking at the top 50 most popular musicians in Africa in 2022.
As a matter of fact, the most famous artists in Africa list has housed some beautiful names in the past.
But this is 2023, so if you really want to find out some of the incredible names on this list of most popular African musicians 2023, then you will love this list.
But before you and I dive right in, some of the criteria for compiling this list are the previous performances and influence of artists across Africa over the past decade especially in the age of millennials and Generation Z.
With that out of the way, let’s use a magnifying glass to look at the beautiful names that made this list shall we?
Top 10 Most Popular Musicians In Africa
Who are the top ten most popular musicians in Africa right now? The names of the 10 most popular musical artists in the continent right now are:
- Wizkid
- Davido
- Diamond Platnumz
- Fally Ipupa
- Burnaboy
- Psquare
- Tiwa Savage
- 2baba
- Koffi Olomide
- Yemi Alade
Wizkid (From Nigeria West Africa)
This may sound controversial but one of the most consistent artists in Africa over the past decade is Wizkid.
Wizkid Superstar album brought not just fame but also awards to the shelf of the talented singer.
The singer currently has four studio albums to date which is relatively less compared to some names you will find on this list.
All his album combined has made him quite a mouth-watering sum of cash flow. this guy is super-rich.
He is a record label executive, singer/songwriter, and hails from Nigeria which is the 7th most populated country in the world.
Wizkid rise to fame came in the late 2000s after encountering singer and now politician Banky W.
His career blossomed and he is the winner of the 2020 Headies Award beating the likes of Davido, Burnaboy, and Mayorkun to the award.
He is no doubt one of the most popular musicians in Nigeria in 2022 and his fan base Wizkid FC would brag any time any day about his popularity.
You have not listened to any of his songs then it is time to get your headphone and listen to tracks like smile, ojuelegba, and ginger featuring Burnaboy.
Davido (From Nigeria West Africa)
Popular hated for being a billionaire’s son but very kind-hearted and the man with a big heart.
Davido rose to fame in the 2010s and has seemingly held his fame down for the past decade competing fiercely with Wizkid on every side.
He has also gained an enormous amount of wealth since coming to the music scene.
You may say it’s not a competition but I am sure Wizkid FC and the 30BG gang would agree these two are rivals.
During a poll that Shoutmeceleb Entertainment conducted on Twitter, we found out that the beef between Wizkid and Davido is been intensified by the fans.
David has been consistent since his debut, and with his 4th studio album A Better Time Out in 2020, OBO takes the number two spot on this list.
He has also bagged lots of awards and is currently the first Afrobeat artist in Africa with 2 Gold certifications in the USA.
He is the first Afrobeat artist with more than 200 million views on YouTube Africa and one of the top 50 most popular musicians in the world.
It’s hard to say you don’t know him but if that is the case then here are some classic songs you should check out courtesy of David Adeleke Adedeji.
You need to start with Aye, then walk your way down to Champion Sound, taste Something Fishy and then crown it up with the best.
Davido is the 2nd most popular musician in Nigeria 2023.
Diamond Platnumz (From Tanzania East Africa)
Diamond Platnumz’s story will intrigue you as well as make you aspire for the impossible.
Recently the Wasafi record label boss opened up about how he almost go broke featuring Nigerian superstar Davido.
According to the singer, he said that one decision changed the game for him and made him quite the name he has today.
Platnumz is also one of the richest musicians in the African continent rubbing shoulders with some pretty high-profile names in the African music industry.
In terms of popularity, Diamond Platnumz is the most popular musician in East Africa as well as Tanzania.
but he didn’t stop there, he drove a notch further with his artistry to become the first musician in Africa to hit a billion views on YouTube.
Recommended For You: Diamond Platnumz vs Harmonize vs Ali Kiba vs Jux vs Rayvanny Net Worth
Akon is easily the owner of this accolade but I am putting him aside because his career started outside Africa.
You are welcome to debate that though…
Now, if you have not heard of Diamond Platnumz then start by listening to songs like African beauty, Gidi, Naazanje, and Kidogo featuring Psquare.
Diamond Platnumz’s career has been a successful one and so did his fame spread across the continent.
He easily takes the number 3 spot from Fally Ipupa who is the fourth most popular music artist in Africa.
Fally Ipupa (From DR Congo Central Africa)
Family Ipupa is one of the best musicians in Africa with so many individual accolades.
You could say he left his mark in the industry through his scintillating dance and songs.
I was listening to hello telephone recently, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Congo musicians.
They bring life to any sound you find them on just like when he was featured on Diamond Platnumz Inama.
Ipupa has also amassed quite the net worth for himself and I discovered this after writing about his and Diamond Platnumz net worth.
You definitely need to check out that post, you will be thrilled at what you will find behind the door.
Burnaboy (From Nigeria West Africa)
Damini Ogulu is the name of this singer, his rise to fame may have come in the late 2010s but he is arguably one of the most popular singers in Africa 2023.
His rise saw him put the entire continent on the world map with help from one of the richest musicians in the world (the person of Diddy).
He is the 2nd Nigerian Afrobeat musician with a Grammy award, the first is Wizkid and both were awarded the same night at the 63rd annual Grammy award.
His 2020 album twice as tall is doing some serious numbers and tracks like monsters you made will definitely leave you speechless.
Since his rise, he has definitely turned out to be one of the forces that threaten to usurp the reign of Wizkid and Davido as the biggest Nigerian musicians ever.
Whether that will happen, only time would help you and I unveil the truth in the coming years.
Burnaboy has also made quite the fortune for himself after working with several big international names.
So if this is the first time you are hearing the name Burnaboy, then it’s time to draw closer to listen to some of his sounds like anybody, on the low.
Psquare (From Nigeria West Africa)
Nigeria is a blessed country when you think about the musical talent this one country has produced.
Among such talent that the country has produced, are iconic legends Psquare who made Nigeria proud?
Psquare at some point used to be the most popular singer in Africa until their split in 2017.
You may read all about the popular break-up of the group Psquare here.
Now, both artists perform under the name Mr. P and Rudeboy and have a net worth that is more than $30 million.
They slide from the number one position on this list and why they may have split, but both still made this list because Peter and Paul were known all over Africa.
If you have not listened to their classic then it’s time to start with do me, Ifunaya featuring Rick Ross and end it with no one like you.
The Psquare brothers won any award in the music industry except for the Grammy which Wizkid and Burnaboy brought home.
Tiwa Savage (From Nigeria West Africa)
I know it feels biased that Nigeria has been the most dominant on this list right?
Well, don’t feel bad, I tried to make sure I wasn’t been biased as possible but be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts about this list.
Having said that, Tiwa Savage is known as the queen of Afrobeat for a reason and no one else comes close.
Simi has the vocals and Yemi Alade too but when you and I talk about Afrobeat, she beats every one of the above names.
Tiwa has done backup for the likes of Beyonce, Whitney Houston, and more.
During her time at Mavin Records, she was the queen of Mavin with hit songs from left to right.
Her most recent album Celia didn’t get much attention but you really need to listen very well to catch the vibe.
It was a beauty especially when I listened to tracks like Park Well featuring Davido.
She occupies the 7th spot on the list of most popular musicians in Africa 2022.
She is also number one in the top 10 most popular female musicians in Africa.
Although she is currently signed to UMG, her wealth has continued to grow flawlessly.
If you haven’t listened to her sounds? Well, you have got to be missing something really beautiful so check out attention and temptation.
2Baba (From Nigeria West Africa)
2face is a legend in the Nigerian music industry and that is a fact.
When you and I talk about popularity, it’s easy to look past him but then that would be a mistake.
He is one singer from the 90s who has been kicking it really strong until he celebrated 20yrs in the industry in 2020.
The whole of Africa still plays evergreen songs like African queen, by 2baba because it was a beauty.
I mean this one song was released in the 2000s and still gets the airplay even 15 plus years after.
His popularity spread to other parts of Africa with his song featuring R Kelly flex.
Tubaba has more than 3 studio albums out and they were all hit songs after hit songs.
The people that could usurp 2baba when it comes to hit tracks are only Psquare and Davido.
If you have not listened to any 2face songs then you need to start with his album Warrior.
Koffi Olomide (From DR Congo Central Africa)
It will be totally crazy to make this list and absent names like Koffi Olomide from it.
I love Awilo Logomba but this guy here would give him a run for his money any time any day.
He is the major hands that tutor Fally Ipupa under the band which toured Africa and the rest part of the world.
DR Congo just has a way of making you dance nonstop with their sound soukous.
He occupies the 9th spot on this list and his latest feature is Waa by Diamond Platnumz, a song that has more than 30 million views on YT currently.
Yemi Alade (From Nigeria West Africa)
Yemi Eberechi Alade has been the singer suggested to usurp Tiwa Savage.
but that doesn’t look like it will ever happen considering that Tiwa does not look to be slowing down any time soon.
However, I have really enjoyed her songs from Johnny to her most recent album.
She is also one of the wealthiest females in the Nigerian music industry with more than $1 million as net worth.
Having said that, you really have to listen to tracks like Deceive featuring Rudeboy.
What a beautiful song, one that you can’t forget in a hurry.
Now, come let’s get right into the top 20 list of popular artists on the African continent, shall we?
Click the next button to discover 7 more musicians on this list.
