The record comes after a series of strategic releases and high-profile collaborations that expanded her reach across international markets.
Tems’ climb to the top was driven by several key releases in late 2025 and early 2026. Her collaboration with British rapper Dave on “Raindance,” which dropped in October 2025, gained massive traction, and its music video release in January 2026 pushed streaming numbers even higher. She also appeared on two tracks on J. Cole’s final album, The Fall-Off, released in February 2026, including “Bunce Road Blues” alongside Future. These moments, combined with consistent streaming of her debut album Born in the Wild, helped push her past the competition.
Tems’ monthly listener count edged past Tyla’s 38.2 million to reach 38.3 million in late February. Days later, reports confirmed she had also surpassed Burna Boy’s previous record for a Nigerian artist, with streaming numbers continuing to climb.
Tems’ achievement reflects the growing commercial power of African music on global streaming platforms. She remains the most-streamed female African artist on Spotify, with over 4.7 billion streams across all credits. Wizkid, another Nigerian superstar, became the first African artist to surpass 10 billion total streams in January 2026, with Burna Boy close behind at 9.5 billion.
Industry watchers note that Tems is now positioned to challenge the all-time highest monthly listener record for an African artist, previously set by Tyla at 40 million. Whether she reaches that milestone next, one thing is clear: Nigerian artists are no longer just participating in global music conversations, they’re leading them.
