Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has reached a new career milestone, surpassing 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify and becoming the most-streamed African artist on the platform at the time of reporting.
As of March 25, 2026, Tems holds approximately 40,161,541 monthly listeners, placing her at #112 globally. The figure marks the first time she has crossed the 40 million threshold, solidifying her position at the forefront of Africa’s global music expansion.
Tems’ rise to the top has been gradual but intentional. Earlier in 2026, she was already closing in on the lead, overtaking Tyla who previously held the top spot among African artists with fluctuating numbers between the high 30 and low 40 million range.
By mid-March, Tems had begun consistently leading daily listener charts among African acts, often outperforming established names like Wizkid and Burna Boy in daily streaming figures.
Her catalog has now crossed an estimated 5 billion total streams on Spotify, driven by a mix of solo records and global collaborations that continue to expand her reach.
Tems first gained international attention with “Essence”, her collaboration with Wizkid, later amplified by a remix featuring Justin Bieber. The track became a cultural breakthrough moment for Afrobeats, introducing the genre to a wider global audience and eventually surpassing 1.5 billion streams.
Since then, she has maintained momentum through high-profile collaborations, including “WAIT FOR U” with Future and Drake and her most recent “Raindance” with Dave, as well as solo releases that highlight her signature blend of R&B, soul, and Afrobeats.
Tems’ latest numbers places her ahead of Africa’s biggest streaming heavyweights, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, and rising stars like Rema and Asake.
While these artists maintain massive global footprints with billions of cumulative streams and consistent chart presence, Tems’ current monthly listener count sets her apart as the continent’s leading artist on Spotify, at least for now.
It is worth noting that Spotify monthly listeners are highly dynamic and can shift based on new releases, viral moments, and playlist exposure. Still, crossing the 40 million mark represents a significant benchmark in global streaming.