As African music continues to grow and gain international recognition, a few artists are spearheading its global expansion. In this article, we list 10 of the biggest African music stars this year.
- Ayra Starr
African music has seen a renaissance, with women on the continent at the forefront of the global conversation. Even before releasing her third album, Ayra Starr was on a run of singles and features that had her at the top of the list of the year’s biggest African stars. Ayra Starr has been at the top of her game, from releasing music for the FIFA World Cup to collaborating with big-name artists like Angelique Kidjo and Zayn Malik, and representing Nigeria at the Global Citizen event and at the Empire State Building; she is a revolutionary artist.
- Tems
Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer, songwriter, and business powerhouse Tems is undoubtedly one of Africa’s biggest artists. For the last few years, Tems has been in every conversation about leading African artists; from her singles to her album, she has received a great reception both globally and in her home country.
- Tyla
South African singer Tyla is one of the most well-known African singers, who has continued to have a successful career since blowing up with her single “Water.” 2026 has been a great year for the singer, from releasing a track for the FIFA World Cup to performing at the event and releasing some of the biggest singles out of the continent this decade; Tyla is undoubtedly one of the biggest African stars this year.
- Diamond Platnumz
Tanzanian singer and one of East Africa’s biggest musicians, Diamond Platnumz has always commanded praise for himself on the continent and beyond as the Bongo Flava king and a digital streaming giant. His music and performance style have kept him at the centre of conversations about uniquely African music that has always preserved the essence of culture. Diamond might be known internationally, but his resolve to make his music represent his roots has never wavered, and this year the singer has released singles and been featured on others, all of which have done well.
- Asake
Asake came into the music industry with a bang, and this year he has continued to carry that loud spark that announced his arrival. After releasing an album that was well received in Nigeria and by his global audience, Asake has also taken the internet by storm with his skills as a performer on his tours, which have become a huge international success. It is impossible to have a conversation on the biggest African stars of the year without mentioning Asake.
- Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa has maintained a status as one of Africa’s biggest stars for over 2 decades. The Congolese musician and dancer is often referred to as the “Prince of Rumba” and has revolutionised the world, not just as a musician but as a humanitarian activist. Fally Ipupa was awarded the AFRIMA 2026 Artist of the Year and has sold out concerts, becoming the first African artist to sell out the Stade de France over two consecutive nights.
- Rema
Rema is one of the biggest artists from Nigeria and one of the biggest Nigerian artists of his decade. Rema was one of the Nigerian artists who released a song for the FIFA World Cup, and also performed at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From topping charts to taking over social media with his singles and infectious energy, Rema has built a career as one of the most-streamed Nigerian artists on YouTube.
Although he has not released an album this year, he has dropped some singles, continues to be part of conversations about impactful African artists, and is regarded as one of the most experimental African artists.
- Burna Boy
In a conversation on the Biggest African stars of the year, Burna Boy’s impact cannot be denied. The Nigerian singer was one of the performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City, following a collaboration with Shakira on the tournament’s biggest song. As of 2026, Burna Boy has over 57 million monthly listeners on Spotify, surpassing Madonna and Adele, and also winning the award for “Album of the Year” at the AFIMA.
- Black Sherif
Ghanaian Singer Black Sherif already has a steady grip on his international audience, and in 2026, his career continues to blossom. From featuring on Davido’s seventh studio album to performing sold-out tours and getting nominated for both local and international awards, Black Sherif has earned his stripes as one of the biggest African stars this year, with huge potential to become an even bigger superstar. In August 2026, he hosted a sold-out concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, USA.
- Uncle Waffles
Swazi DJ and record producer Uncle Waffles is a South African artist who has been hailed for her work in taking Amapiano global. Alongside Tyla, she is one of the most well-known South African artists, and in 2025 she was nominated by BET as the “Best International Act,” with her tour “We Love Waffles” gaining international attention. Uncle Waffles’ career has continued to grow, and she has remained in the limelight even in 2026 as one of the biggest African artists.
