BBC 1Xtra to debut 'official' Afrobeats chart

The chart is initiated by Afro Nation festival and will be compiled by the Official Charts Company using UK sales and streaming data from more than 9 000 outlets, incorporating physical sales, downloads, audio streams and video streams.

A statement announcing the news says the chart is the first official Afrobeats chart globally and will feature the top musicians in the genre including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema and Young T & Bugsey, among others.

The chart will be updated every Sunday and posted on the newly launched Spotify Official UK Afrobeats Chart playlist. The full chart will be published on the Official Charts website alongside a weekly video countdown on the Afro Nation and Official Charts social platforms.

"1Xtra has been committed to championing the Afrobeats scene since our formation and we're excited to support the launch of the first-ever UK Afrobeats Chart,” head of programmes at BBC Radio 1Xtra Mark Strippel said. “This is much-needed and long overdue. We're proud to be a part of history."

Official Charts Company CEO Martin Talbot said: "This fast-growing genre is having an increasingly powerful impact on the music landscape right now, both in the UK and further afield, through artists including the likes of NSG, J Hus and Burna Boy.”

Nigerian singer and rapper Rema also commented: "It's a great thing to witness Afrobeats finally receiving the international success and recognition it deserves. Afrobeats is more than just a genre to me, it's part of my identity, my culture, it's in my blood and I'm honoured to be a part of the movement.”

New data from the Official Charts Company shows that in 2019 Afrobeats artists collectively spent 86 weeks on the Official Chart Top 40, a significant upward swing from 24 weeks in 2017, while the number of tracks that entered the UK Top 40 with either a lead or featured Afrobeats act more than doubled in the same period. According to test data for the new chart, an average 50% of entries are independent releases.

The debut chart will be released in a special show on BBC Radio 1Xtra from 1pm to 3pm CAT on 26 July.