Boomplay 2021 wrap-up highlights tomorrow’s African popstars

The report is based on streaming data from the company’s 60 million active monthly users across four key countries – Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania – from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021.

A key deduction from the report is how it highlights artists who could be the next big names in African music. Rising acts dominated their respective countries, their releases becoming the fastest songs to attain 1 million streams, and in some cases earned the accolade of most-streamed record. 

In Nigeria, 24-year-old Omah Lay secured the No 2 spot among the top three most-streamed male artists, which also includes Olamide and Burna Boy, while Teni, Tope Alabi and Mercy Chinwo emerged as the first, second and third most-streamed female artists, respectively. Ruger, Ayra Starr and Tems were the top rising artists on the streaming platform.

Olamide’s Omah Lay-assisted ‘Infinity’ was the most-streamed Afrobeats song for the year, with Joeboy’s ‘Alcohol’ and Ladipoe’s ‘Feeling’ featuring Buju coming in at No 2 and No 3, respectively. Joeboy and Omah Lay had the second and third fastest songs to reach 1 million streams after Naira Marley’s ‘Coming’ featuring Busiswa. 

Worth reiterating is Olamide’s influence on the charts, having asserted himself atop the two strongest streaming categories, mainly with his album Carpe Diem. It is also instructive to note the absence of Wizkid, Davido and Tiwa Savage in Boomplay’s top ranks, despite their successes elsewhere (Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido are Spotify’s most-streamed Nigerian artists of 2021).

On the gospel front in Nigeria, Mike Abdul’s ‘Baba Ese’ took the top spot, with Mercy Chinwo’s ‘Oyoyo Chukwu’ featuring Israel Dammy and EeZee Tee and Onos’ ‘No Void’ claiming the second and third spots.

Ghana’s list of the top three female artists was occupied by Gyakie, Diana Hamilton and Wendy Shay. Wendy Shay and Gyakie’s presence among the top ranks emphasise the dominance of young acts this year. Sarkodie led the ranking for the male acts, with Black Sherif and Stonebwoy coming in at second and third. The country’s biggest discovery of 2021, Black Sherif’s ‘Second Sermon’ and ‘First Sermon’, were the two fastest rising songs to reach 1 million streams. Last week, a remix of ‘Second Sermon’ featuring Burna Boy was released to rave reviews, along with Burna Boy’s announcement that Black Sherif would be going on tour with the Grammy winner.

Meanwhile, Diana Hamilton’s ‘Adom Grace’ closed out the year as the third most streamed song in Ghana, pointing to the fact that gospel music remains a viable genre in the country. Diana Hamilton, who is the reigning Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Artist of the Year, secured the top two spots for the most streamed gospel songs, with Joyce Blessing trailing at No 3. R2Bees, Keche and Dead Peepol were crowned the top groups of 2021.

The Kenya wrap-up spotlights young gospel act Mr Seed as the brightest emerging act in the country. His song ‘Only One’ was the fastest to accrue 1 million streams in the year under review. He also led the top rising artists list, followed by Ndovu Kuu and Nikita Kering.

Otile Brown asserted himself as an undeniable force in the country’s music scene. The musician, who emerged as the top male artist in the country, also occupied the top three spots for the most streamed songs of 2021 with ‘Such Kinda Love’, ‘Dusuma’ and ‘Regina’. Additionally, ‘Such Kinda Love’ and ‘Jeraha’ earned Otile Brown the No 2 and No 3 spots among the fastest rising songs to hit 1 million streams.

Nadia Mukami led the list of top female artists in Kenya, trailed by Ssaru and Mercy Masika. Bahati and Willy Paul completed the remaining two spots in the top male artist category. Gengetone act Dantez’s ‘Ala’ emerged as the most-streamed song within the genre, followed by Rekles’ ‘Zamani’ and Swat Matire’s ‘Gari Kubwa. 

Rayvanny, Mbasso and Alikiba emerged as the streaming platform’s leading male acts in Tanzania. The country’s leading female artists are Zuchu at No 1, Nandy at No 2 and Anjella at No 3. Veteran hitmaker Diamond Platnumz scored the fastest 1 million streams with ‘Naanzaje’, followed by Zuchu with ‘Sukari’ and Macvoice with ‘Nenda’. Marioo’s ‘For You’ led the list of the most streamed bongo flava songs, followed by Mbasso’s ‘Baikoko’ and Rayvanny’s ‘Number One’. Nandy’s ‘Wanibaiki’ was the most popular gospel song of the year under review, with Mathias Walichupa and Joel Lwaga following closely with ‘Ni Wewe’ and ‘Mimi Ni Wa Juu’. Mabatu emerged as the most-streamed group in the country, followed by Rostam and Weusi.

Boomplay is the biggest music streaming platform in Africa and the latest wrap-up report provides arguably the most comprehensive picture of the continent’s listening habits, specifically in East and West Africa, which constitute two of the biggest regions of music consumption on the continent. 

Over in South Africa, amapiano continues to thrive, influencing sounds across the rest of the continent. According to Spotify’s numbers, DJ Maphorisa leads the Top 10 Most Streamed South African Artists list. He also appears twice in the Top 10 Most Streamed South African Tracks list with ‘Izolo’ and ‘Banyana’. ‘Umsebenzi Wethu’ by the late Mpura and Busta 929 featuring Lady Du, and Zuma & Reece Madlisa closed out the year as the most-streamed South African track on Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music.

Meanwhile, Boomplay’s streaming data is now considered in a number of Billboard charts. The company said in October that the move formed part of its “dedication to helping the African music industry unlock its full potential” and to give African and international artists and their music an opportunity for more exposure on the global stage.

Below is Boomplay’s 2021 wrap-up report for Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania:

Top Female Artists of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. Teni
2. Tope Alabi
3. Mercy Chinwo

Top Male Artists of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. Olamide
2. Omah Lay
3. Burna Boy

Most Streamed Songs for 2021 (Nigeria)

1. ‘Godly’ by Omah Lay
2. ‘Infinity’ by Olamide ft. Omah Lay
3. ‘Sip (Alcohol)’ by Joeboy

Most Streamed Afrobeats Songs of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. ‘Infinity’ by Olamide ft. Omah Lay
2. ‘Alcohol (Sip)’ by Joeboy
3. ‘Feeling’ by Ladipoe ft. Buju

Most Streamed Gospel Songs of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. ‘Baba Ese’ by Mike Abdul ft. Yuroba Mass Choir
2. ‘Oyoyo Chukwu’ by Mercy Chinwo ft. Israel Dammy and EeZee Tee
3. ‘No Void (Acoustic Version)’ by Onos

Most Loved Internationally (Nigeria)

1. ‘Kilometre’ by Burna Boy
2. ‘Nowhere To Go’ by Rudebwoy
3. ‘Sip (Alcohol)’ by Joeboy

Most Streamed International Collaborations (Nigeria)

1. ‘Coming’ by Naira Marley ft. Busiswa
2. ‘Champion’ by Fireboy DML ft. D Smoke
3. ‘Damn’ by Omah Lay ft. 6lack

Fastest Rising Songs to Hit 1 Million Streams (Nigeria)

1. ‘Coming’ by Naira Marley ft. Busiswa
2. ‘Understand’ by Omah Lay
3. ‘Sip (Alcohol)’ by Joeboy

Top Rising Artists of 2021 (Nigeria)

1. Ruger
2. Ayra Starr
3. Tems

Top Female Artists of 2021 (Ghana)

1. Gyakie
2. Diana Hamilton
3. Wendy Shay

Top Male Artists of 2021 (Ghana)

1. Sarkodie
2. Black Sherif
3. Stonebwoy

Most Streamed Songs for 2021 (Ghana)

1. ‘Second Sermon’ by Black Sherif
2. ‘First Sermon’ by Black Sherif
3. ‘Adom Grace’ by Diana Hamilton

Most Streamed Gospel Songs of 2021 (Ghana)

1. ‘Adom Grace’ by Diana Hamilton
2. ‘Nyansabuakwa Nyame’ by Diana Hamilton
3. ‘Adam Nana’ by Joyce Blessing

Most Loved Internationally (Ghana)

1. ‘Non-living Thing’ by Sarkodie ft. Oxlade
2. ‘Sweet Love’ by Wendy Shay
3. ‘One By One’ by Mr Drew ft. Victor AD

Most Streamed International Collaborations (Ghana)

1. ‘Spiritual’ by KiDi ft. Kuami Eugene and Patoranking
2. ‘Baajo’ by Kwesi Arthur ft. Joeboy
3. ‘Activate’ by Stonebwoy ft. Davido

Fastest Rising Songs to Hit 1 Million Streams (Ghana)

1. ‘Second Sermon’ by Black Sherif
2. ‘First Sermon’ by Black Sherif
3. ‘Coachella’ by Sarkodie ft. Kwesi Arthur

Top Groups of 2021 (Ghana)

1. R2Bees
2. Keche 
3. Dead Peepol

Top Rising Artists of 2021 (Ghana)

1. Black Sherif
2. Mr Drew
3. Gyakie

Top Female Artists of 2021 (Kenya)

1. Nadia Makami
2. Ssaru
3. Mercy Masika

Top Male Artists of 2021 (Kenya)

1. Otile Brown
2. Bahati
3. Willy Paul

Most Streamed Songs for 2021 (Kenya)

1. ‘Such Kinda Love’ by Otile Brown’ ft. Jovial
2. ‘Dusuma’ by Otile Brown ft. Meddy
3. ‘Regina’ by Otile Brown’ ft. Jux

Most Streamed Gengetone Songs of 2021 (Kenya)

1. ‘Ala’ by Dantez 254 ft. Rekles, Odi wa Murang’a, VDJ Jones and Tri Mio
2. ‘Zamani’ by Rekles ft. Odi wa Murang’a and The Goon
3. ‘Gari Kubwa’ by Swat Matire

Most Streamed Gospel Songs of 2021 (Kenya)

1. ‘Baba Ese’ by Mike Abdul ft. Yuroba Mass Choir
2. ‘Oyoyo Chukwu’ by Mercy Chinwo ft. Israel Dammy and EeZee Tee
3. ‘No Void (Acoustic Version)’ by Onos

Most Loved Internationally (Kenya)

1. ‘Such Kinda Love’ by Otile Brown’ ft. Jovial
2. ‘Dusuma’ by Otile Brown ft. Meddy
3. ‘Kiss’ by Bahati ft. Rayvanny

Most Streamed International Collaborations (Kenya)

1. ‘Regina’ by Otile Brown ft. Jux
2. ‘In Love’ by Otile Brown’ ft. Alikiba
3. ‘Kiss’ by Bahati ft. Rayvanny

Fastest Rising Songs to Hit 1 Million Streams (Kenya)

1. ‘Only One’ by Mr Seed ft. Masauti
2. ‘Such Kinda Love’ by Otile Brown’ ft. Jovial
3. ‘Jeraha’ by Otile Brown ft. Jovial

Top Rising Artists of 2021 (Kenya)

1. Mr Seed
2. Ndovu Kuu
3. Nikita Kering

Top Female Artists of 2021 (Tanzania)

1. Zuchu
2. Nandy
3. Anjella

Top Male Artists of 2021 (Tanzania)

1. Rayvanny
2. Mbasso 
3. Alikiba

Most Streamed Songs for 2021 (Tanzania)

1. ‘Sukari’ by Zuchu
2. ‘For You’ by Marioo
3. ‘Baikoko’ by Mbosso ft. Diamond Platnumz

Most Streamed Bongo Flava Songs of 2021 (Tanzania)

1. ‘For You’ by Marioo
2. ‘Baikoko’ by Mbosso ft. Diamond Platnumz
3. ‘Number One’ by Rayvanny ft. Zuchu

Most Streamed Gospel Songs of 2021 (Tanzania)

1. ‘Wanibaiki’ by Nandy 
2. ‘Ni Wewe’ by Mathias Walichupa ft. Godfrey Steven
3. ‘Mimi Ni Wa Juu’ by Joel Lwaga

Most Loved Internationally (Tanzania)

1. ‘Salute’ by Alikiba ft. Rudeboy
2. ‘Happy Birthday’ by Rayvanny
3. ‘Yalaaaa’ by Zuchu

Most Streamed International Collaborations (Tanzania)

1. ‘Iyo’ by Diamond Platnumz ft. Focalistic, Mapara A Jazz and Ntosh Gazi
2. ‘Beer Tamu’ by Marioo ft. Tyler ICU, Abbah and Visca
3. ‘Salute’ by Alikiba ft. Rudeboy

Fastest Rising Songs to Hit 1 Million Streams (Tanzania)

1. ‘Naanzaje’ by Diamond Platnumz
2. ‘Sukari’ by Zuchu
3. ‘Nenda’ by Macvoice

Top Groups of 2021 (Tanzania)

1. Mabantu
2. Rostam 
3. Weusi

Top Rising Artists of 2021 (Tanzania)

1. Macvoice
2. Jay Melody
3. Rapcha