African music is making waves like never before. Wizkid, Rema, and Tyla have all been immortalised on Spotify’s “100 Greatest Pop Songs of the Streaming Era”, a staff-curated list celebrating the most influential and culturally resonant pop tracks released since 2015.
The list shines a spotlight on songs that have shaped the sound of modern pop in the streaming age, and the inclusion of three African artists marks a historic moment for Afrobeats, confirming its rise from local sensation to global powerhouse.
At number 8, Wizkid features on Drake’s 2016 mega-hit “One Dance” alongside British singer Kyla. The track not only conquered charts worldwide but also became one of the first streaming-era songs to surpass one billion Spotify streams, introducing Afrobeats to an international audience long before the genre’s mainstream explosion.
Rema also makes the list with his viral remix “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez, ranking in the top 30. The track shattered Billboard records and became the first African-led song to cross one billion streams on Spotify, cementing Nigerian pop’s presence on the global stage.
South African sensation Tyla rounds out the trio with her infectious hit “Water,” a song that blends Afropop with contemporary global pop influences, earning her a well-deserved spot on the list and highlighting her meteoric rise in international music circles.
Spotify’s CLASSICS programme celebrates more than just streaming numbers; it honours songs for their artistic excellence, emotional impact, and cultural significance. The recognition of Wizkid, Rema, and Tyla underscores how African artists are now not just part of global playlists—they are defining the sound of modern pop, bridging continents and audiences in the process.
As Afrobeats continues its unstoppable ascent, milestones like these prove that the genre’s influence is no longer confined to Africa. With every billion streams and chart-topping hit, artists like Wizkid, Rema, and Tyla are reshaping global pop music and inspiring a new era of cross-cultural creativity.
