Nigerian sensation Temilade Openiyi, better known as “Tems,” has edged ahead of South African star Tyla to claim the title of the African artist with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify.
As of February 23, 2026, Tems has reached “38.343 million” monthly listeners, narrowly surpassing Tyla’s “38.260 million” (with figures fluctuating slightly in real-time tracking but confirming Tems’ lead at approximately 38.3 million versus 38.2 million in recent reports).
This razor-thin margin—barely over 80,000 listeners—highlights just how fiercely competitive the race between these two trailblazing talents has become, with both artists consistently ranking inside the global top 130 on the platform.
Tems’ ascent to the top spot comes on the back of a strong wave of new music and high-profile collaborations that have kept her momentum surging. Key drivers include the refreshed “Color Version” of her track “What You Need,” the buzzworthy “Bounce Road Blues” (featuring American heavyweights J. Cole and Future), and the still-rising collaborative single “Raindance” with British rapper Dave.
These releases have not only introduced fresh material to her catalog but also amplified cross-continental appeal, drawing in listeners from her core bases in Lagos, London, and beyond while expanding into new markets.
The 30-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer—already celebrated for her soulful, genre-defying sound that blends Afrobeats, R&B, and introspective lyricism—has long held a commanding position in streaming history.
She remains the “most-streamed female African artist” of all time on Spotify, boasting over “4.7 billion” total streams across all credits (with some analytics showing her cumulative streams approaching or exceeding 4.78 billion).
Hits like her feature on Drake and Future’s “WAIT FOR U” (which alone has surpassed 1.27 billion streams) continue to anchor her catalog, while newer tracks demonstrate her ability to evolve and captivate fresh audiences.
This latest achievement also positions Tems to challenge the all-time peak for any African artist on the platform. Tyla previously set a high bar by reaching 40 million monthly listeners at her zenith, a record that stood as a benchmark for continental dominance.
Industry observers now see Tems as not only capable of matching but potentially exceeding that figure in the coming weeks or months, especially if her current trajectory—fueled by consistent releases and viral moments—holds.
The friendly rivalry between Tems and Tyla has become one of the most compelling narratives in modern African music. Both artists have shattered barriers: Tyla with her Grammy-winning amapiano-infused pop breakthrough, and Tems with her critically acclaimed artistry and collaborations that have elevated Afrobeats to mainstream global status.
Their back-and-forth in monthly listener counts reflects the broader surge in African music’s international influence, where homegrown talents are no longer niche but headliners commanding massive, dedicated audiences.
For Tems, this moment is more than a statistic—it’s a validation of her patient, an authentic approach to music-making in an era of rapid trends.
As she continues to build on her catalog and global footprint, the question is no longer if African artists can dominate streaming platforms, but how high the ceiling truly is. With Tems now leading the pack, the continent’s sound is ringing louder than ever.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
In conclusion, Nigerian artist Tems has officially overtaken South African star Tyla to become the African musician with the highest monthly listeners on Spotify, reaching 38.3 million compared to Tyla’s 38.2 million.
Tems’ recent releases and major collaborations—including “What You Need” (Colour version), “Bounce Road Blues” with J. Cole and Future, and “Raindance” with Dave—have directly fueled this surge, proving her strategic music drops and global features are the decisive factor propelling her past one of the platform’s biggest African records.
She now stands poised to potentially break Tyla’s all-time African peak of 40 million monthly listeners, cementing her position as the continent’s most-streamed female artist ever.
