Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Rema has reached a significant career milestone as his debut album, ‘Rave & Roses,’ extends its unprecedented run on the Billboard World Albums Chart to 170 weeks, solidifying its position as the longest-charting African album in the chart’s history.
The achievement marks a continuation of the album’s groundbreaking performance since its release. ‘Rave & Roses’ surpassed the previous record held by fellow Nigerian superstar Wizkid’s critically acclaimed ‘Made In Lagos,’ which spent 164 weeks on the chart, in a historic moment for Afrobeats last year.
The 24-year-old artist, born Divine Ikubor, has emerged as one of the most commercially successful African artists on the global stage. His debut project’s longevity on the charts underscores the growing international appetite for Afrobeats and the genre’s increasing mainstream penetration in Western markets.
The Billboard World Albums Chart has become a crucial barometer for African artists’ global reach. Among other notable African projects on the chart, Nigerian singer Tems’ ‘Born In The Wild’ currently sits at 79 weeks, while Grammy-winner Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini’ has logged 63 weeks. Even the legendary Fela Kuti‘s ‘The Best Of The Black President’ compilation continues to resonate with audiences, maintaining a 45-week presence on the chart.
Rema’s success extends beyond album performance this week. The Mavin Records artist secured his second Billboard Hot 100 chart entry with “Secondhand,” a collaboration with American rapper Don Toliver, which debuted at number 29. This follows his massive global hit “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, which became one of the biggest Afrobeats crossover successes in history.
Meanwhile, Tems also made waves on the Hot 100 this week with her new track “What You Need,” bringing her total number of chart entries to seven. This achievement ties her with Burna Boy and South African rock group Seether for the most Hot 100 entries by an African artist—a testament to the expanding footprint of African music on American charts.
The concurrent success of multiple Nigerian artists on Billboard’s various charts signals a watershed moment for Afrobeats as it transitions from a niche genre to a mainstream global phenomenon, with Rema firmly establishing himself as one of the movement’s leading voices.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Rema’s debut album, ‘Rave & Roses,’ has made history as the longest-charting African album ever on Billboard’s World Albums Chart with 170 weeks, breaking Wizkid’s previous record.
Simultaneously, he scored his second Hot 100 entry with “Secondhand” (debuting at #29), while fellow Nigerian artist Tems matched the African record for most Hot 100 entries with seven.
This marks a pivotal moment for Afrobeats’ global dominance, with Nigerian artists leading the charge in breaking into mainstream American charts and sustaining unprecedented commercial success worldwide.
