Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, widely recognised as Tems, has officially surpassed her South African counterpart Tyla to claim the title of the African artist with the highest number of monthly listeners on Spotify.
Recent figures show Tems reaching 38.3 million monthly listeners on the platform, narrowly edging past Tyla’s 38.2 million. The achievement marks a significant milestone for the “Love Me Jeje” crooner and reflects her growing global appeal.
Tems rapid rise in listener numbers stems from a series of strategic releases and high-profile collaborations that have kept her momentum strong. Key contributions to this surge include the Colour version of her track “What You Need,” the collaborative single “Bounce Road Blues” featuring J. Cole and Future, and her joint effort with British rapper Dave on “Raindance,” a song that continues to resonate widely with audiences.
These projects have not only sustained her visibility but also expanded her reach across diverse markets. Industry observers note that Tems is now well-positioned to break and potentially exceed the all-time record for monthly listeners by an African artist, previously set by Tyla at 40 million.
Beyond monthly figures, Tems holds the distinction of being the most-streamed female African artist on Spotify overall, with an impressive 4.7 billion streams accumulated across all credits. This consistent performance underscores her dominance in the streaming era and her ability to maintain strong engagement over time.
The friendly competition between Tems and Tyla has drawn attention to the increasing influence of African music on the global stage, with both artists representing the continent’s rising creative power on major platforms.
