At a symbolic dawn in Cotonou, U.S. artist Ciara was among the first to be accepted on a historic morning in African history, becoming one of the first individuals officially received as a citizen of Benin under a pioneering new law seeking to reconnect descendants of enslaved Africans with their heritage. This action, taken on […]
Nigerian artist and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, known simply as Tems, is history again after she became the first African female artist to join Spotify’s Billion-Stream Club for featuring on the hit track “Wait For U,” which crossed the one billion streams mark on the platform. The feat, officially recorded on July 23, 2025, is accompanied
Tems Breaks New Ground with Spotify Billion‑Streams Milestone Read More »
Afrobeats will take another bold jump onto the global stage in September when Nigerian icon Ayra Starr opens for The Weeknd and Shakira at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in New York City. The sound produced in Lagos’ studios and streets has already topped charts globally. Now, it will echo through the Central Park Great
At Afrobeats‘ global peak, several albums were the most streamed on major platforms. Every album is a moment in time when African sound demanded the world’s attention. On iTunes, Davido’s Timeless reigned supreme. When it was released in March 2023, it became the first African album to debut at number one on the US iTunes
Top Afrobeats Albums Across Streaming Platforms Read More »
Davido took to the road with Timeless on his global Timeless Tour, performing in top cities from London to New York, Toronto to Washington, D.C. Everywhere fans sang along, the global reach of the album could no longer be ignored. The certification follows a period in which Afrobeats is no longer niche; it has become
On the late designer’s 45th birthday, September 30, 2025, Paris Fashion Week will launch with a once-in-a-lifetime show: “Virgil Abloh: The Codes,” the first extensive European retrospective dedicated entirely to his revolutionary work. The show is installed in Paris’s legendary Grand Palais and is on view for only ten days, closing on October 10, a
Ayra Starr, the 22-year-old Nigerian pop sensation responsible for such hits as Rush and Bloody Samaritan, has officially signed with Roc Nation as part of a historic worldwide management deal that brings her to the world as Afrobeats’ next global crossover phenomenon. The partnership, unveiled this week via Roc Nation’s homepage and social media handles,
Ayra Starr Signs with Roc Nation, Marks Next Phase in Global Stardom Read More »
A new generation of Nigerian musicians is remapping the sound, feel, and direction of Afrobeats. Produced in the internet era, raised on YouTube freestyles and TikTok challenges, they are not waiting for permission to change the game. They are changing it live, creating a global sound in ambition but local in slang, rhythms, and storytelling.
The Gen Z Musicians Defining Afrobeats Today Read More »
The return of The Headies to Nigeria after two years abroad was supposed to be a triumphant return for one of the country’s most respected music awards. Rather than celebrations, it was received with anger, confusion, and disillusionment. What was supposed to be a symbolic gesture for the Nigerian music sector turned out to be
The Headies Reimagined for a New Era in Nigerian Music Read More »
In the Spring/Summer 2026 edition of Berlin Fashion Week, two African designers, Nigeria’s Orange Culture and Uganda’s Buzigahill, stood out in their attire and the powerful stories infused within. In a week traditionally dominated by European fashion houses and trends, the two labels presented a new vision that seamlessly integrated cultural heritage, sustainability, and contemporary
Nigerian and Ugandan Designers Lead Africa’s Charge at Berlin Fashion Week Read More »
