The fan wars are fierce. On X (Twitter), it’s a battlefield of “F.C.” vs. “Outsiders.” But beyond the hype, the tweets, and the fan loyalty, what does the cold, hard data say about the Afrobeat throne? We analyzed streaming numbers, charts, and awards to crown the true king of global Afrobeat streams in 2024. Let’s settle this with facts.
The Methodology: Where We Got Our Numbers
For this analysis, we focused on three key metrics from the last 12 months: Spotify streaming data (the global standard), YouTube views (for virality and visual appeal), and Billboard Chart history (for US market penetration). We ignored social media follower counts, as they don’t directly equate to music consumption.
Head-to-Head: Monthly Listeners & Most Streamed Song
This metric shows who has the broader, ongoing audience.
- Wizkid: Consistently boasts between 24-26 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His most streamed song, the global phenomenon “Essence” feat. Tems, has well over 400 million streams on the platform alone.
- Burna Boy: Consistently boasts between 21-23 million monthly listeners. His mega-hit “Last Last” is his most streamed track, rapidly approaching 350 million streams.
Analysis: Wizkid holds a significant lead in monthly reach, largely sustained by the evergreen success of “Essence.” However, Burna Boy’s numbers show incredible consistency and a dedicated core audience.
YouTube Views & Virality
Here, the story deepens. While Wizkid’s “Essence” audio has ~100M views, Burna Boy’s “Last Last” music video has a staggering 240 million+ views and counting. Burna Boy’s visual albums and cinematic videos often generate more concentrated viewership, suggesting a stronger command of the visual medium, which is crucial in the modern music industry.
The Grammys & Global Awards: Critical Acclaim
While both are Grammy winners, Burna Boy has secured more nominations in recent years and has won in a more competitive category (Best Global Music Album). This doesn’t directly affect streams, but it solidifies his reputation as an album artist with critical weight, which influences long-term catalog streaming.
The Verdict: Two Kings, Different Thrones
So, who wins? The data reveals there isn’t one winner.
- Wizkid is the Streaming King. He has the bigger overall audience and the biggest single song in Afrobeat history.
- Burna Boy is the Album & Critical King. He has mastered the album format, generates massive video numbers, and has slightly more momentum with awards and critical praise in recent years.
Instead of arguing, let’s celebrate. Both artists have taken Nigerian music to unprecedented heights. The real winner is Afrobeat itself. Now, who do you think is winning? Vote in the comments!
