7 Rising Afrobeat Stars You Need to Hear in 2025

The infectious energy of Afrobeats music has been lighting up dance floors worldwide, thanks to global artists like Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy. Here are seven fast rising Afrobeat stars you should know.

The genre continues to grow as new Afrobeat stars such as Tems, Rema, and Omah Lay push its boundaries with chart-topping hits, Grammy wins, and international music collaborations.

So, what’s next for this vibrant and enchanting genre? There’s always more where this came from. Every day, fresh artists emerge, ready to take over and push the sound to even greater heights.

Ayra Starr – The Future Queen of Afrobeats

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, isn’t exactly new to the industry. After signing with Mavin Records in 2021, she made waves with her breakout hit, “Bloody Samaritan”—the first solo song by a female Afrobeats artist to top the TurnTable Top 50 chart.

Since then, she has continued to dominate the charts with albums like 19 & Dangerous and her latest project, The Year I Turned 21.

Ayra’s achievements speak for themselves. She has collaborated with international music stars like Kelly Rowland, Khalid, and Giveon. She recently made history as the first female artist in 16 years to win Best African Music Act at the MOBO Awards. Yet, despite her success, it feels like many people are still sleeping on her unique Afrobeats sound.

There’s still plenty of room for Ayra to break through, especially as she hasn’t yet reached the global exposure of counterparts and women in Afropop like Tems and Tyla. However, once more listeners catch on to her sound, they’ll wonder why they didn’t discover her sooner.

One of the standout tracks from The Year I Turned 21 is “Last Heartbreak Song.”

Qing Madi – Afrobeats Shining Light

At only 18 years old, Qing Madi has already made a remarkable impact on the Afrobeats industry with her enchanting sound. Her growing discography speaks for itself—”Vision,” “American Love,” “Adenuga” (featuring Joeboy), and “Ole” (featuring BNXN).

Qing Madi is pure fire! The piercing voice of the fast-rising Nigerian Afrobeats singer and her effortless delivery will sweep you off your feet before you even realize it.

What more do we think of Qing? Well, right now, she has us feeling completely lost in her latest mesmerizing track, “Favorite Psycho.”

We’ve been trying to process the rush of emotions our brains experience while listening to Venus by Serotonin —and honestly, we’re still at a loss for words. It all started in 2024, but every time we hear this song, it takes us on an emotional rollercoaster. At first, it fills us with happiness, bringing back memories of love and joy. Then, it reminds us of heartbreak, which makes us sad and cry.

We have never felt this way before from a song. Venus is an Afrobeats masterpiece—one that everyone deserves to hear. It’s unfathomably soothing to the soul and speaks to every emotion at once.

He also has another song- “May 10th,” which also have same enchanting sound.

Serotonin , we don’t know how you do it, but we need more of this sound!!!

Serøtonin – The Mysterious Hitmaker

We’ve been trying to process the rush of emotions our brains experience while listening to “Venus” by Serøtonin—and honestly, we’re still at a loss for words.

It all started in 2024, but every time we hear this song, it takes us on an emotional rollercoaster. At first, it fills us with happiness, bringing back memories of love and joy. Then, it reminds us of heartbreak, which makes us sad and cry.

We have never felt this way before from a song. “Venus” is an Afrobeats masterpiece —one that everyone deserves to hear. It’s unfathomably soothing to the soul and speaks to every emotion at once.

Serøtonin, we don’t know how you do it, but we need more of this sound!!!

Fido – The Storyteller

Fido has a lot of stories to tell, and his music proves it. His debut single, “Awolowo,” amassed over 41 million streams on Spotify—an impeccable achievement for an independent new Nigerian Afrobeats artist.

He followed up with another hit, “Joy Is Coming,” a song that deeply resonates with the mental and emotional state of many listeners. One of Fido’s most unique attributes is his ability to blend various sounds to paint a relatable and heartfelt narrative in his music.

If he stays consistent, it won’t be long before he gains widespread recognition—because there will always be people longing to hear the stories he tells.

Darkoo – Your New Favorite Girl

As early as 2020, the unconventional British-Nigerian rapper and singer, Darkoo, has been making waves in the music industry. Her breakout single, “Gangsta” featuring One Acen, peaked at number 22 on the Official Singles Chart and secured the #1 spot on the UK Afrobeats Chart. This brought her widespread recognition and earned her MOBO nominations.

Over the years, she has remained consistent in her craft, collaborating with artists like Chris Brown, Rema, Davido, Arrdee and Omah Lay, resulting in bangers like “Favorite Girl,” “Right Now,” “Body,” and “Focus On Me.”

Though Darkoo has faced some criticism for her unconventional style, her recent Afrobeats-infused sound has been undeniably impressive. Anyone with a good ear for music would appreciate the versatility she brings.

Chocobantis – Bringing The Feeling

After collaborating with Nigerian star rapper Ladipoe on “Shut It Down” in 2023, Chocobantis took things a step further the following year with the release of his debut single, “Are You Down.”

“Are You Down” blends raw artistry and melody to deliver a heartfelt romantic message. His second single, “Feelings,” carries the same energy, and we are definitely feeling the vibe!

If you’re into romantic songs and have been longing for a distinct sound, Chocobantis has a few gems for you. The Afrobeats artist surely has a way with way with words.

 

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Siraheem – Another Billionaire Kid in the House

Since Davido’s rise to stardom, one thing we’ve learned is to never underestimate a billionaire kid. Siraheem took everyone by storm with the release of his debut single, “Bad B***h Syndrome,” in 2024. While the song has faced its share of criticism, it has also garnered a lot of positive attention.

One of the most notable co-signs came from Afrobeats superstar Davido, who has publicly shown strong support for the rising star on multiple occasions.

Beyond the sound, many have wondered about the deeper meaning behind the song. In our opinion, “Bad B***h Syndrome” is very relatable—it delves into the mindset and attitudes of certain women who see themselves as the crème de la crème. With this unique perspective and way of expression, Siraheem has the potential to tap into a huge market—if he takes music seriously.

 

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Main Image Credit:  Michael Loccisano / Staff  |  Getty Images