In a strong showing for Nigerian music on the global stage, two Nigerian acts, Tems and Wizkid, have landed on Apple Music’s Top Songs of 2025: Global list.
At #38, the song WAIT FOR U by Future featuring Tems and Drake highlights Tems’ global appeal through her contribution to major international hits.
At #97, the track One Dance by Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla underscores Wizkid’s enduring global legacy, nearly a decade after the song’s original release.
These placements come even as Apple Music’s 2025 Global Chart remains dominated by prominent international artists, yet African representation is refusing to be sidelined.
For Tems, her presence on the global chart with “WAIT FOR U” reaffirms her status not just as a Nigerian star but as an international voice. The song, equally carried by Future and Drake, benefits from her distinctive vocal contribution, and 2025’s ranking suggests that listeners keep returning to it.
Wizkid’s appearance on “One Dance,” initially released in 2016, demonstrates the enduring power of Afro-infused collaborations to remain relevant years later. It’s also a reminder of Afrobeats’ growing global footprint.
Such successes are significant because they reflect not only local popularity but also cross-cultural streaming momentum, signaling that Afrobeats and African voices remain influential on the world stage.
The fact that Nigerian artists are still making the Global Top Songs list in 2025 emphasizes the sustained rise of Nigerian and African music in global playlists. It paves the way for more African artists to be taken seriously as global players rather than regional acts.
For fans and industry watchers, the achievements by Tems and Wizkid this year could encourage more collaborations, longer shelf-life for Afrobeats tracks, and greater visibility for Nigerian talent.
