Local Heroes
Algeria
The Most-Watched Homegrown Artists Across Africa
From Afrobeats stars to the late king of coupé-décalé, the top five homegrown musical acts in 11 African countries based on a year of local YouTube views
angola
egypt
ghana
ivory coast
kenya
mozambique
nigeria
senegal
south africa
tanzania
Algeria
angola
egypt
ghana
ivory coast
kenya
mozambique
nigeria
senegal
south africa
tanzania
GHANA
Wale’s 2019 album is called Wonder Boy, and the 20-year-old singer-songwriter and actor seems determined to live up to that name. The country’s two biggest political parties have used his songs in campaigns; his 2018 album, Reign, hit No. 6 on Billboard’s Top World Albums chart; and in April, he organized the online Faith Concert to cheer up fellow Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shatta Wale
13.26M VIEWS
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EGYPT
Bika, 31, remains massively popular even though — and perhaps because — Egypt authorities have banned the ribald mahraganat style of dance music he performs. One government spokesman deemed it “even more dangerous to Egypt than corona[virus].”
1
Hamo Bika
736.53M VIEWS
Sarkodie
Omar Kamal
Mohamed Ramadan
11.72M
Stonebwoy
7.86M
Diana Hamilton
6.42M
Kofi Kinaata
4.63M
151.86M
309.62M
Amr Diab
2
3
4
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354.17M
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Preto Show
Puto Português
Landrick
Anna Joyce
3.48M
3.46M
3.28M
3.11M
ANGOLA
Scró (born Gerónimo Lubombo) is celebrated for his Afrohouse and contemporary kuduro dance music, a frenetic style that originated in Angola in the late 1980s. He has cited Michael Jackson as an influence.
Scró Q Cuia
3.73M VIEWS
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1
ALGERIA
Born in Algeria but currently living in France, Soolking (born Abderraouf Derradji) broke out in 2018 with “Dalida,” an homage to the titular French singer-actress. The 30-year-old rapper-singer has scored again this year with his album Vintage. “Melegim” (featuring Dadju) has generated almost 110 million YouTube views.
1
Soolking
316.8 MILLION VIEWS
Cheb Bello
Hichem Smati
Didine Canon 16
Djalil Palermo
150.24M
127.89M
141.43M
121.65M
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3
4
5
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2
3
4
5
5
2
3
4
5
Hassan Shakosh
312.96M
1
NIGERIA
Marley isn’t just a star in his home country: He sold out London’s 4,900-seat O2 Academy Brixton in February.
Naira Marley
1
17.6M VIEWS
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Davido
11.67M
Burna Boy
9.6M
Mercy Chinwo
8.04M
Kizz Daniel
7.82M
2
3
4
5
MOZAMBIQUE
Salvador Pedro Maiaze, who calls himself Mr. Bow and also Bawito, is the country’s celebrated practitioner of contemporary marrabenta, Mozambique’s Portuguese-inflected R&B. The “Nitiketelile” singer also operates his own label, Bawito Music.
1
Mr. Bow
6.88M VIEWS
Valter Artistico
2.29M
MARLLEN
2
3
4
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Liloca
2.46M
4.88M
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Sauti Sol
Willy Paul
Boondocks Gang
Khaligraph Jones
22.62M
20.61M
16.68M
14.13M
2
3
4
5
KENYA
The 26-year-old R&B singer, born Jacob Obunga, called his first album Best of Otile Brown, but three years later he is still racking up hits as well as Kenya’s top local artist. Only Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Rayvvanny are more popular on YouTube.
Otile Brown
27.88M VIEWS
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1
Ariel Sheney
DJ Kerozen
Serge Beynaud
JOSEY
8.06M
6.45M
7.9M
5.92M
2
3
4
5
IVORY COAST
The king of coupé-décalé — Ivorian patois for “cut and run,” a musical style that incorporates hip-hop, bass and rapid-fire percussion — died in an August 2019 motorcycle accident, but his music, including hits “Dosabado,” “Jonathan” and “Moto Moto,” continues to resonate.
1
DJ Arafat
27.52M VIEWS
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TANZANIA
Platnumz, 30, born Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack, reigns as Tanzania’s prince of bongo flava, a musical style that melds hip-hop, reggae, Afrobeats and dancehall with the country’s taarab and dansi genres. He was also the first East African artist to sign with Universal Music. His hits include “Kamwambie” and “Fire” (featuring Tiwa Savage).
1
Diamond Platnumz
53.94M VIEWS
Ali Kiba
14.15M
Harmonize
2
3
4
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Rayvanny
30.21M
39.66M
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DJ Maphorisa
Kabza De Small
Master KG
Snotkop
36.35M
33.88M
21.68M
18.37M
2
3
4
5
SOUTH AFRICA
The South African gospel choir formed in 1994 after the country’s first democratic elections. Over 25 years later, it continues to foster talent and release new music, most recently double album The Rock in April.
Joyous Celebration
36.44M VIEWS
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1
Youssou N’Dour
Jahman
X-press
Viviane Chidid
Dip Doundou Guiss
19.64M
13.02M
15.5M
11.63M
2
3
4
5
SENEGAL
“Faramareen,” “Taxi Love” and other hits have given this 35-year-old Senegalese soul singer international cachet. He hails from a family of singers, most notably Thione Seck of Raam Daan and (formerly) Orchestra Baobab.
1
Wally B. Seck
20.95M VIEWS
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Aslay
13.73M
5
Source for Artist YouTube Views
YouTube Culture & Trends. Totals represent an artist’s total views from
May 1, 2019, to May 1, 2020, within
the artist’s respective country.
They do not represent global views.
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courtesy of youtube
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