Billboard has announced its first-ever U.S Afrobeats chart.
Leading the inaugural list, dated April 2, is “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” by Nigeria’s CKay, which was originally released in 2019 and has more recently been boosted by a string of international remixes that have helped spark a flurry of virality on TikTok. The track drew 4.7 million official U.S. streams in the March 18-24 tracking week, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.
Rounding out the initial Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs top five are Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran’s “Peru,” at No. 2; Wizkid’s “Essence,” featuring Justin Bieber and Tems, at No. 3; Omah Lay and Bieber’s “Attention,” at No. 4; and Tems’ “Free Mind,” at No. 5.
Dominated by Nigerian artists, Ghana’s Nektunez, Black Sherif and Kelvyn Boy found some spot in the chart that lists 50 Afrobeat songs.
Holding on to one of the biggest songs on the continent, a collaborative piece by Nektunez & Goya Menor, Ameno Amapiano (You Wanna Bamba) debuted at number 7.
Kelvyn Boy’s Down Flat peaked at the 22nd position whilst Always, a Black Sherif assisted track also debuted at number 34.
On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, Billboard announced its partnership music festival and global Afrobeats brand Afro Nation.
The chart ranks the 50 most popular Afrobeats songs in the country based on a weighted formula incorporating official streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of leading audio and video music services, plus download sales from top music retailers.
Check out the full first Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart here
