Entertainment: Rema Surpasses Wizkid as African Artist with Longest-Charting Album on Billboard, an Nigerian music star Rema has set a new milestone on the global music stage after his debut album, Rave & Roses, became the longest-charting African album in the history of the Billboard World Albums Chart.
The project has now spent an impressive 170 weeks on the chart, officially breaking the long-standing record previously held by Wizkid. Wizkid’s critically acclaimed album Made In Lagos had dominated the chart for 164 weeks before Rema’s latest achievement pushed past the mark.
Rema’s record-breaking run highlights the growing global influence of Afrobeats and Nigerian music, as African artists continue to gain sustained recognition on international charts. Rave & Roses, which produced global hits and multiple charting singles, has remained a fan favorite since its release, contributing to its long-term success.
Other African projects that have enjoyed extended runs on the Billboard World Albums Chart include Tems’ Born In The Wild (79 weeks), Burna Boy’s Love, Damini (63 weeks), and the classic project The Best of the Black President by legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, which spent 45 weeks on the chart.
Beyond album success, Rema also enjoyed another major breakthrough on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. He earned his second Hot 100 entry with the song Secondhand, a collaboration with American rapper Don Toliver, which debuted at number 29 on the chart.
Meanwhile, Tems also made headlines after debuting her new song What You Need on the Billboard Hot 100, bringing her total chart entries to seven. This achievement places her joint-top among African acts alongside Burna Boy and South African rock group Seether, further underscoring Africa’s rising dominance on the global music scene.
