Nigerian superstar Rema has set a new benchmark for African music on the global stage, as his debut album Rave & Roses concludes a historic 170-week run on the Billboard World Albums Chart — the longest-charting African project in the chart’s history.
The milestone extends a record Rema previously broke when Rave & Roses surpassed Made in Lagos by Wizkid, which held the former record at 164 weeks. The achievement underscores the sustained global appeal of Afrobeats and its growing commercial strength in international markets.
Other notable African projects with impressive runs on the World Albums Chart include Born in the Wild by Tems (79 weeks), Love, Damini by Burna Boy (63 weeks), and the classic compilation The Best of the Black President by Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti (45 weeks).
Beyond the album’s landmark run, Rema continues to make waves on the Billboard Hot 100. This week, he secured his second career entry on the chart with “Secondhand,” a collaboration with American rapper Don Toliver, debuting at No. 29.
Tems also made a fresh appearance on the Hot 100 with her new single “What You Need,” bringing her total career entries on the chart to seven. The figure places her in a joint African record position alongside Burna Boy and South African rock band Seether.
The achievements mark another significant chapter in the global ascent of African music, with Nigerian artists continuing to redefine the continent’s footprint on international charts.
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