Entertainment
Ayra Starr most streamed female artiste in 3 countries —Spotify
Spotify, an online streaming platform, has celebrated Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr, who emerged most streamed female artiste in three countries: Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Okumu noted that Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped findings revealed the top 10 most streamed female artistes in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa as Ayra Starr led in three countries.
“In Nigeria, the top 10 most streamed artistes are: Ayra Starr, Tems, Qing Madi, Billie Eilish, SZA, Tiwa Savage, Bloody Civilian, Rihanna, Simi and FAVE.
“For Ghana, we have: Ayra Starr, Tems, SZA, Gyakie, Rihanna, Adele, Qing Madi, Tiwa Savage, Nicki Minaj and Beyonce.
“In Kenya, we have: Ayra Starr, SZA, Rihanna, Tems, Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat and Beyonce.
“And in South Africa, we have: Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, SZA, Rihanna, Beyonce, Nkosazana Daughter, Babalwa M, Ariana Grande, Summer Walker and Nicki Minaj.
According to Okumu, one of the year’s key developments is the star-studded success of female artistes, women who break boundaries and support an increasingly inclusive and diverse future for African music.
Okumu said that artistes, fans and creators had ensured that 2024 was a record-breaking, culture-making year.
She said this was with genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano lighting up Sub-Saharan stages and streaming, impacting international trends and inspiring rich cultural conversations.
“When it comes to Sub-Saharan Africa’s most streamed female artistes, there’s no overlooking the allure of Nigerian icons.
“Grammy-nominee Arya Starr blazed a celestial trail with her hit album, “The Year I Turned 21”, her worldwide tour, and her fearless red-carpet style.
“Starr’s soulful Afropop meets Rhythm and blues sound made her the most streamed female songstress in her home country as well as Ghana and Kenya.
“Ghanaians also loved their very own Gyakie, who was the 4th most streamed artiste in her home country.
“Tems took the second spot in Nigeria and Ghana and the fourth spot in Kenya. Nigeria not only produces but also supports talent.
“The country’s most streamed female artists after Arya Starr and Tems include Tiwa Savage, Bloody Civilian, and Spotify EQUAL artists Qing Madi, Simi, and Fave,” she said.
On the Spotify’s EQUAL Africa programme, Okumu said the programme was a global initiative to drive equity and amplify the voices of women through global and local playlisting and off-platform promotion.
She said about 200 EQUAL ambassadors had been supported in the programme’s four-year span.
According to her, South African Singer, Tyla, remained the top EQUAL artiste in Africa.
She said others were: Ayra Starr, Amaarae, Qing Madi, FAVE, Simi, Gyakie, Yemi Alade, Makhadzi and Teni.
“Female artistes are essential to helping Afrobeats spread its reach in 2024.
“Among their achievements: Multi-award winner Tems, who’s collaborated with Rihanna and Beyonce among others, performed at the Netherlands’ legendary North Sea Jazz Festival while her song Love Me Jeje ranked No. 20 on the Rolling Stone Top 100 Song List for 2024.
“Popiano superstar, Tyla, secured the highest number of awards at the 2024 BETs plus three nominations for the 2024 MTV EMAs.
“Her album, TYLA, was placed in the top 10 list of countries like Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Tanzania, Uganda, Barbados and Jamaica.
“Spotify is excited to celebrate the progress of Africa’s women artists, but the data shows that there is still work to be done to see more representation of these powerhouse creators in the top lists,” she said.
In a groundbreaking achievement for Afrobeats and Nigerian music, Davido has become the first living male artist to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Africa. This significant milestone was announced with the unveiling of Davido as the cover star for the March/April 2025 issue.
The renowned Nigerian afropop artist, celebrated for his global hits such as “If,” “Fall,” “Blow My Mind,” and “Unavailable,” has played an instrumental role in the evolution of Afrobeats and the international recognition of African music. Since his debut at the age of 19 with “Dami Duro,” Davido has established a multifaceted empire, excelling not only as a musician but also as a record label owner, mentor, and cultural ambassador. The Rolling Stone Africa cover story delves into his resilient journey, highlighting his forthcoming fifth studio album, *5ive*, and his enduring influence on the African music scene.
Obi Asika, Director General of Nigeria’s National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), expressed pride in Davido’s accomplishments.
“At the National Council for Arts and Culture, we are thrilled to embark on this expansive partnership with Rolling Stone Africa. It is fitting that our launch icon is Davido, one of the Kings of Afrobeats and a global ambassador for Nigerian music, culture, and fashion, who shares positive energy with his vast global audience,” Asika stated. He further added, “We take pride in Davido and all of our Ambassadors who continue to make Nigeria a focal point in global music, film, fashion, literature, sports, comedy, and more. Congratulations to him on his fifth album and to Rolling Stone Africa on their relaunch. Stay tuned for ‘Nigeria Everywhere’ and other unique collaborations with Rolling Stone.”
D.R. Bellegarde Smeralda, CEO of Rolling Stone Africa, also lauded Davido’s contributions to Afrobeats and Pan-Africanism.
“To kick off our partnership with the National Council for Arts and Culture in Nigeria, which will introduce our monthly segment called Nigeria Everywhere, we could not have chosen a more fitting cover story than Davido’s,” Smeralda remarked. “Davido has long been a stellar ambassador for Afrobeats and Nigerian culture on a global scale, and it is inspiring to see what he and his team have accomplished in music and beyond, consistently promoting Pan-Africanism.”
Rolling Stone Africa, launched in August 2024, aims to celebrate African music, culture, and narratives, functioning through a joint venture between the Mwankom Group and Penske Media Corporation (PMC). A portion of the magazine’s proceeds supports charities focused on preserving African history and promoting children’s welfare, underscoring its commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond entertainment.
Follow Rolling Stone Africa on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for the latest updates. Davido’s feature on the cover is not just a milestone; it embodies the unstoppable momentum of Afrobeats and the global influence of Nigerian culture.
The auxiliary nurse who treated the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, has revealed what transpired that led to his demise.
Testifying before Justice C.A. Shotobi at the Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Friday, Ogedengbe recounted that after giving Mohbad the injection, he developed goosebumps. His wife, Omowunmi, allegedly described it as a “normal response” for him.
According to the nurse, she was called to treat Mohbad for a cut on September 11, 2023. The following day, she administered tetanus, paracetamol, and antibiotic injections.
After the third injection, Mohbad reportedly felt nauseous and threw up, leading to weakness and goosebumps.
Nurse’s testimony on how Mohbad died
“On Sept 11, 2023 I was at Cotonou to process my admission. As I was on my way back , I saw Spending’s missed call and I called him back. Then he told me I should come and treat his friend in the house who had a cut. I told him I was just coming back from Cotonou.
“I later missed his calls because I couldn’t pick up. As I got to CMS, a call came in from DJ Bami, he introduced himself that he was from Spending. I couldn’t go to the house that day. I got there the next day at about 2:30pm. I met a guy in the sitting room carrying Liam and DJ Bami led me upstairs.
“On getting to the room Mohbad was, I saw some water on the floor which Dj Bami mopped. We then moved Mohbad from the room he was to another room. It was only the 4 of us that were upstairs. Me, Mohbad, Djbami and Wunmi. As I was giving the first injection, Mohbad asked me the type of injection I wanted to give him and I told him Tetanus Injection, Paracetamol Injection and antibiotics. I first gave him Tetanus and Paracetamol Injection. After I gave him the paracetamol injection, Wunmi said he had ulcer.
“When I gave him the third injection, he started reacting and saying he wanted to throw up. Djbami and wunmi led him to the bathroom where he threw up. After throwing up, he sat down on the floor and was very weak. Then, goose bumps appeared on his body. Wunmi told me that is how he used to react to injection and I told her that she should have told me before.
“She then said that if they pour water on his head, he will calm down. Wunmi then poured water on him. When I saw the goose bumps, Dj Bami and I quickly went down to rush to the pharmacy so we could get an antidote. We got to the first pharmacy but they didn’t have what we wanted, we then went to another pharmacy. They called Djbami from the house that Mohbad was convulsing and I told them to rush him to the hospital.”
US actress Mikey Madison attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on March 2, 2025. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP)
Here are the winners in key categories for the 97th Academy Awards, which were handed out in Hollywood on Sunday.
“Anora” was the big winner of the night, with five Oscars: best picture, best director, best actress, best film editing and best original screenplay.
Full list of winners below:
Best picture: “Anora”
Best director: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Best actor: Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
Best actress: Mikey Madison, “Anora”
Best supporting actor: Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
Best supporting actress: Zoe Saldana, “Emilia Perez”
Best original screenplay: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Best adapted screenplay: Peter Straughan, “Conclave”
Best international feature film: “I’m Still Here” (Brazil)
Best animated feature: “Flow”
Best documentary feature: “No Other Land”
Best film editing: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Best costume design: Paul Tazewell, “Wicked”
Best production design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sanders, “Wicked”
Best makeup and hairstyling: “The Substance”
Best original song: Clement Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard, “El Mal” from “Emilia Perez”