Every year, Afropop produces a new class of talented acts who move from the fringes of the conversation to its very center. The last couple of months have seen a few promising names position themselves for this conversation, aiming for bigger stages and a wider audience. As 2026 continues to unfold, these are the artists most likely to make that leap from promising prospects to genuine Afropop stars.

Danpapa GTA

Fusing a rebellious spirit with street Rap, meme-ready ad-libs and a bold online persona, Danpapa GTA is establishing a lane entirely his own. Early traction on short-form video platforms has helped amplify his catalogue. Channeling a modern Afrobeats spirit on projects like ‘Genz Kuti (Deluxe),’ his music targets the concrete realities of Lagos. The viral “Ikeja (No Go Thief)”—a cautionary Street-Pop anthem—proved his knack for writing heavy-rotation hooks that capture local subcultures perfectly. His fluid adaptability across the creative scene’s different pockets positions him perfectly to capture the mainstream from multiple angles this year. – Melony Akpoghene

Monochrome

Even though Monochrome started releasing music officially in early 2024, it wasn’t until the release of ‘+SWAGU° ’ in mid-2025 that he started gaining considerable traction. Tracks like “COMPUTER” and “MIA KHALIFA” gave him much-needed momentum that he carried into 2026. A series of sturdy singles this year, most notably the S1orDie-assisted “We 2 Fly,” has pushed his renown even further, placing him at the cusp of a major mainstream breakthrough. – Boluwatife Adeyemi

Kidd Carder

Melodically sharp and versatile, Kidd Carder has been scaling the Afropop underbelly for a minute. After dropping the well-received ‘Before I Blow’ EP earlier this year, his infectious single “Big Bum Bum” has garnered serious traction. Combined with the recent, buzzy release of “Come On,” the singer-rapper possesses all the necessary tools to stage a dominant takeover. – M.A.

NO11

The late 2025 release of NO11’s two-pack single “How FAR / SHIMA II” gave the young singer all the boost he needed for the new year. “How FAR” took off almost instantly in the new year, soundtracking thousands of social media posts, parties and gatherings. This surge in popularity established NO11’s reputation as an exciting rising act to watch. With the release of another party-starter in “TOO HOT” and a few other anticipated releases, the singer is firmly positioned as one of the year’s breakout talents. – B.A.

Amma

Nigerian singer and songwriter Amma has had a great year so far, thanks to her viral hit single, “I Love You,” a soulful rendition of a hopeless romantic’s musings. The single, which arrived in February, quickly became a sensation on TikTok and climbed the charts, garnering over 8 million streams on Spotify and proving that there is strong reception for her distinctive blend of R&B and Afropop. If she continues on this trajectory, Amma may well be on the cusp of mainstream stardom.  – Michelle Ejiro

SSSoundgawd

Producer-artist SSSoundgawd is steadily carving out a lane where he controls both sides of the booth. He first cut through with club-focused records like “YA STRATA,” but 2026 shifted the scale entirely after “Aura Salad” with Mavo caught fire on TikTok. The track’s restless mix of Amapiano bounce and playful lamba references shows a sharp instinct for making records that stick fast and move crowds even faster. He’s now sitting in that sweet spot between underground pressure and mainstream pull, with momentum clearly building in real time. – M.A.

Scottyolorin

Scottyolorin is a blistering force in the underground scene, but he has also garnered a fair amount of mainstream attention following his guest verse on Straffitti’s “TE WO” last year. While his sound is largely experimental, he maintains a fine balance with Afropop, giving it the potential to resonate with a wider audience over time. Songs like “MOLADE” and “FL STUDIO” have already amassed 1 million and 800,000 streams on Spotify respectively, suggesting that he is doing something right. With a little more refinement and the right breakthrough moment, he could be poised for even greater success. – M.E.

Zaylevelten

Straight out of the internet’s experimental corners, Zaylevelten has built an impressive, cult-like ecosystem across a dense run of projects. Following tape releases like 2025’s ‘then 1t g0t crazy’ and a smattering of singles this year, his 2026 momentum has reached a tipping point. His distinct, hyper-localised Trap flow is rapidly outgrowing the internet’s sub-genres and is set to see him break through into the mainstream. – M.A.

Kayode

Kayode has flirted with the mainstream on a number of occasions, most notably in 2021, when his viral “Live Forever” took over everyone’s FYPs. He’s had another go this year, perhaps his strongest attempt to capture the mainstream with his inventive samples of Yoruba folk classics. Both of his recent singles, “Aimoye” and “Ise Oluwa,” have been well received this year, most especially the former, and it would be interesting to see how he leverages the momentum those singles have afforded him. – B.A.

Elmah

Elmah is no stranger to mainstream attention. In 2023, she scored a viral moment with “New Boy In Town,” swiftly amassing a loyal following. However, she slipped off the radar for a while before making a remarkable comeback on Omah Lay’s sophomore album, Clarity of Mind, as its only featured artist. Her airy delivery on “Coping Mechanism” reinforced her star power, redirecting attention towards her and building anticipation for what comes next. The right move could easily set her a million miles apart from her peers this year. – M.E.