-
African artistes are commanding bigger stages, attracting international audiences and turning sold-out concerts into major sources of revenue.
-
From London and Paris to Tokyo, Toronto and New York, African stars are proving that their appeal extends far beyond the continent.
-
The latest figures show how established names and younger acts are competing on the same global concert circuit.
-
Beyond the money, these performances are creating new milestones for African music in some of the world’s most recognised venues.
August 5, (THEWILL) — For years, the global rise of African music has been measured through streaming numbers, chart positions and international collaborations. Concert revenue offers another way to measure that growth.
As artistes take their music to major arenas and stadiums around the world, their live performances are drawing increasingly significant audiences and generating millions of dollars in ticket sales.
These eight artists rank among the highest-grossing African performers based on their biggest reported single-concert grosses. The figures also show the growing commercial reach of African music, with artists from different generations and backgrounds making their mark across major international markets.
1. Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Highest single-concert gross: $6.147 million | London Stadium, London (2024)
Burna Boy leads the ranking with one of the biggest concert grosses recorded by an African artist. His June 2024 performance at London’s London Stadium generated $6.147 million from 58,973 tickets.
The concert was part of his “I Told Them…” Tour, following the release of his 2023 album of the same name. It marked his return to London Stadium after his historic 2023 show and added another milestone to his record of international stadium performances.
Burna Boy has also headlined major venues including Stade de France in Paris, Madison Square Garden in New York and Paris La Défense Arena.
His 2024 London Stadium performance, however, remains his standout box-office achievement.
2. Fally Ipupa (DR Congo)
Highest single-concert gross: $3.160 million | Paris La Défense Arena, Paris (2023)
Fally Ipupa follows with a $3.160 million gross from his performance at Paris La Défense Arena in November 2023.
The Congolese star’s result highlights the international reach of African music beyond Afrobeats. Known for blending Congolese rumba with contemporary sounds, Ipupa has built a substantial audience across Europe and other international markets.
His performance at the 40,000-capacity Paris venue remains one of the strongest reported concert grosses by an African artist and one of the biggest European shows of his career.
3. Davido (Nigeria)
Highest single-concert gross: $1.201 million | The O2 Arena, London (2024)
Davido’s international touring career has taken him to some of the world’s most recognisable venues, with his performance at London’s O2 Arena generating $1.201 million.
The concert was part of his “Timeless” Tour, supporting his 2023 album of the same name, and followed the album’s global success.
The figure places Davido among the few African artists to cross the million-dollar mark from a single reported concert, further reflecting the international demand for one of Afrobeats’ most established stars.
4. Tyla (South Africa)
Highest single-concert gross: $1.175 million | Ariake Arena, Tokyo (2025)
Tyla’s $1.175 million gross at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena puts her ahead of several more established African stars on the ranking.
The performance also marked a significant milestone in the global expansion of African music. Tyla became the first African artist reportedly to earn more than $1 million from a single concert in Asia, demonstrating the reach of her breakout success beyond traditional markets for African music.
The performance came during her international touring run following the global success of her self-titled debut album. Her rapid rise, driven in part by the worldwide popularity of “Water”, has seen her build a growing audience across continents.
5. Wizkid (Nigeria)
Highest single-concert gross: $1.003 million | Madison Square Garden, New York (2022)
Wizkid takes fifth place with a $1.003 million gross from his performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The concert came during the “Made in Lagos” era, following the success of his 2020 album, and was part of the accompanying tour. The show brought the album’s global success to one of America’s most iconic venues.
Wizkid’s live record extends beyond a single night. He has also enjoyed major success at London’s O2 Arena, including a three-night run that generated millions of dollars in ticket sales and drew more than 50,000 fans.
6. Asake (Nigeria)
Highest single-concert gross: $952,000 | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto (2024)
Asake’s rapid rise from Nigeria’s music scene to major international stages is reflected in his $952,000 gross at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.
The concert came during Asake’s “Lungu Boy” World Tour, supporting his 2024 album of the same name. The tour took him through major venues across North America and Europe.
The result is particularly notable given how quickly Asake established himself as an international touring act.
His growing box-office numbers reflect the strength of his global fanbase and the reach of his distinctive blend of Afrobeats and Fuji-inspired sounds.
7. Rema (Nigeria)
Highest single-concert gross: $793,707 | Madison Square Garden, New York (2023)
Rema generated $793,707 from his performance at Madison Square Garden, making it the seventh-highest single-concert gross among the artists on this list.
The concert was part of his “Rave & Roses Ultra” tour, supporting his 2022 debut album. It came after the international success of “Calm Down” and marked one of his biggest headline performances at the time.
The show further established Rema as one of the leading figures of Afrobeats’ younger generation, demonstrating that his global popularity was translating into significant live revenue.
8. Tems (Nigeria)
Highest single-concert gross: $547,697 | Radio City Music Hall, New York (2024)
Tems rounds out the ranking with $547,697 from her performance at New York’s Radio City Music Hall during her “Born in the Wild” tour, supporting her 2024 debut studio album.
The tour marked another step in her evolution as an international headline act following years of success through collaborations and solo releases. Her distinctive blend of R&B, soul and alternative sounds has helped her reach audiences well beyond the Afrobeats scene.
The Radio City Music Hall performance also represents the highest reported single-concert gross by a Nigerian female artist, adding another distinction to Tems’ growing list of achievements.
Together, these figures show how much the African live-music market has expanded. The artists on this list are not simply taking African music to international audiences; they are filling major venues and generating the kind of box-office returns that signal a powerful and increasingly global concert industry.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
