For over a decade, Tiwa Savage has been the dominant female force in Nigerian music, earning the title “Queen of Afrobeats” after her 2010 debut with Kele Kele Love and her 2013 album Once Upon a Time. Her influence and consistency have made her a standout in a male-dominated industry.

In 2025, Tiwa Savage demonstrated that her reign is far from over. Her long-awaited major-label debut, Water & Garri, accompanied by a self-produced film, became a streaming sensation. This year also marked a major milestone: crossing 800 million streams on Spotify, making her the 24th Nigerian artist and the third Nigerian woman, after Tems and Ayra Starr, to reach this achievement.

However, the music landscape is evolving. Tems and Ayra Starr, who debuted in 2018 and 2021 respectively, are increasingly making waves on the global stage. Their rapid rise and international acclaim suggest that a new generation of Nigerian female artists is taking the reins, expanding the global footprint of Afrobeats and complementing the legacy Tiwa Savage has built.

While Tiwa Savage remains a powerhouse, Tems and Ayra Starr are now leading the charge for Nigeria’s female artists in the streaming era, proving that the torch is being passed, even as the queen retains her crown.