Nigerian superstar Tems has done it again. For the second time in less than six months, she has climbed to the summit of the NotJustOk Afrobeats Power Ranking.
The achievement makes her only the second female artist ever to top the chart twice, a milestone that speaks as much to her sustained commercial momentum as it does to the rapidly shifting dynamics at the very top of the genre.
The Afrobeats Power Ranking, launched in January 2025, is a monthly data-driven index that measures more than streams alone. Streaming numbers, chart performance across local and international markets, social media engagement, new releases, touring impact, and overall cultural footprint all feed into the algorithm, making a repeat No. 1 finish a genuine indicator of dominance, not just a viral moment.
What makes this moment significant goes beyond any single artist. The 2025–2026 cycle of the Power Ranking has quietly written a new chapter for female representation at the top of a genre that has long been synonymous with a handful of male superstars. Three women now hold No. 1 finishes between them, and two have done it more than once. South Africa’s Tyla set the precedent, achieving it in the ranking’s inaugural February 2025 cycle before returning in December 2025. Ghana’s Moliy broke through in July 2025, adding a new national dimension to the story. Now Tems joins Tyla in the exclusive company of repeat chart-toppers, cementing what looks increasingly like a structural shift rather than a statistical anomaly.
Repeating at No. 1 in this format is harder than it looks. With 50 artists ranked each month against a composite of streaming data, cultural footprint, and touring reach, sustaining the momentum required for a second summit speaks to something deeper than a single hit.
With Ayra Starr rising to No. 2, the top of the February chart is also a statement about the generation now leading Afrobeats outward.
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