Afrobeats is experiencing global success. This is due to Nigerian artists achieving international recognition by winning prestigious awards. Also, they collaborate with global stars and sell out record-breaking concerts. As part of his annual tradition, former U.S. President Barack Obama has released his 2024 summer playlist.
This year’s list features tracks from Nigerian stars Tems and Rema. Tems, a Grammy winner, has a hit single titled “Love Me Jeje.” The song samples the classic song by Seyi Sodimu and Shaffy Bello of the same name.
This track is one of the lead singles from her debut album, “Born In The Wild”. Notably, Tems has become a recurring feature on Obama’s summer playlists. She has been included in 2022 with her song “Vibe Out”. Also, in 2023 with her BET-winning single “Me & U.”
Rema, another Nigerian superstar, also made it to Obama’s 2024 summer playlist with his upbeat single “Yayo” from his recently released sophomore album, “HEIS”. This isn’t Rema’s first appearance on Obama’s playlist. His hit single “Iron Man” featured on the 2019 list. This shows his continued appeal on the global stage.
In addition to these Nigerian artists, South African sensation Tyla also captured Obama’s attention. She made the list with her track “Jump,” a vibrant collaboration with Gunna and Skillibeng. This comes after her global success with the song “Water.”
The 2024 summer playlist for Obama includes a diverse selection of tracks from around the world.
It features songs like Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’em,” Shaboozy’s chart-topping hit “A Bar Song,” H.E.R’s “Process,” and “Perro Negro” by Bad Bunny and Fied, among others.
While the 2024 playlist includes two Afrobeats songs, it’s a reduction from the four entries that made it onto the 2023 list. This included Burna Boy’s “Sittin’ On Top Of The World,” Asake & Olamide’s “Amapiano,” Davido & Musa Keys’ “Unavailable,” and Tems’ “Me & U.”