Fola’s Meteoric Rise in Afrobeats

Nigerian artist Fola (Folarin Odunlami) has shattered records, surpassing 300 million Spotify streams in just a year—from under 10 million last year. His debut album catharsis (2025) achieved 10.66 million first-week streams on Spotify Nigeria, a debut record. Now exceeding 60 million streams, the album highlights his breakthrough.

Fola’s journey is inspiring: arrested and detained in a Lagos police cell on his first day in the city, he nearly quit but persevered. This resilience echoes trends in African music, where social media boosts streaming by up to 500% for artists with unique identities. Nigeria’s entertainment sector sees a 40% rise in new talents overcoming setbacks via digital momentum. Fola embodies this evolution.