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Tyla Tops Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Artists of the Year, Outpacing Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy

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South African breakout star Tyla has been crowned Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Artist of the Year, topping a competitive field dominated for years by West African heavyweights.

The 2025 year-end chart places her ahead of Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and Rema—a major milestone for both Tyla and the growing influence of Southern Africa on the global Afrobeats landscape.

Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs Artists ranking pulls from streaming, sales, and radio performance across the American market, making Tyla’s rise especially significant. Her chart dominance reflects a year in which her sound—rooted in Afropop, Amapiano, and global R&B—has cut across borders and reshaped expectations of what “Afrobeats” can encompass.

Wizkid, Rema, Davido, and Burna Boy followed in positions 2 through 5, underscoring Nigeria’s continued grip on the genre internationally, even as new voices shift the centre of gravity.

The list also features notable representation from Ghana and the diaspora. Moliy, the American-Ghanaian singer known for her ethereal blend of Afro-fusion and alté, landed within the top ten, reinforcing the global reach of Ghanaian-influenced soundscapes.

Nigeria’s Asake, Shallipopi, Seyi Vibez, and BNXN rounded out the top ten, highlighting the strong pipeline of new-age artists who’ve dominated playlists and festival circuits over the past year.

Further down the ranking, names including Fola, Tems, Olamide, Ayra Starr, Omah Lay, Kizz Daniel, Zinoleesky, and T.I Blaze reflect a diverse mix of established stars and rising voices shaping the genre’s next wave.

The final stretch of the chart features British-Nigerian talents Odeal, Young John, Odumodublvck, Kunmie, and Ayo Maff, showcasing how Afrobeats continues to evolve as a transnational movement driven by creators across continents.

For Tyla, whose breakout success has made her one of Africa’s most recognisable young stars, the Billboard honour crowns a year of global momentum—and signals a new, more expansive phase of Afrobeats’ worldwide evolution.

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Arts and GH Heritage

From Kantamanto to the Gallery: Reclaiming Identity Through Textile Art

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There is a quiet revolution in taking a word once used as an insult and turning it into a badge of imagination.

That transformation lies at the heart of KUBOLOR: In Search of Greener Pastures, where artist Kwabena Ofe Gideon Amponsah invites audiences to see wandering not as failure, but as a form of curiosity that shapes cities, identities, and creative expression.

In Ghana, “kubolor” has long described someone perceived as drifting without direction. Amponsah challenges that stereotype by presenting movement as an act of discovery.

His richly textured tufted works—created using a technique he taught himself after encountering it online—carry the marks of experimentation.

Thick layers of yarn, bold silhouettes, and tactile surfaces encourage viewers to slow down and consider the value of process as much as the finished artwork.

The exhibition draws much of its emotional power from Accra’s Kantamanto Market, one of the world’s largest second-hand clothing hubs.

Rather than treating discarded garments as waste, Amponsah transforms them into sculptures, wearable art, and immersive installations. Each fabric fragment carries traces of another life, suggesting that materials, like people, can find new purpose through reinvention.

That conversation extends into fashion through a collaboration with Ghanaian label DARKOS. The garments are not presented as merchandise but as living artworks, blurring the boundaries between clothing, sculpture, and performance.

Their contemporary forms encourage reflection on gender, identity, and the ways the body communicates personal history.

The exhibition’s installation mirrors the visual rhythm of Kantamanto itself. Hanging textiles, layered displays, and improvised arrangements recall the ingenuity of market traders, turning everyday merchandising techniques into a carefully orchestrated artistic language.

Visitors move through a space that feels at once familiar and theatrical, where commerce and creativity exist side by side.

Running until Monday, July 27, 2026, KUBOLOR: In Search of Greener Pastures leaves a lasting impression because it reframes a familiar Ghanaian expression with generosity and imagination.

It argues that the search for greener pastures is rarely about escape. More often, it is about resilience, reinvention, and the courage to keep moving until overlooked stories—and overlooked materials—find their place in the spotlight.

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Reels & Social Media Highlights

#GhanaTrending: Memes, Money, and a Nation’s Digital Mood on Tuesday

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It’s Tuesday, July 14, and as always, Ghana’s social media sphere is a vibrant, chaotic, and endlessly entertaining reflection of the national mood.

The conversations that took over timelines yesterday were a classic Ghanaian blend of sports passion, internet drama, and the biting wit that defines our digital culture.

Leading the charge was the news of Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz’s salary. Sports Minister Kofi Adams confirmed the Portuguese tactician earns $80,000 monthly, a figure that immediately ignited fiery debates about value for money and investment in local football.

As fans scrutinized the return on investment after the team’s Round of 16 World Cup exit, the nation’s collective sports fervor was also being celebrated through a viral image of an egg seller who painted her entire stock in Ghana’s red, gold, and green ahead of the Colombia clash, a gesture of grassroots patriotism that warmed hearts.

However, the digital streets were equally focused on the ongoing drama surrounding wealthy young figures.

The extradition of businessman Abu Trica to the US cast a long shadow, with speculation linking other influencers, including forex trader Kojo Forex, to potential FBI interest.

In a move that perfectly encapsulates Ghanaian social media, Kojo Forex did not issue a defensive statement but responded with a lighthearted plea to the FBI for a “Free Visa”.

This blend of serious allegations and comedic deflection is a hallmark of our online culture, drawing in thousands of reactions.

Meanwhile, Prophet Roja sent social media into a frenzy with a cryptic call for Abu Trica’s family to meet him, sparking skepticism and a flurry of memes about the “business” of modern-day prophecies.

The mood was one of cautious cynicism, a reminder of how Ghanaians use humor and debate to process serious news.

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Festivals & Events

Ideas, AI and Entrepreneurship Take Centre Stage at Accra’s Brilliant Books & Business Summit

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Every successful business begins with an idea, but turning that idea into lasting impact requires more than inspiration.

\On 18 July 2026, Accra will welcome entrepreneurs, writers, creators and aspiring business leaders to the Brilliant Books & Business Summit, a two-hour gathering designed to help participants transform their knowledge, personal experiences and creativity into meaningful opportunities.

Hosted at Buro in Osu, one of Accra’s bustling creative and commercial neighbourhoods, the summit reflects a growing movement across Ghana where storytelling, entrepreneurship and technology are increasingly intertwined.

As more Ghanaians embrace digital innovation and creative enterprise, events like this have become valuable spaces for learning, collaboration and professional growth.

Rather than focusing solely on motivation, the summit centres on practical strategies. Participants will hear from experienced speakers and thought leaders discussing business development, marketing, artificial intelligence, confidence building, and personal branding.

The programme encourages attendees to recognise that their life experiences, professional skills and unique perspectives can become books, digital products, consulting services, speaking engagements or successful businesses.

Artificial intelligence will be a major topic of discussion, highlighting how creators and entrepreneurs can use emerging technologies to expand their visibility, create engaging content and reach wider audiences.

The conversation reflects the rapid transformation taking place across Africa’s creative economy, where digital tools are opening new possibilities for authors, coaches, consultants and small business owners.

Visitors can also expect a lively networking environment where conversations continue beyond the stage. Entrepreneurs exchange ideas with authors, creators meet potential collaborators, and experienced professionals connect with people taking their first steps into business.

These interactions often become one of the event’s greatest strengths, creating relationships that extend well beyond the summit itself.

For international visitors, the event offers an opportunity to experience Ghana’s energetic entrepreneurial culture firsthand. Accra has become one of West Africa’s leading centres for innovation, attracting startups, creatives and investors eager to shape the continent’s future.

Spending time in a room filled with ambitious local talent provides valuable insight into the city’s growing influence within Africa’s knowledge economy.

Whether you are planning your first book, preparing to launch a business or simply searching for fresh ideas, the Brilliant Books & Business Summit promises an experience built around learning, collaboration, and possibility. It is a reminder that every great venture begins with a story—and the confidence to share it.

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