African Music Milestones: Samini’s ORIGIN8A Debuts in Ghana Top 10 as Tems Makes Billboard History

The African music landscape is celebrating significant milestones this week, marked by the successful return of Ghanaian legend Samini and a record-breaking achievement by Nigerian superstar Tems. Samini’s latest album, ORIGIN8A, released on February 12, 2026, has made an immediate impact, debuting at number seven on the Apple Music Ghana albums chart. Meanwhile, on the international stage, Grammy-winning singer Tems has solidified her status as a global powerhouse by becoming the first African female artist to secure seven entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, following the debut of her latest single, 'What You Need.'

Samini’s ORIGIN8A is a comprehensive 16-track project that serves as a testament to his versatility and enduring influence. The album seamlessly blends traditional Highlife with contemporary Afrobeats, Afropop, Amapiano, African Dancehall, and reggae. To bring this vision to life, Samini collaborated with an impressive roster of talent, including Ghanaian stars Stonebwoy, Mugeez, and Kofi Kinaata, as well as the world-renowned Soweto Gospel Choir. Early reception has praised the album's production quality and Samini's signature storytelling, which centers on themes of roots, reinvention, and legacy. The project’s global reach is further bolstered by a distribution partnership with Prime Music Partners.

While Samini dominates local charts, Tems continues to rewrite history on the global charts. Her seventh entry on the Billboard Hot 100 with 'What You Need,' which debuted at number 93, places her in an elite group alongside Burna Boy and the South African group Seether for the most entries by an African act. This is not Tems' first brush with Billboard history; in 2022, she became the first African artist to debut at number one on the chart with 'Wait For U.' Music analysts expect her to break the current tie shortly, with her highly anticipated collaboration with J. Cole and Future, 'Bunce Road Blues,' projected to debut on the charts in the coming week.

These concurrent successes highlight the diverse trajectories of African music today, from the preservation of local sounds and legacies to the breaking of glass ceilings in the world’s most competitive markets. As Samini’s ORIGIN8A continues to climb streaming platforms in Ghana and beyond, and Tems prepares to set a new solo record on the Billboard charts, the industry remains focused on the unprecedented global momentum of African artists. These achievements underscore a period of creative fertility and commercial viability that is reshaping the global entertainment narrative.