* By number of speakers:
* Yoruba: With around 40 million speakers, Yoruba is the most spoken language in Nigeria and is also spoken in Benin and Togo.
* Hausa: Spoken by over 70 million people across Nigeria, Niger, and other parts of West Africa, Hausa is often considered the most widely spoken.
* Zulu: With about 12 million native speakers, Zulu is the most spoken language in South Africa.
* By geographic spread:
* Swahili: Spoken by over 100 million people in East and Central Africa, Swahili is the official language of several countries and is considered the most widely understood language in the region.
* By official status:
* Arabic: Official language in several North African countries like Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.
* French: Official language in many West and Central African countries.
* English: Official language in many Southern and Eastern African countries.
Ultimately, the "most popular" African language is subjective and depends on the criteria you use.