Wizkid becomes first African artiste to cross 10bn streams on Spotify

Nigerian music icon Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has etched his name in global music history after becoming the first African artiste to surpass 10 billion streams on Spotify, a landmark achievement that underscores the growing international dominance of Afrobeats.

As of January 2026, data from the streaming platform show Wizkid firmly at the top of Africa’s most-streamed artistes, widening the gap between him and his continental peers.

Fellow Nigerian superstar Burna Boy follows closely with more than 9.5 billion streams, while Rema has amassed about 5.6 billion streams.

Tems has crossed the 4.4 billion mark, South Africa’s Tyla stands at 3.7 billion, and Ayra Starr rounds out the top tier with 3.3 billion streams.

Wizkid’s record-breaking milestone crowns more than a decade of consistent chart success, international collaborations and genre-defining releases.

His global reach has been significantly boosted by high-profile partnerships, most notably Drake’s 2016 hit “One Dance,” which alone accounts for nearly four billion streams on Spotify.

As a lead artiste, Wizkid’s most-streamed song remains “Essence,” his globally acclaimed collaboration with Tems.

The track, which has garnered over 334 million streams, is widely regarded as a turning point for Afrobeats, opening new pathways for African artistes into mainstream Western markets.

His critically praised Made In Lagos Deluxe album stands as the most-streamed project of his career, having surpassed one billion streams.

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The album is often credited with redefining the global perception of Afrobeats, blending African rhythms with R&B and pop influences that resonated across continents.

Industry analysts say Wizkid’s 10-billion-stream feat highlights not just individual success but the expanding commercial and cultural influence of African music in the global streaming economy.

Spotify’s role in amplifying African voices has been particularly significant, offering artistes unprecedented access to international audiences and sustainable revenue streams.

“These numbers reinforce Afrobeats as a serious global business, not just a cultural movement,” a music industry executive said. “For brands, investors and promoters, streaming data like this validates African music as a scalable and monetizable asset.”

Wizkid’s achievement comes amid other notable global streaming milestones. On the international stage, American singer Billie Eilish recently set a new Spotify record after her song “Birds of a Feather” surpassed 3.37 billion streams, overtaking Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey” to become the most-streamed solo song by a female artiste in the platform’s history.

Wizkid’s ascent past the 10-billion-stream mark represents a pivotal moment for African music, signalling a shift from regional popularity to sustained global commercial impact.

For many observers, the milestone confirms that African artistes are no longer on the margins of the global music industry but are now central players shaping its future.

As Afrobeats continues to gain momentum worldwide, Wizkid’s record stands as both a personal triumph and a symbol of how far African music has travelled in the digital age.