Wizkid Makes History as First African Artist to Surpass 10 Billion Spotify Streams
Nigerian global music star Ayodeji “Wizkid” Balogun has etched his name in the record books, becoming the first African artist ever to surpass 10 billion total streams on Spotify, marking a landmark moment for African music on the international stage.
According to the latest platform data as of early January 2026, Wizkid now leads Africa’s most-streamed artists on Spotify, ahead of peers including Burna Boy, who has amassed over 9.5 billion streams, Rema with around 5.6 billion, and Tems exceeding 4.4 billion. South African breakout star Tyla has reached approximately 3.7 billion streams, while Nigerian sensation Ayra Starr trails with about 3.3 billion.
Wizkid’s ascent to this milestone reflects more than a decade of consistent global influence and crossover success. His work spans early Afrobeats anthems to major international collaborations. A significant portion of his Spotify total comes from his feature on Drake’s “One Dance,” which alone accounts for nearly 4 billion streams, making it one of the most-streamed tracks on the platform.
Another cornerstone of his catalogue, “Essence” featuring Tems, has also become a global cultural touchpoint, contributing over 330 million streams and receiving further lift from high-profile remixes.
Wizkid’s third studio album, Made in Lagos (Deluxe), stands out as his most-streamed body of work on Spotify, surpassing 1 billion streams, a testament to the enduring popularity of his music across diverse audiences.
This milestone not only underscores Wizkid’s individual success but also highlights the growing global impact of Afrobeats, with African artists increasingly breaking into international playlists and charts.
Meanwhile, in other Spotify news, American singer Billie Eilish’s “Birds Of A Feather” recently overtook Dance Monkey as the most-streamed solo song by a female artist in the platform’s history.