Wizkid Breaks Continental Records; First African Artiste to Surpass 10 Billion Spotify Streams

Nigerian artist Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first African artist to surpass 10 billion streams on Spotify.

This accomplishment solidifies his status as a significant force in the global music landscape.

As of January 2026, Wizkid is the most-streamed African artist on the platform, with Burna Boy closely following at over 9.5 billion streams.

Other notable artists include Rema, who has reached 5.6 billion streams, and Tems, who has exceeded 4.4 billion. Additionally, South Africa’s Tyla has garnered 3.7 billion streams, while Nigerian artist Ayra Starr has amassed 3.3 billion streams.

Wizkid’s remarkable achievement comes after a decade marked by numerous chart-topping hits. His collaborations with international artists have significantly expanded his global appeal.

For instance, his partnership with Drake on the track “One Dance” has generated nearly 4 billion streams, and his hit “Essence,” featuring Tems, has added over 334 million streams to his tally.

Furthermore, his album “Made In Lagos Deluxe” has emerged as the most-streamed project of his career, accumulating over one billion streams.

As a lead artiste, Wizkid’s most-streamed track remains “Essence,” which has become a global anthem and a benchmark for African artists breaking into international markets. The milestone highlights not only his musical influence but also the commercial and streaming potential of Afrobeats worldwide.

The achievement underscores Spotify’s growing role in globalizing African music, allowing African artistes to monetize and reach international audiences at an unprecedented scale. For investors and brands, these streaming metrics reinforce the marketability of African music as both a cultural and revenue-driving asset.

Meanwhile, on the global stage, Billie Eilish set a new Spotify record as 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 Spotify’s history.

Wizkid’s 10-billion-stream milestone signals a pivotal moment for African music, illustrating that the continent’s artists are not only achieving cultural resonance but also sustainable commercial impact in the global streaming economy.