By Peter Omopo
Global Afrobeats star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has made history by becoming the first African artist to surpass 10 billion cumulative streams on Spotify.
The milestone, achieved after more than a decade of chart-topping releases, further cements Wizkid’s status as one of the most influential figures in contemporary African music. A significant portion of the streams came from his global hits, including One Dance with Drake, which has amassed nearly four billion streams, and Essence, which has recorded over 334 million streams on the platform.
Wizkid’s extensive catalogue also features collaborations with international superstars such as Beyoncé and Chris Brown, contributing to his overall streaming dominance. His total streams place him ahead of fellow Nigerian artists Burna Boy, who has recorded about 9.5 billion streams, and Davido, with approximately 3.24 billion.
The achievement underscores the growing global acceptance and commercial success of Afrobeats, particularly as the music industry continues its transition from traditional formats to digital streaming platforms. While several African artists have reached the billion-stream milestone, Wizkid remains the first to cross every billion-stream threshold on Spotify.
Data from Spotify rankings show Wizkid leading the list of the most-streamed African artists, followed by Burna Boy, Rema, Tems and Tyla.
Wizkid’s record-breaking feat comes amid ongoing public debate sparked by comments he made in his HBO documentary Long Live Lagos, where he suggested that there was “no blueprint” for his rise to global fame. The statement drew mixed reactions from Afrobeats fans, with some critics arguing that it downplayed the role played by early mentors and collaborators, including Empire Mate Entertainment founder Banky W.
Despite the controversy, Wizkid’s latest milestone is widely viewed as a defining moment for Afrobeats, reinforcing its expanding influence on the global music stage and setting a new benchmark for African artists worldwide.
