Nigerian music star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, widely known as Wizkid, has set a new record in African music history after becoming the first artist from the continent to cross 10 billion total streams on Spotify.
The milestone, confirmed in January 2026, places the Afrobeats heavyweight at the top of Africa’s most-streamed artists on the global platform.
The achievement covers all his credits, including lead songs, features, and collaborations, and further cements his position as one of the most influential African musicians of his generation.
The record is the result of over a decade of consistent output, international collaborations, and the worldwide expansion of Afrobeats.
Wizkid’s rise to global prominence began in 2016 when he featured on Drake’s chart-topping hit ‘One Dance’.
The song became one of the most streamed tracks in Spotify’s history and introduced Wizkid to a massive international audience. That moment is widely regarded as the turning point that opened global doors for him and helped position African music on mainstream Western charts.
Following the success of ‘One Dance’, Wizkid went on to collaborate with several international stars, including Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Skepta, Stormzy, and Major Lazer.
Each partnership expanded his reach and attracted new listeners across Europe, North America, and beyond. His work with Beyoncé on ‘Brown Skin Girl’ further reinforced his crossover appeal and earned global recognition.
Another major boost came with the release of ‘Essence’ featuring Tems in 2020. The song achieved widespread success, becoming the first Nigerian track to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and gaining heavy rotation on international radio.
Its popularity on social media platforms also helped introduce Afrobeats to new audiences, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Wizkid’s album catalogue has also played a major role in building his streaming numbers. Projects such as ‘Ayo’, ‘Sounds From The Other Side’, ‘Made in Lagos’, and ‘More Love, Less Ego’ recorded strong digital performances and dominated charts across Africa and parts of Europe.
‘Made in Lagos’ in particular received critical acclaim and was praised for blending Afrobeats with global pop and R&B influences.
According to the latest figures, Wizkid now leads Africa’s streaming chart with over 10 billion streams, followed by Burna Boy with more than 9.5 billion. Rema ranks third with over 5.6 billion streams, while Tems has crossed 4.4 billion.
South African singer Tyla stands at 3.7 billion, with Ayra Starr, Davido, Asake, CKay, and Mr Eazi also featuring among the continent’s most-streamed acts.
Wizkid’s milestone reflects the changing landscape of global music consumption, where African artists are no longer limited to regional success.
Streaming platforms have made it easier for African sounds to travel across borders, and Afrobeats has emerged as one of the fastest-growing genres worldwide.
The 10 billion streaming mark is not only a personal achievement for Wizkid but also a symbolic moment for African music.
As Afrobeats continues to gain international acceptance, Wizkid’s record stands as a reminder of how far African music has come in the digital era. For many fans and industry players, the milestone confirms his status as a pioneer who helped open the world’s ears to sounds from Lagos and beyond.
