Wizkid Makes History as First African Artist to Hit 9 Billion Spotify Streams

Afrobeats superstar cements global legacy with record-breaking milestone, led by hits like “One Dance” and “Essence”

Nigerian music icon Wizkid has shattered another barrier, becoming the first African artist to surpass a staggering 9 billion streams across all credits on Spotify. The achievement solidifies the Afrobeats pioneer’s status as one of the continent’s most influential and commercially successful artists ever.

The 33-year-old superstar, born Ayodeji Balogun, owes much of his streaming dominance to his 2016 global smash “One Dance”—a collaboration with Drake and Kyla—which alone has racked up an eye-watering 3.7 billion plays on Spotify. The track, a cultural phenomenon that dominated charts worldwide, still sits among the platform’s top 10 most-streamed songs of all time and even secured a Guinness World Record as Spotify’s first song to hit 1 billion streams.

But Wizkid’s influence extends far beyond that breakout hit. His Grammy-nominated 2020 anthem “Essence” featuring Tems—a sultry, genre-defining track that became a summer staple across continents—has amassed over 303 million streams as a lead artist, playing a pivotal role in Afrobeats’ explosive global takeover.

While global heavyweights like Taylor Swift continue to dominate streaming records, Wizkid’s latest milestone is a watershed moment for African music, proving its undeniable power on the world stage. Fans and industry insiders alike are celebrating the feat, with many hailing it as long-overdue recognition for Afrobeats’ relentless rise.

As streaming numbers climb and boundaries keep breaking, one thing is clear: Wizkid isn’t just making hits—he’s making history.

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