Legendary Afrobeats star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has made history by becoming the first Afrobeats artist to surpass 10 billion combined streams on Spotify.
The milestone crowns over a decade of global success for the Nigerian superstar, whose catalogue has consistently dominated charts worldwide. A significant contributor to the achievement is Drake’s 2016 hit “One Dance,” which features Wizkid and has amassed nearly 4 billion streams alone. His Grammy-winning collaboration with Tems, “Essence,” has also crossed 334 million streams, further cementing his impact on the global stage.
Wizkid’s streaming dominance places him ahead of fellow Afrobeats heavyweights, with Burna Boy reportedly sitting at approximately 9.08 billion streams and Davido at 3.24 billion. His catalogue also includes high-profile collaborations with global icons such as Beyoncé and Chris Brown, helping extend the reach of Afrobeats beyond African borders.
This historic achievement highlights the rapid global rise of Afrobeats, particularly in the digital streaming era, as the genre continues to thrive following the industry’s shift from traditional listening formats to on-demand platforms.
While several Afrobeats artists have individually reached the billion-stream milestone, Wizkid stands alone as the first to cross every billion-stream threshold, leading the continent’s charge in global streaming success.
However, the milestone comes amid recent conversation surrounding Wizkid’s comments in his HBO documentary Long Live Lagos, where he stated that he “had no blueprint” for his success. The remark sparked debate among Afrobeats fans, some of whom felt it overlooked the early role played by Banky W. and Empire Mates Entertainment in shaping the foundation of his career.
Regardless of the discourse, Wizkid’s latest achievement reinforces his status as one of Afrpbeats’ most influential and globally successful music icons, with a legacy that continues to redefine the possibilities for African artists worldwide.
