International Afrobeats icon, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, widely recognized by his stage name Wizkid, has once again made history by reaching an extraordinary streaming milestone. The Grammy-winning Nigerian artist has now officially surpassed 9 billion streams on Spotify across all credits — making him the first African artist ever to achieve this feat.
This landmark achievement cements Wizkid’s reputation as not only one of Africa’s most influential musical exports but also as a dominant force in the global music scene. His massive presence on Spotify underscores the worldwide appeal of Afrobeats and its growing integration into mainstream pop culture.
The streaming success can be attributed to several high-profile collaborations and chart-topping records. Notably, Wizkid’s most streamed track to date remains his 2016 hit “One Dance”, where he featured alongside Canadian superstar Drake and British singer Kyla. The song has recorded a staggering 3.7 billion streams on Spotify alone, contributing significantly to his total tally.
“One Dance” continues to be one of the most streamed songs in the platform’s history and holds a prestigious Guinness World Record for being the first track ever to cross the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify. It was a defining moment not just for Wizkid, but for African artists at large.
In addition to that, his 2020 global smash “Essence”, featuring breakout Nigerian singer Tems, has become a cultural phenomenon. With over 303 million streams, “Essence” is regarded as one of the defining tracks of the Afrobeats wave and played a pivotal role in pushing the genre into the global mainstream. The song also earned a Grammy nomination and remains one of Wizkid’s most critically acclaimed works as a lead artist.
Wizkid’s 9 billion stream milestone now places him in the upper echelon of global streaming acts. While music juggernauts like Taylor Swift — who currently enjoys over 1.5 billion monthly streams — still dominate the overall rankings, Wizkid’s latest accolade is a groundbreaking moment for African representation in global digital music charts.
This remarkable feat is not only a personal triumph for Wizkid but also a symbolic victory for the entire African music industry. It highlights the growing impact of African voices in the international music landscape and the increasing global appetite for Afrobeats sounds.