At a Glance
- Wizkid sets Spotify record with 9 billion streams, leading Afrobeats’ global streaming surge.
- Afrobeats gains global dominance with Wizkid’s chart-topping hits like ‘One Dance’ and ‘Essence’.
- Wizkid’s Spotify milestone highlights surging demand for African music on global streaming platforms.
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Ayodeji Balogun, better known as Wizkid, has made history by surpassing 9 billion Spotify streams across all credits. With more than 12 million monthly listeners, cementing his status as one of Africa’s most influential music exports.
The feat underscores his expanding global footprint and growing dominance on the world’s largest music streaming platform.
Global hit ‘One Dance’ drives milestone
A key driver behind Wizkid’s record-breaking performance is his collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake and British singer Kyla on the 2016 hit One Dance.
The track alone boasts over 3.7 billion streams, ranking among Spotify’s top 10 most streamed songs ever and holding a Guinness World Record as the first single to exceed 1 billion streams.
Wizkid’s appeal spans continents, with his genre-blending sound making him a cultural ambassador for Afrobeats and pushing African music further into mainstream markets.
‘Essence’ becomes global anthem
Beyond collaborations, Wizkid’s own discography continues to shape global listening trends. His critically acclaimed single Essence, featuring Nigerian singer Tems, has garnered more than 306 million Spotify streams.
Dubbed the “song of the summer” upon release, it helped elevate Afrobeats to a wider international audience and earned spots on major music charts worldwide.
The artist’s 2019 single Joro also achieved a new milestone late last year, earning Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for surpassing 500,000 units sold through combined downloads and streams.
Maintaining momentum in a competitive landscape
While Wizkid’s accomplishment marks a first for African artists, competition on Spotify remains intense.
American pop superstar Taylor Swift leads overall with more than 1.5 billion streams, underscoring the scale of the global streaming race.
Still, Wizkid’s consistent performance reflects a growing appetite for African music worldwide.
His success continues to open doors for other artists on the continent, solidifying Afrobeats as a dominant force in the global music industry.
