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Wizkid Makes History as First African Artist to Surpass 9 Billion Spotify Streams
Nigerian global music icon, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has etched his name into history books by becoming the first African artist to exceed 9 billion total streams on Spotify across all credits.
The Afrobeats star achieved this impressive feat thanks to a catalog filled with global hits and high-profile collaborations that continue to resonate across continents.
Among his streaming giants is the chart-dominating hit “One Dance,” his collaborative effort with Drake and Kyla, which boasts a staggering 3.7 billion streams.
The song not only ranks among Spotify’s top 10 most-streamed tracks of all time but also holds a Guinness World Record as the first song to cross 1 billion streams on the platform.
Wizkid’s top-performing solo effort is his breakout international smash “Essence,” featuring Nigerian singer Tems, which has garnered over 303 million streams, solidifying its place as a global Afrobeats anthem.
While Taylor Swift maintains her status as Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally with over 1.5 billion streams, Wizkid’s latest milestone reinforces his dominance and lasting influence as Africa’s most-streamed musical export.
JUST IN 🚨🦅
Wizkid has now surpassed 9 BILLION streams across all credits on Spotify!
— He becomes the 1st African artist to surpass the milestone. 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/Aef2LI3kJL
— The Debut Hub (@thedebuthub) July 23, 2025
In other news, Wizkid and Tems have added yet another accolade to their growing list of international achievements, as their groundbreaking hit “Essence” has officially been certified 3× Platinum in New Zealand.
According to a recent update from Recorded Music NZ, the chart-topping track reached this milestone on July 17, 2025, signifying over 60,000 units sold in the country.
Originally released in 2020 as part of Wizkid’s acclaimed Made in Lagos album, Essence continues to make waves across the globe nearly five years after its debut.