Wizkid reportedly becomes first African artist to hit 12 billion Spotify streams
By Anthonia Okonkwo
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Wizkid has reportedly become the first African artist to surpass 12 billion streams on Spotify across all credited appearances, marking another milestone in his international music career.
The achievement was announced by music statistics account WizStatz on Monday, October 26, although independent music data platform ChartMasters put the date he crossed the milestone at September 18, 2026. The reported total includes streams from songs on which Wizkid appears as a lead artist or featured performer.
Consequently, the figure covers his solo releases, collaborations and guest appearances on tracks by other musicians, highlighting his reach across the global music industry.
One of the major contributors to his streaming success is One Dance, Drake’s global hit featuring Wizkid and British singer Kyla. The song has amassed billions of streams on Spotify, further boosting the Nigerian singer’s international profile.
Another significant contributor is Essence, his 2020 collaboration with Nigerian singer Tems, released on his Made in Lagos album. The song gained wider international recognition in 2021, particularly after a remix featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber.
However, streaming figures vary across independent tracking platforms. Kworb’s October 25 update placed Wizkid’s cumulative Spotify streams at approximately 11.66 billion, below the reported 12-billion milestone.
The difference highlights variations in the figures published by independent trackers. Nigerian media outlets, including The Guardian Nigeria and Arise News, reported the achievement on Monday, October 26, bringing renewed attention to the singer’s streaming performance.
Although the milestone has been reported by multiple outlets, Spotify has not been cited as having officially confirmed the record. Nevertheless, the reported achievement underscores Wizkid’s international success and the growing global reach of Nigerian Afrobeats.
