Wizkid reportedly becomes first African artiste to reach 12 billion Spotify streams

Nigerian music superstar Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is reportedly the first African artiste to surpass 12 billion Spotify streams across all credited appearances. The milestone was announced on October 26, 2026, by WizStatz, a music statistics account that tracks the singer’s streaming performance. Nigerian media outlets, including The Guardian Nigeria, Pulse Nigeria and Arise News, have reported the achievement.

The figure includes streams from songs on which Wizkid appears as the lead performer or as a featured artiste. It therefore covers more than his solo catalogue, counting collaborations and guest appearances on other musicians’ tracks.

However, the record needs a qualification: independent tracking platforms have reported different totals, and Spotify has not been cited as officially confirming the 12-billion figure. Pulse Nigeria reported that Kworb’s October 25 tracker placed Wizkid at approximately 11.66 billion streams.

Despite that discrepancy, the reported milestone has renewed attention on the singer’s international reach and the growing influence of Nigerian music on global streaming platforms.

‘One Dance’ and ‘Essence’ fuel global success

One of the biggest contributors to Wizkid’s global streaming profile is “One Dance,” Drake’s 2016 hit featuring Wizkid and British singer Kyla. The song became a worldwide success and helped introduce Wizkid’s sound to listeners well beyond Nigeria and Africa. It has accumulated billions of Spotify plays, making it an important part of his total credited streams.

Another defining record is “Essence,” featuring fellow Nigerian singer Tems. Released on Wizkid’s 2020 album Made in Lagos, the song gained wider international attention in 2021, particularly after a remix featuring Canadian pop star Justin Bieber.

The track became one of Afrobeats’ best-known international successes, helping demonstrate that Nigerian artists could reach mainstream audiences without abandoning the sounds and rhythms that shaped their music. It also strengthened the global profile of both Wizkid and Tems.

Other releases, including “Ojuelegba,” “Joro” and “Come Closer,” featuring Drake, have contributed to the singer’s catalogue and long-running popularity.

From 10 billion to a reported 12 billion

The reported achievement follows a series of streaming milestones in 2026. Wizkid was reported to have crossed 10 billion Spotify streams in January and 11 billion in May, before WizStatz announced the latest 12-billion figure in October.

The milestones illustrate the continuing consumption of his music across different markets and generations of listeners. They also highlight how streaming has changed the measurement of an artiste’s reach: a musician’s overall total can include songs released years earlier, new releases and appearances on other performers’ records.

Because the 12-billion claim includes featured appearances, it should not be interpreted as 12 billion streams from Wizkid’s solo songs alone. The distinction matters when comparing totals between artistes, since different tracking services may categorise collaborations and credits differently.

Another milestone for Afrobeats

Wizkid’s reported record arrives amid the continued expansion of Afrobeats internationally. Nigerian performers have increasingly reached audiences through collaborations, viral songs, playlists and live performances, while streaming platforms have made African music more accessible to listeners around the world.

For Wizkid, whose career has spanned early Nigerian hits and major international collaborations, the reported figure reflects the longevity of his catalogue as well as the reach of his best-known songs.

The independent tracking differences mean the precise total should be treated with caution. Nevertheless, the report has placed the singer back in the spotlight and added another chapter to the international story of Nigerian music.