Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has become the first African artiste to surpass 12 billion streams on Spotify across all credited appearances.
The milestone was reported on Monday, October 26, 2026, further cementing his place as one of Africa’s most successful musical exports.
According to music statistics account WizStatz, the figure includes streams from songs where Wizkid is credited as a lead artiste or as a featured performer, covering his solo releases, collaborations and guest appearances.
Wizkid’s streaming numbers have been driven significantly by global collaborations. His appearance on Drake’s One Dance, which also features British singer Kyla, became a worldwide hit and introduced him to a wider international audience.
Another major contributor is his 2020 hit Essence, featuring fellow Nigerian singer Tems. Released as part of his fourth studio album Made in Lagos, the song gained international recognition in 2021 following the remix featuring Canadian star Justin Bieber.
Essence became one of the defining Afrobeats songs of its era, earning international chart success and helping to bring Nigerian music to a broader global audience. Its breakthrough highlighted the commercial power of collaborations between African artistes and established global stars.
Wizkid has built a deep catalogue over the years, including hits such as Ojuelegba, Joro and Come Closer featuring Drake. His early releases helped establish him in Nigeria before his sound gained traction internationally.
The 12 billion milestone follows a series of achievements in 2026. In January, he reportedly became the first African artiste to reach 10 billion Spotify streams across all credits, before crossing the 11 billion mark in May.
The successive milestones reflect the sustained popularity of his music and the growing global consumption of Afrobeats, as well as the role of streaming platforms in expanding the reach of Nigerian artistes beyond traditional markets.
While independent tracking platforms have yet to officially confirm the latest figure, the reported feat underscores Wizkid’s influence and the international rise of Nigerian music.
