Nigerian music sensation Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has achieved a monumental milestone, becoming the first African artist to amass over eight billion streams on Spotify.
This feat solidifies his reputation as a global music phenomenon and a trailblazer in the Afrobeats genre. He is one of Nigeria’s biggest R&B crossover acts.
Leading this historic achievement is One Dance, his chart-topping collaboration with Canadian superstar Drake, which has garnered over 2 billion streams, making it his most-streamed track on the platform.
Also, Wizkid’s Made in Lagos (Deluxe Edition) album has racked up close to 1 billion streams, marking it his most successful body of work.
In comparison, fellow Afrobeats heavyweight Burna Boy follows closely, with 7.2 billion streams, making him the second most-streamed African artist on Spotify. Wizkid also reigns as the most-followed Afrobeats artist on the platform, a testament to his ever-expanding fanbase and global influence.
This remarkable achievement underscores the growing global appeal of Afrobeats and highlights Wizkid’s pivotal role in bringing African music to the forefront of the international stage. It inspires emerging artists across the continent, proving that African music can break barriers and set new records on a global scale.
Wizkid’s groundbreaking success is a personal victory and a significant moment for African music, which continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
REPORTERS AT LARGE recalls that the multi-award-winning music star in November 2023 announced plans to take time off the music industry. In a series of Instagram posts, the ‘Essence’ crooner stated that he would take four or five years off the music scene. He added that he is considering taking up football or golf.
