Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Wizkid, has become the first African artist to surpass 11 billion total streams on Spotify across all credits, marking a historic moment for African music on the global stage.
Wizkid, whose full name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, began his professional music career in 2010 with the release of his breakout single “Holla at Your Boy”.
He has steadily grown into one of Africa’s most influential global exports.
The milestone comes just days after the release of his collaboration with DJ Tunez titled “State of Mind” on May 15, which recorded more than 685,000 streams globally within its first 24 hours.
The 35-year-old Nigerian star has now set a new benchmark as the first African act to hit 11 billion streams on Spotify, just months after becoming the first to cross the 10 billion mark in January.
Music data platform Chart Africa described Wizkid’s latest achievement as a “milestone in Spotify history.”
‘Global reach’
Industry experts say “winning big” on Spotify signals global reach, cultural influence, and sustained listener demand across multiple markets.
High streaming figures translate into increased revenue, chart dominance, international collaborations, and stronger touring power.
Wizkid’s success places him among a growing list of African artists making waves globally on streaming platforms, including Nigeria’s Burna Boy and Davido, as well as South Africa’s Tyla—all of whom have achieved billions of streams and international recognition.
Fans across social media platforms reacted to the news by celebrating the accomplishment of the music icon, who is also popularly known as “Big Wiz” and “Starboy.”
Many described Wizkid as one of the leading figures responsible for taking Afrobeats to international audiences.
Several users also projected that the Grammy-winning singer could surpass 12 billion Spotify streams before the end of 2026 if his current momentum continues.
The new record further reinforces his place among Africa’s most influential and commercially successful music stars, and reinforces the Afrobeat genre as a dominant force in global music.
