January 09, (THEWILL) — Afrobeats icon Wizkid has made history as the first African artist to surpass 10 billion total streams across all credits on Spotify. As of January 2026, the “Essence” singer leads the list of Africa’s most-streamed artists on the platform, reinforcing his status as a global trailblazer for the genre.
He is followed closely by Burna Boy, who has amassed over 9.5 billion streams, and Rema, who ranks third with 5.6 billion.
The list of top African stars is rounded out by Tems with over 4.4 billion streams, South African sensation Tyla with 3.7 billion, and Nigerian singer Ayra Starr with approximately 3.3 billion.
Wizkid reached this landmark achievement following more than a decade of consistent global hits and high-profile collaborations. His appearance on Drake’s 2016 smash “One Dance” remains a significant contributor to his totals, with the song alone earning nearly 4 billion streams.
As a lead artist, his 2020 hit “Essence” featuring Tems stands as his most-streamed track, boasting 334.6 million streams. Additionally, his critically acclaimed album Made In Lagos (Deluxe) has become his most-streamed project overall, surpassing the one-billion-stream mark.
The milestone reflects a broader trend of Afrobeats’ rapid expansion into international markets. Beyond his massive streaming numbers, Wizkid’s influence on the industry is profound; his signature blend of Fuji rhythms, R&B, and hip-hop has paved the way for a new generation of talent.
His global success continues to demonstrate the power of African music to shape the worldwide soundscape, moving the genre from a niche regional sound to a dominant force on the global charts.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
