15th September, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Music streaming data provides valuable insight into the global reach and acceptance of Afrobeats, highlighting the artistes leading its international expansion. Nigerian stars have consistently dominated the continent in terms of Spotify numbers.
According to American music stats company, Chart Data, ‘Calm Down’ became the first Afrobeats song in history to surpass 1 billion on-demand streams. Additionally, Tems became the first female Afrobeats artiste to reach over 1 billion streams.
As Afrobeats continues to hit new streaming milestones, the superstars behind its rise are reaching unprecedented career heights.
Here are the ten most streamed Nigerian artistes on Spotify.
Wizkid – 6.974bn
Wizkid is Nigeria’s leading artiste on Spotify with a whopping 7.9 billion plus streams. Wizkid holds the top spot mostly thanks to his appearance on Drake’s 2015 smash hit single ‘One Dance’ which garnered 3.212 billion streams.
Burna Boy – 6.226bn
The Grammy winner’s status as a megastar is reflected in his Spotify streams where he has accumulated 6.226 billion streams with his biggest song being ‘Location’ his collaboration with British-Nigerian rapper Dave which has 545 million streams.
Rema – 3.666bn
Rema boasts of a whopping 3.666 billion Spotify streams thanks to his record-breaking single ‘Calm Down’ which both versions have surpassed 2 billion streams with the Selena Gomez remix hitting 1.4 billion streams.
In August last year, ‘Calm Down remix’ with Selena Gomez became the first African8 song to hit the billion mark in Spotify’s history
Tems – 2.550bn
International singing sensation Tems rose to international stardom after featuring on Wizkid’s 2020 hit ‘Essence’. She boasts of over 2.5 billion streams with ‘Wait For U’ her Grammy-winning effort with Future & Drake leading the way with over 800 million streams.
Ckay – 2.207bn
CKay made African history with his viral hit single ‘Love Nwantiti’ whose 857 million streams massively contribute to his over 2.2 billion Spotify streams.
Davido – 2.004bn
Davido recently crossed the 2 billion streaming mark on Spotify thanks to the success of his Grammy-nominated hit single ‘Unavailable’ feat Musa Keys which has surpassed 159 million streams.
Mr Eazi – 1.716bn
The hitmaker is one of the first Nigerian stars to make global waves in terms of streaming numbers with his biggest Spotify song being his effort on J Balvin’s ‘COMO UN BEBÉ’ which has surpassed 232 million streams.
Ayra Starr – 1.632bn
Ayra Starr is the second most streamed Nigerian female artiste on Spotify with 1.632B streams thanks to the success of her Grammy-nominated hit ‘Rush’ which has surpassed 378 million streams.
Omah Lay – 1.514bn
Sensational talent Omah Lay is a force to be reckoned with thanks to his captivating chart toppers that have earned him over 1.5 billion Spotify streams with his hit single ‘Soso’ taking the lead with 174 million streams.
Fireboy – 1.438bn
Fireboy made global waves with his hit single ‘Peru’ whose remix featuring British superstar Ed Sheeran has surpassed 318 million streams on Spotify.
