African Artists with Songs Surpassing 1 Billion Spotify Streams

On Feb 26, 2025

While Spotify’s Billions Club features artists with songs surpassing one billion streams, only a select few African artists have achieved this milestone.

“Essence” collaborators Wizkid and Tems have both joined the club—not for their Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, but through collaborations with Drake.

Drake’s 2016 summer anthem One Dance, featuring Wizkid and U.K. singer Kyla, became the first song to hit one billion Spotify streams that same year. Meanwhile, Future’s WAIT FOR U, featuring Drake and Tems, reached the milestone last week, making Tems the first African female artist to achieve this feat.

Just days after Tems made Spotify history, Tyla followed suit, becoming the first African solo artist to surpass one billion Spotify streams with her 2023 breakout hit Water.

“We are incredibly proud of Tyla’s historic achievement,” said Phiona Okumu, Spotify Africa’s head of music. “This milestone reflects her talent, hard work, and the power of music to transcend borders. Tyla’s success is an inspiration to artists across Africa and beyond, and we’re honored to be part of her journey.”

While Water made history by winning the first-ever Best African Music Performance award at the 2024 Grammys, Rema’s Calm Down, featuring Selena Gomez, became the first African-led track to join Spotify’s Billions Club in 2023 and later won the inaugural Best Afrobeats award at the 2024 MTV VMAs.

Billboard has compiled a list of African artists whose songs have reached one billion Spotify streams, ranked from oldest to newest.

Wizkid

Wizkid made history as the first African artist—and one of the first artists ever—to join Spotify’s Billions Club. He achieved this milestone in 2016 when Drake’s One Dance, featuring the Nigerian star and Kyla, became the first song to surpass one billion streams on the platform.

The hit track dominated the charts, spending 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, 18 weeks atop Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, six weeks at No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay, and one week at No. 1 on Pop Airplay. One Dance was a standout track on Drake’s Grammy-nominated 2016 album, Views.

Rema

Rema’s Calm Down, featuring Selena Gomez, became the first African artist-led song to surpass one billion Spotify streams in September 2023.

The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated multiple charts, holding the No. 1 spot on U.S. Afrobeats Songs for a record 59 weeks, World Digital Song Sales (32 weeks), Pop Airplay (five weeks), Rhythmic Airplay (four weeks), and Adult Pop Airplay (two weeks).

Calm Down also won the inaugural Best Afrobeats award at the 2024 MTV VMAs, Top Afrobeats Song at the Billboard Music Awards, and Best Collaboration at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. The original version appeared on Rema’s 2022 debut album Rave & Roses, while the Selena Gomez remix was later included in the 2023 deluxe edition, Rave & Roses Ultra.

Tems

In February, Tems became the first African female artist to surpass one billion Spotify streams, thanks to Future’s Wait for U, which also features Drake.

The track samples Tems’ Higher from her 2020 EP For Broken Ears and was included on Future’s 2022 Billboard 200-topping album I Never Liked You. Wait for U reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and Rhythmic Airplay. It also earned nominations for Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 2023 Grammy Awards, winning the former.

Tyla

In February, Tyla became the first African solo artist to surpass one billion Spotify streams with her 2023 breakout hit Water, from her 2024 self-titled debut album.

The song, which received official remixes featuring Travis Scott and Marshmello, peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also dominated several charts, spending 55 weeks at No. 1 on U.S. Afrobeats Songs, 18 weeks atop World Digital Song Sales, four weeks at No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay, and one week on Rhythmic Airplay.

Water made history by winning the first-ever Best African Music Performance award at the 2024 Grammys and also earned Top Afrobeats Song at the Billboard Music Awards and Best Afrobeats Video at the MTV VMAs.

Bellanaija/Oluchi