Wizkid Becomes First African Artiste To Reach 11 Billion Spotify Streams

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Wizkid has become the first African artiste to surpass 11 billion streams on Spotify, extending his dominance as one of Africa’s most streamed and commercially successful music exports.

The milestone was announced on Tuesday by music statistics platform ChartsAfrica via X, formerly Twitter, which confirmed that the Grammy-winning singer is the first African artiste to hit every major Spotify streaming milestone from one billion to 11 billion streams.

The post read: “First African artists to reach major Spotify milestones: 1 billion — Wizkid, 2 billion — Wizkid, 3 billion — Wizkid … 11 billion — Wizkid.”

The achievement comes just days after Wizkid’s latest collaboration with DJ Tunez, titled State of Mind, recorded more than 685,000 streams on Spotify within its first 24 hours of release, further boosting his global streaming numbers.

Earlier in January, the singer, popularly known as “Big Wiz,” became the first African artiste to cross the 10-billion-stream mark on Spotify, a feat widely celebrated across the entertainment industry and among Afrobeats fans worldwide.

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A significant portion of Wizkid’s total streams comes from his international collaborations, especially One Dance by Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla. The 2016 global smash remains one of Spotify’s most-streamed songs ever, with over three billion plays on the platform.

His hit single Essence featuring Tems also played a major role in his streaming success. The song became the first Nigerian track to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination, helping accelerate Afrobeats’ mainstream acceptance globally.

Beyond Spotify, Wizkid has continued to break international records throughout his career. In 2021, he became the first African artiste to receive a Brit Billion Award for surpassing one billion audio-on-demand streams in the United Kingdom. He has also headlined major venues including London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and sold out the O2 Arena multiple times.

Entertainment executives and music analysts described the latest Spotify milestone as another defining moment for African music globally, noting that Afrobeats has evolved from a regional genre into a dominant force in global pop culture.

Fans and celebrities also flooded social media with congratulatory messages, praising Wizkid for consistently pushing African music to international audiences and inspiring a new generation of artistes across the continent.

Wizkid Becomes First African Artiste To Reach 11 Billion Spotify Streams

Sandra Okunzuwa Reveals Movie Kiss Scene Ended Her Relationship

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Sandra Okunzuwa has opened up about how performing romantic scenes in movies affected her personal relationships, revealing that one of her past relationships ended after a misunderstanding over a film kiss scene.

Speaking on the BTS Reality Podcast, the actress explained that her ex-boyfriend ended their relationship after someone allegedly sent him a movie clip showing her kissing a male colleague on set.

Sandra said the incident exposed how difficult it can be for actors to separate professional roles from private life, especially when partners struggle with insecurity or public perception.

According to her, filming romantic scenes is a highly controlled professional environment and far from what many people assume.

“When actors kiss while filming, about 20 people are watching them, instructions are being given, and the director is monitoring everything,” she said.

She added that such scenes are not emotionally or physically driven as many viewers might imagine.

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“Onscreen kisses are not even enjoyable. If they can be scrapped and viewers will still enjoy movies, I am in support,” she added.

Sandra further noted that repeated misunderstandings over her acting roles eventually created tension in the relationship, which later led to its breakdown.

She explained that while she understood her partner’s reaction may have stemmed from insecurity, it highlighted a broader challenge faced by actors in romantic roles.

“At the time, I felt his reaction came from a place of insecurity. But honestly, it is not easy,” she said.

The actress also stressed that people who choose to date actors must be prepared to understand the nature of the profession, especially the emotional demands and public exposure that come with it.

She encouraged colleagues in the film industry to maintain clear boundaries between their on-screen characters and real-life relationships to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Sandra Okunzuwa, known for her performances in several Nollywood productions, continues to gain recognition for her roles in drama and romance-themed films within the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Her comments have sparked conversations online about trust, insecurity, and the challenges actors face in balancing fame with personal relationships.

Sandra Okunzuwa Reveals Movie Kiss Scene Ended Her Relationship

Chike Reacts To Rumours Linking Him With Frank Edoho’s Estranged Wife

Nigerian singer Chike has sparked reactions online after posting a cryptic message amid growing speculation linking him romantically to Sandra Onyenucheya, the estranged wife of media personality Frank Edoho.

The controversy began after Frank Edoho, during a recent podcast interview, recounted issues that allegedly contributed to the collapse of his marriage. The television host claimed he once caught his former wife cheating with a musician, although he did not mention any individual by name.

His comments quickly triggered widespread speculation across social media platforms, with many users attempting to connect the statement to Chike.

As the rumours intensified online, Chike appeared to respond indirectly on Sunday night with a short but emotional social media post that read: “Pity my soul!”

The message immediately drew attention from fans and entertainment observers, with many interpreting it as a reaction to the ongoing allegations. Others, however, argued that the singer may have been referring to an entirely different issue unrelated to the controversy.

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Despite the online speculation, Chike has continued to maintain his public schedule and professional appearances.

The singer was recently spotted at a cinema outing in Lagos, where he interacted warmly with fans, signed autographs, and posed for photographs.

In one of the viral clips circulating online, fans were seen singing his hit song Running To You while taking pictures with the music star.

Neither Chike nor Sandra Onyenucheya has directly addressed the substance of the rumours beyond the singer’s cryptic post.

Frank Edoho has also not publicly identified the musician he referenced during the interview, leaving much of the speculation based entirely on social media assumptions.

The development has since generated heated conversations online, with some social media users criticising the spread of unverified claims involving public figures, while others continue to speculate about the identities behind Frank Edoho’s remarks.

Chike, known for songs such as Running To You, Roju, and Egwu, has remained one of Nigeria’s most celebrated contemporary vocalists, earning praise for his soulful sound and emotionally driven music.

Chike Reacts To Rumours Linking Him With Frank Edoho’s Estranged Wife