Breaking Global Records: Rema & African Stars with 1 Billion Spotify Streams

In September 2023, Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, with his hit song “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, became the first African artiste to hit one billion Spotify streams.

Since Rema’s record making feat, two other Nigerians and one South African artiste have followed suit, with their songs or songs they featured in, smashing the one billion streams mark on Spotify.

Here’s a rundown of these African artistes with songs that have hit one billion streams on Spotify, according to a Billboard report.

Rema

Rema’s “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, became the first African-artiste led song to hit one billion Spotify streams in September 2023. The hit song won the inaugural best Afrobeats award at the 2024 MTV VMAs, as well as top Afrobeats song at the Billboard Music Awards. The original version was featured on Rema’s 2022 debut album Rave & Roses, while the Selena Gomez remix was later included in the 2023 deluxe edition titled Rave & Roses Ultra.

Wizkid

Wizkid is one of the first artists globally ever to become a member of Spotify’s Billions Club — doing so when Drake’s “One Dance,” featuring the Nigerian hitmaker and Kyla, became the very first song to hit one billion streams on the platform in 2016. “One Dance” was featured on Drake’s 2016 Grammy-nominated album Views.

Tems

Tems became the first African female artist to hit one billion streams on Spotify in February 2025 with Future‘s “Wait for U,” also featuring Drake. The song samples Tems’ “Higher” from her 2020 EP For Broken Ears and was featured on Future’s 2022 Billboard 200-topping album I Never Liked You. “Wait for U” won the best melodic rap performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Tyla

Tyla became the first African solo artist to hit one billion streams on Spotify in February with her 2023 breakout hit “Water” from her 2024 self-titled debut album. The song won the inaugural best African music performance award at the 2024 Grammys and picked up more awards at the Billboard Music Awards (top Afrobeats song) and MTV Video Music Awards (best Afrobeats video).