Wizkid Becomes Frst African Artist to Surpass 10bn Spotify Streams

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known as Wizkid has made history as the first African artist to cross 10 billion streams on Spotify.

Figures released in January 2026 place the Grammy-nominated singer at the top of Africa’s most-streamed artists on the platform.

He leads fellow Nigerian Burna Boy, who has recorded more than 9.5 billion streams, while Rema ranks third with 5.6 billion.

Tems also has surpassed 4.4 billion streams, followed by South Africa’s Tyla on 3.7 billion and Ayra Starr on 3.3 billion.

A great share of Wizkid’s streaming numbers is driven by international collaborations.

His appearance on Drake’s One Dance has amassed close to four billion streams, while Essence, his global hit with Tems, has exceeded 334 million streams and is widely credited with expanding Afrobeats’ mainstream reach.

Wizkid’s third studio album, Made In Lagos (Deluxe), remains his most-streamed project on Spotify, with more than one billion streams.

The album is regarded as a landmark release that helped consolidate Afrobeats’ presence across Europe and North America.

Beyond streaming, the Lagos-born artist has accumulated a string of international honours, including a Grammy Award for his contribution to Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, as well as multiple BET, Soul Train and Billboard awards.

The latest milestone reinforces Wizkid’s status as one of Africa’s most commercially successful and globally recognised music artists, indicating another chapter in a career that continues to shape the international sound of Afrobeats.

SAGE Nexus Hub CEO Pushes AI Awareness, Unveils Plans to Train 500 Bayelsa Youths

SAGE Nexus Hub founder, Onowode Tobore Derick, has restated his commitment to equipping young people across Bayelsa State with digital and innovation skills, insisting that technology is “ the now big thing ” and young creatives must seize the opportunities it offers. Speaking on Tuesday at the Bayelsa Creatives Converse (BCC) 2.0, held at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, Tobore announced the progress of the ongoing TechForward Bayelsa programme, an initiative aimed at training 500 young people in digital skills by the end of 2026. He said the first cohort of 50 participants had successfully completed their training, with another 50 set to resume in January 2026. The programme, he noted, covers artificial intelligence, digital marketing, software engineering, graphic design and a range of emerging tech skills. Tobore explained that the training sits at the heart of SAGE Nexus Hub’s wider mission of nurturing the next generation of innovators. The Yenagoa-based hub provides co-working ...

Bayelsa Acquires Two Aircraft for Commercial Operations

Bayelsa State has taken a major step towards boosting air travel and economic activity as it acquires two aircraft for commercial flight operations at the Bayelsa International Airport . Governor Douye Diri disclosed the acquisition on Monday when he received the Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora , Dr. Tin Louise-George , at Government House, Yenagoa , during his maiden visit to Nigeria . Diri stated that the aircraft, already procured by the state government, would soon arrive and begin daily flights between Yenagoa, Lagos , and Abuja , adding that the move was aimed at making the state-owned airport more viable and self-sustaining. " We are working on ensuring regular, daily flights from Yenagoa to Lagos and Abuja. We had an arrangement with a private airline that became unsustainable, leaving the airport underutilised. Now, we have taken the bull by the horn. Two aircraft have been acquired and will soon begin commercial operations ," the Governor said. A...

New Recruits in Bayelsa Information Ministry Told to Embrace Professionalism

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, has charged newly recruited Information Officers to approach their roles with professionalism, integrity and unwavering commitment to public service. Addressing the fresh employees on Friday during her maiden meeting with them in Yenagoa, Koku-Obiyai said their appointment was a demonstration of the state government’s resolve to strengthen its information machinery and ensure a more effective, result-driven public service. Describing the opportunity as a rare privilege, she urged the recruits to justify the confidence reposed in them by embracing diligence, discipline and a strong work ethic, while warning that the Ministry would not tolerate lateness, absenteeism or any form of indiscipline. The Commissioner further revealed plans to introduce in-house training, particularly in areas such as Public Relations and media engagement, to enhance their capacity and performance. Also speaki...

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