While Spotify’s Billions Club contains an exclusive group of artists who’ve had songs reach one billion streams, there’s an even more elite crop of African artists who are members.
“Essence” collaborators Wizkid and Tems have both reached this milestone, but not for their Billboard Hot 100 top 10 smash, and they both did it alongside the same superstar: Drake. His 2016 summer anthem “One Dance,” featuring Wizkid and funky U.K. singer Kyla, became the very first song to hit one billion streams on the platform at the end of that year. And Future‘s “WAIT FOR U,” featuring Drake and Tems, just achieved the feat last week, making Tems the first African female artist to have a song surpass one billion Spotify streams.
A few days after Tems made Spotify history, Tyla followed suit and became the first African solo artist to hit one billion Spotify streams with her 2023 breakout hit “Water.” “We are incredibly proud of Tyla’s historic achievement,” said Phiona Okumu, head of music at Spotify in Africa, in a statement. “This milestone is a testament to her talent, hard work, and the power of music to transcend borders. Tyla’s success is an inspiration to aspiring artists across Africa and the world, and we are honored to have played a part in her journey.”
While Tyla’s “Water” made history for winning the inaugural best African music performance award at the 2024 Grammys, Rema‘s “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez — which became the first African artist-led track to enter Spotify’s Billions Club in 2023 — won the inaugural best Afrobeats award at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
Billboard rounded up all the African artists who have songs that have hit one billion Spotify streams, in order from oldest to newest.
This article was originally published by Heran Mamo at Billboard – Read this article and more at (https://www.billboard.com/lists/african-artists-spotify-billions-club/).
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