The industry has also gone from CD eras to Streaming eras with streamed platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Audiomack, and Boomplay. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify, the most popular music streaming service across the globe.
| Rank | Name | Total Streams |
| 1 | Wizkid | 4.6 Billion |
| 2 | Burna Boy | 3 Billion |
| 3 | C Kay | 2 Billion |
| 4 | Mr. Eazi | 1.4 Billion |
| 5 | Davido | 1 Billion |
| 6 | Tems | 700 Million |
| 7 | Maleek Berry | 520 Million |
| 8 | Rema | 500 Million |
| 9 | Fireboy | 400 Million |
| 10 | Tiwa Savage | 300 Million |
Table of Content
1. Wizkid
Ibrahim Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid is the most streamed Nigerian artist on Spotify, with over 4.6 billion streams to his name. He is one of the best-selling artists in the country and is responsible for taking African sound to the International Stage. He is generally considered the Greatest Showman from Africa, with multiple awards, certifications, streams, and chart records to his name.
His album “Made In Lagos” is the longest-charting African album ever in Billboard’s History, the best-selling and most-streamed African album with over one billion streams under a year of release.
Two of his songs, Essence ft Tems and Come Closer ft Drake are part of the most streamed Nigeria Songs of all time on the platform. Wizkid is a recipient of numerous awards including a Grammy Award, BET Awards, Billboard Awards and MOBO Awards.
2. Burna Boy
The African Giant, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy takes second place among the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify. He is one of the major acts alongside Wizkid and Davido, pushing African music to the international limelight. He is also the first Nigerian artist to get a back to back nominations at the Grammys, winning the latter.
Burna Boy attained the limelight in 2012 after releasing “Like to Party”, the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E. He has released since then released 5 additional studio albums, gaining over 3 billion streams on the platform. He is the only African artist to sell out 4 of the top 5 busiest arenas in the world, O2, Ziggo Dome, Accor, and the Madison Square Garden.
3. CKay
Rising global star, CKay takes third place among the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify, with 2 Billion streams to his name. His song Love Nwantiti is the best-selling Nigerian song of all time and the most streamed African song on Spotify with over one billion streams on the platform.
The song has sold over 3 million certified units in 15 different countries including the United States, Uk, and Canada. It charted in several countries including Europe, Australia, Latin America, and New Zealand. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, number one on the UK Indie Singles Chart, No. 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200, and no 5 on the Canadian Hot 100.
4. Mr. Eazi
Nigerian-born, Ghana-based singer, Mr. Eazi with over 1.4 Billion streams, takes the fourth place among the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify. According to Wikipedia, he is the pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and patterns.
Mr. Eazi began his musical career while at the University in Ghana, he recorded his first track as a guest artist on a song titled “My Life”. The song gained traction and became popular in Ghana, prompting him to release his debut mixtape About to Blow in July 2013. He gained an international audience following the release of the Efya-assisted single “Skin Tight” and has since released 2 other mixtapes and Eps.
5. Davido
Multiple award-winning singer, Davido takes fifth place among the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify with over 1 billion streams across all credits. Davido who is considered one of the most influential musicians alive is one of the biggest music acts to come out of Africa.
He attained the limelight after releasing “Dami Duro”, the second single from his debut studio album Omo Baba Olowo in 2012. The 29-year-old singer has released 3 other studio albums since then. His song Fall” is the second longest-charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard History.
6. Tems
International rising sensation, Temilade Openiyi, with 700 Million streams takes sixth place among the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify. She rose to prominence after she was featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single, “Essence”, which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured in Drake’s song, “Fountains”.
She released her debut extended play, For Broken Ears in 2020 and her second extended play, If Orange Was a Place in 2021 after being signed to RCA Records. She was also featured on Future hit single, “Wait for U”. The song debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African artist to debut at number one on the chart.
7. Maleek Berry
British-Nigerian record producer and recording artist, Maleek Berry takes 7th place among the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify, with over 520 Million streams. He got into the limelight in 2012 and since then released 1 album, 1 Ep, and numerous singles.
Maleek Berry has worked with numerous prominent artists such as Wizkid, Davido, Wale, Fuse ODG, Runtown, and Iyanya. He was nominated as “Music Producer of the Year” at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. He was also nominated in the Best Male category of the annual MOBO Awards in 2017.
8. Rema
Mavin signee, Divine Ikubor popular known as Rema, is one of the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify, with over 500 Million streams across the credit. He rose to stardom with the release of the song “Iron Man”, which appeared on Barack Obama’s 2019 summer playlist.
Rema released his self-titled debut EP “Rema” in 2019, which peaked at number 1 on Apple Music Nigeria. He released two more Eps in the same year: Bad Commando and Freestyle EP. He released his debut album Rave & Roses in 2022. It is the first album by a Nigerian artiste to record over 40 Million Streams in its First Day [Pre-released singles inclusive].
9. Fireboy
YBNL signee, Fireboy DML, joins the list of the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify, with over 400 Million streams across all credits. He attained the limelight thanks to his breakthrough single “Jealous” which first appeared on YBNL Nation’s collaborative album YBNL Mafia Family (2018), before being re-released on 25 March 2019.
His debut studio album Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps was released in 2019. The album has accumulated over 80 Million streams, making it one of the most streamed Nigerian debut albums on the platform. In 2020, he released his sophomore album, Apollo which got an 8.3 rating out of 10 on Pitchfork.
His song Peru remix featuring Ed Sheeran is one of the most streamed songs on the platform and one of the few Nigerian hit songs to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
10. Tiwa Savage
Richest Female Musicians in Nigeria – Tiwa Savage
African Bad Gyal, Tiwa Savage, concludes the list of the most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify, with over 300 Million, across all credits. The British-Nigerian singer is one of the most influential artists in Africa. She is generally considered the greatest female musician in recent times.
She is the first female Nigerian artist to be nominated for BET awards and the first to win the Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards. Her debut studio album Once Upon a Time was released in 2013. She has since then released four other projects: R.E.D (2015), Sugarcane (2017), Celia (2020), and Water & Garri (2021).
Summary
Here is a summary of the top 10 most streamed Nigerian artists on Spotify (of all time).
- Wizkid – 4.6 Billion Streams
- Burna Boy – 3 Billion Streams
- C Kay – 2 Billion Billion Streams
- Mr. Eazi – 1.4 Billion Streams
- Davido – 1 Billion Streams
- Tems – 700 Million Streams
- Maleek Berry – 520 Million Streams
- Rema – 500 Million Streams
- Fireboy – 400 Million Streams
- Tiwa Savage – 300 Million Streams
