Nigerian singer and producer CKay has made global music history by becoming the first Nigerian artist to have a solo song surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.
His breakout hit “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)”, released in 2019, crossed the milestone this week, marking a major achievement for Afrobeats and African music.
With this record, CKay also becomes the first solo male African artist to reach the landmark on the streaming platform.
The song, which started as a modest release, later exploded into a worldwide sensation, driven largely by social media trends and its massive popularity on TikTok.
Reacting to the achievement, CKay expressed joy and gratitude on his X page. He wrote, “First solo Nigerian song to cross 1 billion streams. Grateful to God and the people involved in this historic success! Thank you for streaming.”
The milestone places CKay among a small group of African artists who have crossed the one-billion mark on Spotify, each under different categories.
Wizkid was the first African artist to join the Spotify 1 Billion Club in 2017 through his collaboration with Drake on “One Dance”. The song holds a Guinness World Record as the first track in history to reach 1 billion Spotify streams.
Rema later became the first African lead artist to hit 1 billion streams after the remix of his global smash “Calm Down”, featuring American singer Selena Gomez, reached the milestone. The song went on to break multiple global streaming and chart records.
South African star Tyla also entered the billion-stream club as the first African female artist with her hit song “Water”, which became a global viral anthem in 2023.
CKay’s achievement further confirms the rising influence of African music on the global stage. Love Nwantiti has now become one of the most-streamed Afrobeats songs in history, charting across continents, inspiring dozens of remixes, and contributing to the worldwide spread of Afrobeats.
Music analysts say CKay’s accomplishment reflects the power of digital platforms in amplifying African sounds and giving artists from the continent a gateway to global audiences.
The song’s success also shows how a track can evolve from a regional favourite into an international hit through organic fan engagement.
As the congratulations continue to pour in, CKay’s new milestone solidifies his place among Africa’s most streamed artists and highlights how far Afrobeats has come in just a few years.