Nigerian music star Ayodeji “Wizkid” Balogun has officially become the first African artist to surpass 10 billion total streams on Spotify, counting both his solo work and collaborations. This milestone places him among the most-streamed artists worldwide and highlights the growing global influence of African music.

Wizkid reached this landmark after more than a decade of releasing hit singles and collaborating with international stars like Drake, Beyoncé, and Tems. His global visibility grew through tracks such as One Dance with Drake, the international summer anthem Essence featuring Tems, and albums like Made in Lagos and More Love, Less Ego, all of which have consistently performed on streaming charts.

Wizkid – Instagram

Currently, Wizkid attracts over 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify, reflecting not just the scale of his past achievements, but also ongoing global interest in his music. Early hits in the 2010s introduced him to Nigerian audiences, while collaborations like the remix of Ojuelegba with Drake expanded his reach internationally and helped Afrobeats gain mainstream recognition in Western markets.

Wizkid – Instagram

Streaming platforms have enabled artists like Wizkid to connect directly with audiences worldwide, bypassing traditional gatekeepers such as radio or television charts. This accessibility has allowed African artists to compete on a global scale and set new standards for success.

While Wizkid now leads African artists in Spotify streams, other musicians such as Burna Boy, Rema, Tems, and Tyla have also achieved significant international followings, collectively demonstrating that African music is no longer a niche but a central part of global playlists.

Wizkid’s 10 billion streams mark a milestone for the artist and for Afrobeats as a genre. Strategic collaborations have amplified his reach, and his catalogue’s continued popularity highlights the influence of digital streaming on the global music industry. From Lagos to Los Angeles, the data show that African artists are shaping, not just participating in, the worldwide music market.

As of early 2026, Wizkid stands not only as a record-setter but as a clear measure of African music’s growing impact on the global stage.

Funke Akindele’s latest film, Behind The Scenes, has earned ₦1.77 billion in box office revenue within its first four weeks, making it the highest-grossing Nigerian film of 2025. The film premiered in December 2025 and quickly broke multiple records, including surpassing ₦200 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend. Within 17 days, it became the fastest movie in West Africa to cross the ₦1 billion mark. On Boxing Day alone, ticket sales reached ₦129.5 million, the highest single-day total for a Nigerian film during the holiday period.‏

Funke Akindele – Instagram

Akindele has previously produced three films that each earned over ₦1 billion, including A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa. These figures make her the only filmmaker in Nollywood history with multiple billion-naira films in a single calendar year. Everybody Loves Jenifa also ranks among Nollywood’s all-time highest-grossing films, reflecting strong audience engagement.

Photo Credit – Instagram

The film features a cast including Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Tobi Bakre, Destiny Etiko, and Uche Montana, which contributed to its broad appeal across audiences. Analysts suggest that its success was supported by strategic release planning, including advanced screenings and well-timed premieres before the nationwide rollout.

The performance of Behind The Scenes arrives amid ongoing challenges in Nollywood, such as limited funding, restricted cinema access, and piracy. Its commercial success demonstrates the growing potential of Nigerian cinema and underscores Akindele’s influence in the industry. While figures confirm her market impact, experts note that her continued success may also reflect an understanding of audience preferences and effective franchise building.

Akindele – Instagram

Funke Akindele’s recent achievements highlight her consistent ability to produce films that resonate with viewers. The results show that Nollywood productions can achieve significant commercial success while appealing to wide audiences, providing a benchmark for the industry’s evolving market potential.

Justin and Christian “King” Combs, the sons of imprisoned music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, have announced a forthcoming documentary series set to air on Zeus Network in 2026, offering their personal perspective on the events surrounding their father’s highly publicized legal troubles.

The announcement comes just weeks after the release of Sean Combs: The Reckoning, a four-part Netflix docuseries executive produced by Diddy’s longtime rival Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. While that project examined the case from outside voices, Justin and Christian say their series will focus on their own experiences and the impact on their family.

Photo Credit: Variety

In a trailer shared late Sunday night, the brothers are seen seated together watching news clips and courtroom footage from their father’s federal criminal trial. The teaser promises to explore “our voice,” touching on family dynamics, personal pain, public scrutiny, and what they describe as misinformation surrounding the case.

The clip closes with an automated phone call from Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution, where Sean Combs is currently serving a 50-month sentence following convictions on two federal prostitution charges. It remains unclear whether Combs himself participated in the production or will appear through recorded conversations.

Photo Credit: Blex Media

Zeus Network CEO Lemuel Plummer addressed the project directly, emphasizing that the docuseries is not intended to defend or vindicate Diddy. Instead, he described it as a platform for Justin and Christian to share their lived experiences during an intense and life-altering period.

The timing of the announcement is notable. Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning quickly became a ratings success, amassing nearly 22 million minutes viewed within its first week. That series included behind-the-scenes footage originally commissioned by Combs, which his legal team criticized as unfair and unauthorized, though Netflix maintains it was obtained legally.

Photo Credit: 92.1 WROU

Beyond their father’s case, both Justin and Christian Combs have faced their own legal scrutiny. Each has been named in separate sexual assault lawsuits alongside their father, allegations they have consistently denied.

While no official title or release date has been confirmed, the Zeus Network project is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched celebrity documentaries of 2026, not for spectacle, but for the rare look at how a family navigates fame, fallout, and public judgment from the inside.