2025 has confirmed what fans have long known: Wizkid is not just a star; he is one of Africa’s most influential musical exports. This year, he became the first African artist to surpass 20 billion global streams, including both his solo tracks and collaborations. Alongside these streaming milestones, his albums have sold millions worldwide, making him Africa’s best selling artist in modern music history.

Wizkid – Instagram

On Spotify alone, Wizkid has exceeded 9 billion streams, a record no African artist has reached before. His hit One Dance, a collaboration with Drake and Kyla, continues to attract billions of plays, showing the lasting power of his music. In 2025, he also became the first African artist to cross 100 million Shazams, proving that listeners actively seek out his work rather than streaming it passively.

These achievements reflect influence and reach as much as numbers. Wizkid’s music travels from Lagos to London, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, appearing consistently on global charts and playlists. His success sets a tangible example for young African artists, showing that global recognition is attainable. Streams, Shazams, chart positions, and album sales translate into revenue, touring opportunities, and brand partnerships, turning music into a serious business.

Wizkid – Instagram

Wizkid’s catalogue spans Afrobeats, R&B, and global pop, connecting with listeners without losing its Nigerian roots. Each song carries storytelling, rhythm, and identity that resonate internationally. His rise demonstrates consistency and strategy. From early albums to recent releases, he has built a body of work that commands attention through quality and relevance rather than overblown marketing or generic hype.

Beyond personal achievement, Wizkid’s success marks a turning point for African music. Afrobeats is no longer confined to local audiences; it has earned a permanent place on global stages. Every stream, playlist feature, radio play, and album sale reinforces that African music can compete with the biggest international acts.

Wizkid – Instagram

For Nigeria, for Africa, and for emerging artists, Wizkid’s career provides a clear roadmap. It shows that with the right combination of sound, vision, and persistence, African music can dominate charts, streams, and cultural conversations worldwide. 2025 is more than a year of record-breaking numbers; it is the year African music solidified its global presence.

Wizkid has not simply benefited from Afrobeats’ international rise. He has actively shaped it. His work continues to define the genre’s sound and influence, proving that African music belongs at every major stage, in every global playlist, and in record books worldwide.

Burna Boy has withdrawn from two stops on his ongoing “No Sign of Weakness” tour, pulling out of shows in Minneapolis and Chicago, according to updated listings on Ticketmaster. Both events Minneapolis at The Armory and Chicago at the United Center were marked as cancelled, with refunds already set in motion for ticket holders.

Burna Boy: Instagram

The cancellations landed without an accompanying statement from the artist or his management, leaving the move open to interpretation. Coverage from Nigerian and U.S. outlets notes that the update arrived in the days following the widely circulated incident at his Colorado concert, where Burna Boy halted his set to remove a couple from the crowd. The moment drew heavy backlash online after the woman involved shared that she was grieving a recent loss, amplifying public scrutiny.

Reports in THISDAYLIVE and TheWill suggest that the episode and the subsequent online reaction may have shaped turnout in some U.S. markets, potentially contributing to the decision to cancel both dates. Those outlets also note that neither promoter nor management has clarified whether scheduling, logistics, or internal tour adjustments played any role.

Burna Boy: Instagram

Despite the two cancellations, the rest of the tour remains intact for now, including scheduled appearances in Boston, Washington D.C., Montreal and Toronto. BellaNaija’s reporting confirms that these dates are still active, with no additional changes communicated as of the last update.

The lack of an official explanation leaves room for further updates as the tour progresses, and industry watchers are keeping an eye on whether the remaining North American stops proceed without disruption.

In early November 2025, Wizkid became the first African artist to surpass 100 million Shazams, a milestone that highlights both his global appeal and the growing influence of Afrobeats. Shazam tracks when listeners identify a song, and reaching this figure shows how often people are actively seeking out his music.

Wizkid – Instagram

Wizkid’s catalogue has grown steadily over more than a decade, from Lagos studios to international playlists. Tracks like Essence, featuring Tems, helped expand his audience far beyond Nigeria. Unlike chart positions that reflect streams or sales, this milestone reflects discovery: people all over the world are stopping to find out what they are listening to.

The milestone demonstrates that Wizkid’s music is connecting with audiences in regions where Afrobeats was once less prominent. His 2024 album and various collaborations contributed to this growth. The frequent identification of his songs indicates they continue to be heard and discovered across continents, showing the consistency of his appeal.

Wizkid’s career has been marked by careful development. He has evolved his sound while keeping it rooted in Nigerian rhythms. Collaborations locally and internationally have strengthened his global presence, with tracks like Essence entering the Billboard Hot 100—the first Nigerian song to achieve that. This proves that Nigerian music can reach international audiences without losing its identity.

Wizkid – Instagram

For Nigerian readers, this achievement is significant not just for numbers but for representation. It sets a benchmark for other African artists aiming for global recognition. Each time a listener in Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt uses Shazam on a Wizkid track, they become part of a worldwide audience map, showing that Nigerian music is now commanding attention on a global scale.

While 100 million Shazams is a remarkable achievement, it also challenges Wizkid to maintain momentum. Future releases will need to capture attention and continue generating discovery-driven responses. If he does, this milestone won’t just be a number; it will mark a sustained period of Nigerian music shaping the global stage.