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Wizkid Breaks Records with 100 Million Shazams

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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 – 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 - Instagram

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.

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Burna Boy Set to Headline Halftime Show at 2026 NFL Paris Game

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Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram

Nigerian singer Burna Boy has been announced as the headline performer for the halftime show at the 2026 NFL Paris Game.

The Grammy Award-winning singer will perform at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday, October 25, when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints. The game will be the NFL’s first regular-season game in France and is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CEST, or 9:30 a.m. ET.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram

The performance will see Burna Boy return to Stade de France, where he made history in April 2025 as the first African artist to headline a solo concert at the stadium.

Speaking about his return to the venue, Burna Boy said the opportunity carries special meaning because of his previous experience there.

“Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything,” he said.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram

Tim Tubito, the NFL’s senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, said the league wanted an artist who could match the significance of its first regular-season game in France. He also pointed to Burna Boy’s previous performances at the stadium and the long-standing connection between Paris and African music.

Burna Boy joins the lineup of halftime performers for the NFL’s 2026 International Games. Other performers include the Jonas Brothers at the Melbourne Game, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin at the Rio Game, Ayra Starr at the London Game, Cage The Elephant at the Munich Game and The Warning at the Mexico City Game.

In France, the Paris Game will be broadcast live on France Télévisions and beIN Sports. L’Équipe is scheduled to air the game later that evening. The NFL said more details about entertainment and fan events around the game will be announced ahead of the fixture.

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Burna Boy Becomes First Nigerian Artist to Surpass 4 Billion YouTube Views

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Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram

Burna Boy has crossed another major digital milestone, becoming the first Nigerian artist to surpass four billion total views on YouTube.

The milestone was reported on September 3, 2026, after the combined views on the singer’s official YouTube channel surpassed four billion. The figure covers music videos and other content uploaded to the channel.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram

At the time of the reports, Burna Boy’s official channel had recorded more than 4.02 billion views and had over 7.21 million subscribers.

Some of the singer’s most watched videos include “On The Low,” “Ye,” “Last Last” and “For My Hand,” his collaboration with British singer Ed Sheeran.

The latest figure also extends a record Burna Boy first set in 2021, when he became the first Nigerian artist to cross one billion total YouTube views. Five years later, he has reached four times that figure.

Photo: Instagram/@burnaboygram

The increase highlights Burna Boy’s rise from Nigeria’s music scene to one of Africa’s most internationally recognised artists. His songs have found audiences across Africa, Europe and North America, while his music videos have continued to attract viewers long after their release.

Born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Burna Boy has connected Nigerian sounds with audiences outside the country. His album African Giant, released in 2019, earned a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album, while Twice as Tall won the same award at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021.

As of the reports announcing the milestone, Burna Boy has not publicly commented on the achievement. The figure was recorded through tracking of his official YouTube channel.

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Funke Akindele Releases First Images of ‘The Four’

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Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele

Funke Akindele has released the first images from her upcoming film, “The Four: No One Fights Alone”, giving audiences a closer look at the cast ahead of its December cinema release.

The actress and filmmaker shared the images on September 1, featuring herself alongside several members of the film’s ensemble cast.

The released images feature Akindele alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Timini Egbuson, Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu and Uzor Arukwe. Ronke Oshodi Oke and Wunmi Toriola are also among the cast.

Akindele accompanied the images with a caption describing the film as a story filled with “friendship, laughter, tension, secrets and everything in between.” She also confirmed that The Four will arrive in cinemas on December 11.

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele

The first-look release comes shortly after Akindele announced the film and unveiled its cast in August. “The Four” is a drama set between the Odu community and the city, following Esosa and three women who are closely connected to her as they fight for the future of a young man they love. Their journey puts their friendship, courage, faith and loyalty to the test.

Music is also part of the film’s build-up, with Akindele, Waje, Bisola Aiyeola and Chioma Chukwuka joining forces on “Ore Mi”, one of the soundtracks for The Four. Produced by Tyanx, the song draws on the film’s themes of friendship, love and the bond between close friends. Akindele said the recording was inspired by the folktale-style storytelling through music that many Nigerians grew up with, making the song an extension of the relationships at the centre of the film.

“The Four: No One Fights Alone” is produced by Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV) and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. The film is scheduled to open in cinemas globally on December 11, 2026.

More pictures below:

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele

Photo: Instagram/@funkejenifaakindele

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