This week, Tems and Tyla – two African artists have earned their place in Spotify’s prestigious Billions Club marking a significant achievement for African music on the global stage. Nigerian singer Tems has joined the club for her contribution to Future’s track “WAIT FOR U,” featuring Canadian superstar Drake. Meanwhile, South African pop sensation Tyla has made history by becoming the first African artist to reach the billion streams milestone with her 2023 hit “Water.”
While streaming success is no longer surprising in today’s music landscape, it’s impossible to overlook the transformative role that platforms like Spotify have played in bringing African artists to the forefront of global pop music. With dedicated playlists and programming for Afrobeats and Amapiano, Spotify has not only amplified African sounds but has also significantly expanded its presence on the continent.
It all traces back to the groundbreaking success of “One Dance,” the 2016 hit by Drake, featuring Nigerian singer Wizkid and Filipino artist Kyla. The song was the first to hit a billion streams on Spotify, helping introduce Afrobeats to the global music scene. Although it took some time for an African artist’s song to reach this milestone, “One Dance” set the stage for the future.
Today, 887 songs on Spotify have crossed the billion streams mark, a small fraction of the millions of tracks on the platform. This illustrates just how difficult it is to achieve this kind of success. A quick scroll through the Billions Club playlist reveals a mix of recent pop hits, such as Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” and The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” as well as rap anthems like Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE” and J. Cole’s “No Role Modelz.” What stands out, however, is the presence of older classics, like Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” Toto’s “Africa,” and Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.”
The first African artist to headline a song in the Billions Club was Nigerian superstar Rema, with his 2022 hit “Calm Down.” Originally released as a single from his debut album Rave & Roses, it wasn’t until the remix featuring Selena Gomez that the track gained major traction, eventually peaking at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and crossing the billion streams threshold less than three months later.
While chart success is an important factor in reaching a billion streams, it’s not a guaranteed path. For example, songs like Frank Ocean’s “Pink + White” and Tame Impala’s “The Less I Know the Better” weren’t massive chart hits but still achieved this milestone due to their enduring popularity. On the other hand, Tems’ contribution to Future’s “WAIT FOR U” debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the most significant milestones in her career.
Tyla’s “Water” has also achieved remarkable success, hitting the top of the U.S. Billboard Afrobeats chart and staying there for 55 weeks. The song peaked in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 six months after its release and, unlike Rema’s track, the original version of “Water” crossed the billion streams mark without the need for a remix.
In a significant turn of events, two African women have now joined Spotify’s Billions Club in the same week, with Tyla following Tems just days after the Nigerian singer became the first African female artist to achieve this milestone. This is a momentous occasion, showcasing not only the strength of African music but also the growing influence of African women in the global music industry.
As Afrobeats continues to dominate the global music scene, these achievements by Tems and Tyla represent more than just personal victories; they symbolize the continued rise of African talent on the world stage. With Spotify’s support and the undeniable power of streaming, it’s clear that African artists are shaping the future of global music.
