Nigerian Afrobeats sensation CKay has made history as the best-selling Nigerian artist in the United States. His global hit Love Nwantiti has sold over 7.5 million units, solidifying his position as a trailblazer in the music industry. The song also made CKay the first Nigerian artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify in 2022.
This achievement is part of a larger trend of Nigerian artists dominating the international music scene. Grammy-winning star Wizkid is the second best-selling Nigerian artist in the U.S., with his chart-topping single Essence selling over 6.5 million units and earning him eight RIAA certifications, the most for any Nigerian artist.
In third place is Rema, whose smash hit Calm Down has sold over 5 million units and achieved six RIAA platinum certifications. The song has also set records as the first African song to spend over 52 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 3. Additionally, it became the first African song to top Billboard’s radio chart and has garnered over 1 billion streams in the U.S.
Other Nigerian artists making waves include:Davido, whose single Fall was the first Nigerian song to be certified RIAA Gold. Burna Boy, who holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a Nigerian artist. Tems, who made history as the first Nigerian artist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100.
These accomplishments highlight the global rise of Afrobeats and the remarkable contributions of Nigerian musicians like CKay, Wizkid, Rema, and others, reshaping the international music landscape and setting new standards for success.
