In a landmark moment for African music, Nigerian superstar CKay has officially entered Spotify‘s exclusive “Billions Club” with his global hit “Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah).”
The achievement, confirmed by Spotify Africa on December 10, 2025, marks the first time a solo Nigerian artist has crossed one billion streams on the platform with a solo track.
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The song’s journey to a billion is a modern music-industry fairy tale. Initially released in 2019 on his EP CKay The First, “Love Nwantiti” was a slow-burning masterpiece that exploded globally two years later. Its infectious, mellow vibe and simple “ah ah ah” hook made it a perfect catalyst for a TikTok phenomenon, driving it to become the most-streamed African song of 2021 and transcending language barriers worldwide.
A Solo Milestone in a Collaborative Era
CKay’s entry into the club is historically distinct. He joins an elite group of African-affiliated hits on Spotify, but stands apart by reaching the milestone as a sole lead artist. This solidifies his unique “Emo-Afrobeats” sound—a fusion of African rhythms with raw emotion that he pioneered—as a powerful, exportable genre.
The table below highlights how CKay’s achievement differs from other Nigerian-linked billion-stream hits:
| Artist | Song | Year of 1B Streams | Key Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| CKay | Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah) | 2025 | First solo Nigerian artist |
| Rema | Calm Down (feat. Selena Gomez) | 2023 | First African song overall; central international feature |
| Tyla | Water | 2025 | First solo African song; South African artist |
| Other Hits | e.g., One Dance (Drake feat. Wizkid) | N/A | Nigerian contribution is a feature |
More Than Streams: A Certified Global Hit
The Spotify milestone is just one facet of the song’s unprecedented success. “Love Nwantiti” is the most certified Nigerian song in United States history, having achieved an 8x Platinum RIAA certification and peaking at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its global resonance is further proven by a Diamond certification in France, 20x Platinum in India, and multi-platinum status across the UK, Canada, and several other countries.
The track continues to demonstrate remarkable staying power. Data shows that in the 28 days leading up to this announcement, top listeners hailed from the United States, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, proving its appeal extends far beyond its initial viral peak.
