CKay’s viral global hit has officially crossed one billion streams on Spotify, a milestone that cements the record as one of Afrobeats’ biggest international exports.
“Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah),” released quietly in 2019 before exploding into a worldwide TikTok sensation in 2021, has now become only the second Nigerian song in history to surpass one billion streams on the platform. The achievement places CKay firmly among Africa’s most streamed artists of all time.
Joining Africa’s Streaming Elite
CKay, once nicknamed “Africa’s boyfriend”, now stands alongside a small group of African artists who have earned a place in Spotify’s prestigious Billions Club.
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Rema was the first African artist to hit one billion streams with the 2022 “Calm Down” remix featuring Selena Gomez, which crossed the mark in September 2023.
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Tyla followed in February 2025 when “Water” became the first solo African track to hit one billion streams.
CKay’s original, solo version of “Love Nwantiti” now enters the books as Africa’s third distinct billion-stream single, reinforcing his status as one of the pioneers of Afrobeats’ global streaming dominance.
A Global Takeover Built on Organic Virality
First released on CKay’s CKay The First EP in 2019, “Love Nwantiti” grew slowly before becoming a global phenomenon two years later. Its melodic, stripped-back rhythm and addictive “ah ah ah” refrain made it a perfect fit for TikTok, where millions of user-generated videos propelled it to international recognition.
A wave of remixes boosted the song’s reach, most notably the version featuring DJ Yo! & AX’EL, which has since garnered more than 684 million Spotify streams on its own.
By early 2022, combined streams across all platforms, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and more, had already exceeded 1.5 billion. By November 2025, CKay’s total career streams had climbed past 5.5 billion.
Record-Breaking Certifications Across the World
“Love Nwantiti” is the most certified Nigerian song in United States history, achieving 8× Platinum with the RIAA, over eight million units sold or streamed. It is now within striking distance of becoming the first Afrobeats song to earn Diamond certification (10× Platinum) in the U.S.
Globally, the single has collected a remarkable list of awards:
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India: 20× Platinum (2× Diamond) — the first African song to reach this level
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France: Diamond
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UK: 2× Platinum
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Canada: 4× Platinum
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Poland: 4× Platinum
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Portugal: 6× Platinum
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Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria: Platinum
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New Zealand: 3× Platinum
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Australia: Gold
These certifications reflect its worldwide chart dominance. The track peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200, and reached No. 3 on the UK Official Singles Chart. It also claimed No. 1 in India, Norway, and Switzerland, driven heavily by its massive popularity on TikTok.
A Modern Afrobeats Classic
With its billion-stream feat, global certifications and historic chart records, “Love Nwantiti” has secured its place as one of Afrobeats’ defining modern classics. The song continues to shape the global perception of African music and stands as a blueprint for artists aiming to achieve worldwide success through digitally driven, fan-powered momentum.
