Nigerian singer Rema has made history as the first African artist to have an artist-led track reach 1 billion streams on Spotify.

His hit single “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, reached the milestone on Sunday.

The song was released in February 2022 and quickly became a global success, topping charts in several countries and earning Rema widespread acclaim.

The track’s catchy blend of Afrobeats rhythms and afro-fusion melodies, Rema’s unique and soulful singing, and the unexpected addition of Selena Gomez helped to make it a worldwide hit.

The song has also been certified platinum in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In a statement, Spotify’s Artiste and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa, Victor Okpala, said: “Rema has achieved a remarkable milestone with his hit single, Calm Down, featuring Selena Gomez, reaching one billion streams on Spotify. This is the first African artist-led track to join the Billions Club on Spotify.

“The achievement not only highlights Rema’s growing influence in the music industry but also stresses the power of cross-cultural musical fusion in today’s interconnected world.”

Rema is the latest in a line of African artists to achieve success on the global music scene. In recent years, artists such as Burna Boy,

Wizkid, and Davido have all broken into the mainstream, with their music being streamed and enjoyed by millions of people around the world.