CKay’s ‘Love Nwantiti’ Continues to Reign as the Highest-Selling Nigerian Song in the United States
CKay is leading the way for Nigerian artists in the United States, with his hit single ‘Love Nwantiti’ continuing to hold its position as the highest-selling Nigerian song in the country. The viral track, which gained massive popularity on TikTok in 2021, has helped CKay achieve over 8 million units sold, cementing his place as the top-selling Nigerian artist in the U.S.
The song’s incredible success has not only made CKay a household name but also made ‘Love Nwantiti’ the most certified Nigerian song in U.S. history. With over 8 million units sold, the track is on track to become Afrobeats’ first-ever diamond-certified song, a monumental achievement for both CKay and the genre as a whole.
Following CKay on the list of top-selling Nigerian artists is Grammy-winning artist Wizkid. His collaboration with Tems and Justin Bieber on the hit song ‘Essence’ has sold over 4 million units, placing him second in the rankings. Wizkid has also received the most certifications of any Nigerian artist in the United States, with an impressive 8 certifications under his belt.
Rema, another rising star in the Afrobeats scene, ranks third on the list with over 5 million units sold, largely due to the massive success of his global hit ‘Calm Down’. The track, which has been certified 6 times RIAA Platinum, has set several records, including becoming the first African song to accumulate over 1 billion streams in the U.S. Additionally, ‘Calm Down’ became the highest-charting Nigerian song on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3, and spent over 52 weeks on the chart, another historic first for an African song.
Other notable Nigerian artists who have earned multiple RIAA certifications include Tems, who made history as the first Nigerian artist to debut on the Hot 100, Burna Boy, who holds the record for the most Hot 100 entries by a Nigerian act, and Davido, whose single ‘Fall’ became the first Nigerian song to be certified RIAA Gold.
As Nigerian music continues to dominate globally, these artists are paving the way for Afrobeats to achieve even greater success, with CKay’s ‘Love Nwantiti’ leading the charge as a shining example of the genre’s international appeal.
