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Nathaniel Bassey becomes first African gospel artist to reach one billion views

By , based on Vanguard and Punch

Nathaniel Bassey becomes first African gospel artist to reach one billion viewsEmmacas TV · CC BY 3.0

Nigerian singer and pastor Nathaniel Bassey has passed one billion YouTube views, with more than 1.014 billion views and 5.24 million subscribers on his official channel, according to Vanguard and Punch. The record makes him the first African gospel artist to reach the milestone and coincides with the October 2026 edition of the Hallelujah Challenge, the online prayer and worship programme he founded.

Punch reports that Nathaniel Bassey’s official channel, created in 2011, has attracted 5.24 million subscribers. The monthly programme includes praise, prayer and worship sessions broadcast at midnight. It brings together participants from different regions of the world; thousands follow the sessions live and millions watch the recordings, Punch reports.

Punch lists “Imela”, “Onise Iyanu”, “Olowogbogboro” and “You Are God” among the singer’s best-known songs.

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