Nigerian gospel singer and worship leader, Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, has made history after his official YouTube channel surpassed one billion views, making him the first African gospel artist to achieve the milestone.
Figures from his official channel, Nathaniel Bassey Main, showed that it had accumulated more than 1.014 billion views and approximately 5.24 million subscribers as of November 1, 2026.
The achievement comes more than 15 years after the channel was created in March 2011 and highlights the growing international reach of African gospel music.
Bassey's popularity has been driven by his gospel songs, worship ministrations and the Hallelujah Challenge, an online prayer and worship programme he founded in 2017.
The monthly programme, which features midnight sessions of praise, worship and prayers, has grown from a social media gathering into an international Christian movement, attracting participants from different parts of the world.
The October 2026 edition of the Hallelujah Challenge reportedly contributed significantly to the latest increase in the channel's viewership. Its grand finale, the Hallelujah Festival, recorded more than 4.3 million views, while the opening session attracted over four million views.
Bassey is also known for popular gospel songs such as *Imela*, *Onise Iyanu*, *Olowogbogboro* and *You Are God*, which have earned him a large following among gospel music lovers in Nigeria and beyond.
The milestone has generated excitement among his followers, with many celebrating the achievement as a major moment for Nigerian gospel music and African Christian worship on the global stage.