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Tag: Wizkid

  • Wizkid becomes first African to hit 10billion Spotify streams

    Wizkid becomes first African to hit 10billion Spotify streams

    Grammy-nominated singer Wizkid has made history as the first African artist to surpass 10 billion streams on Spotify.

    This achievement is a proof to his global influence and popularity, with hits like “One Dance” with Drake, which has nearly 4 billion streams, and “Essence” featuring Tems, with over 334 million streams.

    According to the latest figures as of January 2026, Wizkid tops the list of Africa’s most-streamed artists on Spotify, with Burna Boy following closely behind on more than 9.5 billion streams.

    Rema ranks third with 5.6 billion streams, while Tems has surpassed 4.4 billion. South African star Tyla has accumulated 3.7 billion streams, and Nigerian singer Ayra Starr trails closely with 3.3 billion streams.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Wizkid, Davido lead list of Africa’s most awarded music artists

    Wizkid’s third studio album, Made In Lagos Deluxe, is his most streamed project on the platform, with over one billion streams.

    Wizkid’s success extends beyond streaming numbers, as he’s received numerous awards and nominations, including a Grammy Award for his collaboration with Beyoncé on The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack.

    He’s also won several BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, and Billboard Awards, claiming his position as a leading African artist.

  • FULL LIST: Wizkid, Davido lead list of Africa’s most awarded music artists

    FULL LIST: Wizkid, Davido lead list of Africa’s most awarded music artists

    Nigerian music stars Wizkid and Davido have emerged at the top of the list of Africa’s most awarded artists, highlighting the continent’s growing global influence in the music industry.

    According to the latest rankings, Grammy-winning singer Wizkid leads the chart with a total of 197 career awards, making him the most decorated African artist to date. He is closely followed by fellow Nigerian superstar Davido, who has amassed 150 awards across local and international platforms.

    Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie occupies third place with 121 awards, while Nigeria’s Burna Boy follows closely in fourth position with 120 awards. Burna Boy’s tally is expected to increase following recent nominations and wins, reflecting his continued global success.

    Ghana’s Shatta Wale ranks fifth with 115 awards, ahead of compatriot Stonebwoy, who has earned 107 accolades during his career.

    Tanzanian music icon Diamond Platnumz also made the top list with 101 awards, underscoring East Africa’s growing presence on the global music stage.

    Veteran Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo joins the elite group with over 100 awards to her name, while Congolese music star Fally Ipupa rounds out the top nine with 96 awards.

    Here is a list of Africa’s most awarded music artists

    1. Wizkid (Nigeria) – 197 awards

    2. Davido (Nigeria) – 150 awards

    3. Sarkodie (Ghana) – 121 awards

    4. Burna Boy (Nigeria) – 120 awards

    5. Shatta Wale (Ghana) – 115 awards

    6. Stonebwoy (Ghana) – 107 awards

    7. Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – 101 awards

    8. Angélique Kidjo (Benin) – 100+ awards

    9. Fally Ipupa (DR Congo) – 96 awards

  • I consider myself boring – Wizkid

    I consider myself boring – Wizkid

    Grammy-winning singer Wizkid has opened up about his daily life, describing himself as “boring” and revealing that he takes his kids to school each morning.

    In a recent episode of the “Close Friends Only Speed Round” with his colleague, Asake, Wizkid emphasised that celebrities are “normal” people too, with everyday lives.

    When asked about an interesting fact that fans don’t know about him, Wizkid replied, “I see myself as boring. I wake up in the morning at 6:30, and I take my kids to school. We [celebrities] are normal human beings too, man.”

    Wizkid also shared the three most important things in his life: his daughter Morayo, music, and God.

    He attributed his long-lasting career in music to authenticity, strategic collaborations, and hard work.

  • How Wizkid reclaimed his mantle in 2025

    How Wizkid reclaimed his mantle in 2025

    Afrobeats has never been louder and prouder than it is in 2025. With trailblazers including Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, Asake, Olamide, Rema, Ayra Starr and other stars expanding its reach across continents, the genre’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric.

    However, one artist,  Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, aka Wizkid, reclaimed the spotlight in a way music pundits could not have predicted. OLAITAN GANIU writes.

    In a music landscape driven by constant output, Wizkid defied the rules as he failed to release an official single and album in 2025. Yet he topped music charts worldwide through collaborations.

    The 35-year-old Grammy winner became the most-streamed Nigerian artist on Apple Music and Spotify in 2025, an achievement propelled by both long-time fans and a new generation discovering his sound.

    The winning streak doesn’t end there; 25 of Wizkid’s songs ranked among the Most Streamed Songs on Apple Music Nigeria in 2025. Similarly, his last album, ‘Morayo’, a project named after his late mother, became the most-streamed album in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa on Apple Music this year.

    Music analysts opined that such dominance from a year-old album highlights the durability of Wizkid’s artistry and its magnetic pull.

    The Starboy head honcho’s influence on other artists’ body of work fueled his unmatched success. Among the standout are ‘Cash Flow’ ft. Young Jonn, ‘Getting Paid’ ft. Sarz, Asake and Skillibeng, ‘Big Time’ ft. OdumoduBlvck, ‘Dynamite’ ft. Tyla, ‘Billionaires Club’ ft. Olamide and Darkoo, ‘Kai’ ft. Olamide.

    Others include, ‘Forever Be Mine’ ft. Gunna, ‘One Condition’ ft. DJ Tunez and Fola, ‘Money Constant’ ft. DJ Maphorisa, ‘Lighter’ ft. A7S and David Guetta.

    His latest documentary, ‘Wizkid: Long Live Lagos’ follows the Afrobeat icon from his childhood to his current world domination.

    Directed by Karam Gill, the feature-length film  is an HBO production, featured as part of their ‘Music Box’ documentary season, which also aired the stories of Juice World and DMX.

    Read Also: Groups fault US delegation’s one-sided visit to Nigeria, decry exclusion of Muslim voices

    The show highlights the world-class performance he had in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in July 2023, where he became the first-ever African artist to sell out the venue.

    Since his breakout in 2011 with his debut album, ‘Superstar,’ the ‘Ojuelegba’ singer continues to reinvent and sharpen his talent to remain culturally grounded.

    First, he solidified his presence in the Nigerian music industry before turning his gaze to the world. His U.S. debut ‘Sounds From the Other Side’ in 2017 showcased his ambition through collaborations with Drake, Major Lazer and Ty Dolla $ign, even if it didn’t deliver the commercial explosion expected. But Wizkid never lost sight of his mission and roots.

    “I’m an African. I ride for that… If the world can pay attention to one artist from Africa, why can’t they pay attention to all?” he claimed.

    In 2021, he cemented himself as a global torchbearer for Afrobeats when he earned a Grammy Award for his effort on Beyoncé’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’.

  • Wizkid lauds Asake’s exceptional talent

    Wizkid lauds Asake’s exceptional talent

    Grammy-winning singer Wizkid has commended his colleague Asake, lauding his exceptional vocal abilities.

    During a recent appearance on Apple Music radio alongside DJ Tunez, Wizkid described Asake as one of Africa’s and the world’s most gifted vocalists.

    Read Also: Wizkid’s son Champz reveals inspirations behind debut EP

    Wizkid revealed that Asake’s song “Omo Ope” initially caught his attention, but it’s “Remember” that has become his favourite Asake track.

    He expressed his admiration for Asake’s talent, stating that he is a blessing to African music.

    He said, “Omo Ope’ made me an Asake fan from the first listen. But my favourite Asake song is ‘Remember’, I think you have to play that one on my wedding day. It is an amazing record.

    “You [Asake] are amazing, you have one of the most special voices from home [Africa] and in the world. I have told you that like a million times, and I am saying it again on the radio. You are a blessing to African music.”

  • Wizkid’s son, Champz, makes history with one million Spotify listeners

    Wizkid’s son, Champz, makes history with one million Spotify listeners

    Boluwatife Balogun, popularly known as Champz, the 14-year-old son of music icon Wizkid, has made history as the youngest Nigerian artist to surpass one million monthly listeners on Spotify.

    The young rapper’s achievement comes on the heels of his debut EP, “Champion’s Arrival,” which dropped recently and has been making waves in the music industry.

    The five-track project, which blends rap, afro-swing, and Afrobeats, has caught the attention of listeners worldwide, debuting at No. 1 on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top Albums chart.

    The EP has charted in 16 countries on Apple Music and reached No. 71 on the UK Apple Music Top Albums chart.

    The young artist’s mother, Sola Ogudu, expressed her gratitude to fans for supporting her son’s musical journey, while Wizkid praised Champz’s talent and expressed love for the EP. 

  • Wizkid, Asake to release, ‘REAL (Vol. 1)’ December

    Wizkid, Asake to release, ‘REAL (Vol. 1)’ December

    Music sensations Wizkid and Asake have announced their highly anticipated collaboration, a joint EP titled “REAL (Vol. 1)”, set to drop this December.

    The duo previewed a snippet of their upcoming track, “Jogodo”, during an appearance on Apple Music 1 with DJ Tunez.

    Read Also: Wizkid featured in Showmax’s exciting festive season watchlist

    Asake revealed that their relationship extends beyond music, describing it as “real” and deeply rooted.

    This collaboration is not new, as Asake previously featured Wizkid on his track “MMS” from his 2024 album “Lungu Boy”.

    The EP is expected to showcase the artists’ unique blend of styles, combining Wizkid’s signature Afropop sound with Asake’s energetic and choir-driven approach.

  • Wizkid featured in Showmax’s exciting festive season watchlist

    Wizkid featured in Showmax’s exciting festive season watchlist

    Nigerian entertainment lovers are in for an exciting festive season as Showmax has released a rich lineup of movies, documentaries, and series set to keep audiences glued to their screens throughout December.

    The streaming platform’s watchlist includes the highly anticipated HBO documentary, “Wizkid: Long Live Lagos,” which explores the life and career of Grammy-winning Nigerian musician Wizkid.

    The documentary premieres on December 26 and promises to take viewers on a journey through Wizkid’s rise to global stardom.

    Read Also: Talent managers driving careers of DJ Brightstar, Davido, Wizkid other superstars

    Other notable releases on Showmax this December include action-packed movies like “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “Novocaine,” as well as comedy specials like “The Chair Company” and “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off.”

    For fans of science fiction, Showmax will be streaming the third season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” while viewers looking for something inspirational can watch “The King of Kings,” an animated film that tells the story of Jesus Christ.

    With its diverse lineup of content, Showmax is set to make this festive season an entertaining one for its subscribers.

  • I had no blueprint, I built my own structure – Wizkid claims

    I had no blueprint, I built my own structure – Wizkid claims

    Award-winning singer Wizkid has sparked controversy with his claim that he had “no blueprint” for his ascent to stardom.

    The comment, featured in his HBO documentary Long Live Lagos, has been perceived by many as overlooking the significant role played by Banky W, the ace singer whose imprint Wizkid emerged from.

    “There was no blueprint for me. I had to build a structure for myself,” he claimed.

    Critics argued that Wizkid’s statement not only diminished Banky W’s impact on his career but also disregarded the contributions of Nigerian music legends who paved the way for the new generation of artists.

    Wizkid also acknowledged the influence of Nigerian music icon Fela Kuti, stating that “Fela Kuti was instrumental to why I believe I could really make music”.

    However, social media has been buzzing with mixed reactions following Wizkid’s “no blueprint” to his success.

    Franko_Nero accused Wizkid of being ungrateful, saying he wouldn’t be where he is without Banky W’s support.

    “I still vividly remember the day that Bankole [Banky W] announced on a show that he wanted to introduce a boy wonder, a germ in the making. Today, this ungrateful child is claiming otherwise. If Banky knew that today would come, I am sure he would have chased him far away”, he wrote.

    Arhcent echoed this sentiment, feeling Wizkid is erasing the role of Banky W and EME in his career.

    “This guy is erasing the role Banky W and EME played in his career. The person Banky picked from school for the studio is saying, “I had to build a structure for myself.’ God sees all.”

    Others, like the Duke of Isoko, defended Wizkid’s right to claim his own success, pointing out that he brought a unique style to the table.

    “If he never built a structure, Banky probably wouldn’t have noticed him. This dude came out with his own style of music, dressing sense, etc., but I understand that English is a problem in this place.”

    Sir Dickson urged calm, interpreting Wizkid’s comment as referring to his music style, not Banky W’s impact.

    “People are debating this with reference to Banky’s impact on his life. There is no real context to that. I believe he was speaking about his style of music. He reinvented himself. Wiz has never denied Banky’s impact, nor can he. Let’s calm down”, he wrote.

  • Wizkid’s lifestyle most extravagant in Nigerian music industry – Slimcase

    Wizkid’s lifestyle most extravagant in Nigerian music industry – Slimcase

    Singer and hypeman Slimcase has hailed Wizkid, describing his lifestyle as the most extravagant in the country’s music industry.

    Slimcase, who has collaborated with Wizkid on hits like “Gucci Snake,” expressed admiration for the star’s ability to enjoy luxury discreetly, stating that even a fraction of Wizkid’s experiences would be enough to fulfill his own desires.

    “If I can get just 10 per cent of Wizkid’s enjoyment, I am set for life. Wizkid’s lifestyle is the most extravagant in the Nigerian music industry—no one even comes close. He enjoys luxury quietly, without flaunting it on camera,” he said.

    Read Also: Tinubu orders Matawalle’s relocation to Kebbi over school abduction

    Slimcase, known for his street-wise background and role in popularising the “Shaku Shaku” dance trend, has built a multifaceted career in music, content creation, and influencing.

    He credits Don Jazzy as an inspiration for his ventures beyond content creation, showcasing his versatility and growth in Nigeria’s entertainment scene.