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Who is Wizkid? Age, Biography and Awards of the Star Musician

Wizkid (born 16 July 1990), whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, is a Nigerian songwriter and singer and one of the most famous Nigerian artists, who is probably one of the youngest too. The 34-year-old singer is also one of the richest musicians in Nigeria and Africa.

Wizkid started his singing career at the age of 11 and became a force to reckon with in the music scene in no time. To crown his talent and contribution to the music scene, he has been honored with several national and international awards.

Starboy, as he is also called, started his career from scratch and built it to where he is today. Let’s take a tour of his rise to fame and the awards he has won so far. We will also compare him to his co-star Davido to see who is more successful and more liked.

Wizkid’s Biography and Profile Summary

• Full name:  Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
• Nickname:  Wizkid, Starboy, Lil Prinz, Wizzy, Big Wiz, Baba Nla, Daddy Yo, Eleniyan, Machala
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth:  16th July 1990
• Wizkid’s Age: 34 years old
• Ethnicity:  Yoruba
• Nationality:  Nigerian
• Zodiac Sign:  Cancer
• Sexual Orientation:  Heterosexual (straight)
• Religion:  Christian
• Education:  Ijebu Ode Grammar School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State
• Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Businessman
• Marital Status:  Single
• Wizkid’s Children: 3- Zion Ayo-Balogun, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun Jnr., and Boluwatife Balogun
• Wizkid’s Parents: Alhaji Muniru Olatunji Balogun and Mrs. Jane Dolapo Balogun
• Siblings:  12, including Yetunte Awoniyi, Lade Balogun
• Wizkid’s Height in Inches:  5 feet, 4 inches
• Wizkid’s Height in Centimetres: 162.5cm
• Wizkid’s Weight: 65kg
• Wizkid’s Net worth: $30 million
• Famous for:  Holla At Your Boy, Azonto, Essence, Brown Skin Girl, Ojuelegba, Love My Baby, On Top Your Matter
• Wizkid’s Instagram:  wizkidayo
• Twitter:  @wizkidayo
• Facebook:  @Wizkid

How Old is Wizkid?

Wizkid is 34 years old in 2024. Starboy was born into a polygamous family on 16th July 1990. He is from an interfaith family where his father is a Muslim while his mother is a Christian. From his mother, he is the last child and has many sisters. The celebrity was born and raised in Surulere, Lagos State, where he lived with his family. There are conflicting opinions about his state of origin; while some say he is from Ogun State, others say Lagos. The truth about this has not been revealed by the star.

The 34-year-old Afropop king is among the youngest singers who reached their height of fame at a very young age. What many singers can only dream of, Wizkid achieved early in life. His song reflects the environment where he was born and brought up. One of his albums is titled Made in Lagos, which shows how much he cherishes the environment he grew up in.

He Dropped Out of School to Concentrate on His Music Career

The ace musician attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. For his university education, he first got admission into Lagos State University but dropped out. He later gained admission into Lead City University, Oyo State. However, he dropped out after two academic sessions to pursue his musical career.

It is important to note that Wizkid started singing at 11 in his church choir and continued while still a student. He interrupted his education for his music career. Big Wiz says that he is glad he did so and will be pleased to continue his education in the future because education is essential. He made his choice while still a teenager, which greatly favored him. At such a young age, he has made a name, money, and fame for himself. And he may decide to go back to school or not.

Wizkid Started Singing in His Church Choir

Coming from the kind of home he has, every child has the right to choose the religion they want. Because his mother is a Christian, she took her children to church. Wizzy joined the church choir as a young boy because of his love for music. When he was 11 years old, he formed a group with some of his church friends called Glorious Five, under which he released his first song, a collaborative album.

Wizkid Was Shot into the Spotlight in 2009

Before he finally adopted the stage name Wizkid, he went by other names such as Lil Prinz. When he was using the name Lil Prinz, Wizkid recorded an album with seven tracks. He recorded many other songs but couldn’t break through the music industry. It must have been disappointing, but he never gave up. With determination, Starboy got his big break and became famous.

He came into the limelight in the music industry in 2009. At the time, he collaborated with M.I. Abaga , who was already a big fish in the industry. They produced the award-winning song titled “Fast Money.” This song did not only get many nominations and awards, but it also received massive airplay in Nigeria and internationally. This song brought Wizkid to the spotlight and left the fans wanting more.

Having gained ground in the music scene, Wizkid released his first hit single, “Holla at Your Boy,” in 2010. This song earned him many awards and nominations, and from then, he has continued to be in the spotlight. With this, he released more songs which have contributed to his rise to fame and continual relevance in the industry. Some of the songs that contributed to his fame are “Tease Me/Bad Guys” (2010), “Don’t Dull” (2010), “Brown Skin Girl” (2019), “Holla At Your Boy” (2011), “Azonto” (2013), “Caro” (2014), “Love My Baby” (2011), etc. His albums Superstar, Ayo,  and others all added to his rise to fame.

List of Wizkid’s Songs and Albums

Wizkid has many songs and albums to his name. In less than 13 years in the music industry, he has released four albums, an EP, 33 music videos, 53 singles, including those he featured in, six cameo appearances, and 44 promotional singles. Here’s a list of some of his most famous songs and albums.

Who Has Wizkid Collaborated With?

Ever since his breakthrough in the music scene, Starboy’s music career has been on the rise, and he has been privileged to work with famous artists both locally and internationally. In the Nigerian music industry, Wizkid has collaborated with Naeto C , 2Face Idibia , Banky W , Don Jazzy , Wale, Olamide , Phyno , Femi Kuti , Seyi Shay , and many others. In the international scene, Wizkid has collaborated with artists like Drake, French Montana, Chris Brown, Kranium, Trey Songz, Skepta, Beyonce, and Ty Dolla $ign, among others.

In a more recent international collaboration, Wizkid was featured in Beyoncé’s Brown Skin Girl, which earned him so many national and international awards, including his first Grammy Award. With that song, he expanded his boundaries to include more international fans and partners. With the height he has attained in the music industry, it will be difficult for him to be out of the spotlight anytime soon.

Some of His Most Outstanding Achievements

In about 13 years of active contribution to the music industry, Starboy can boast of many achievements. He started at a young age and has achieved what many musicians like him can only dream of. Here’s a list of some of his notable achievements.

Starboy Has Received Several Awards and Recognition 

Here’s a list of some of the awards he has won so far.

• Best New Male Artist in the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards
• Musician of the Year (Male) in the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards
• HER Award in the 2020 BET Awards
• Best International Africa Act in the 2017 BET Awards
• Best International Act Africa in the 2012 BET Awards
• Most Gifted Duo/Group or Featuring award in the 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards
• Most Gifted Video of the Year award in the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards
• Artist of the Year in the 2016 Ghana Music Awards
• African Artiste of the Year in the 2012 Ghana Music Awards
• Best African Act in the 2020 MOBO Awards
• Best International Act in the 2017 MOBO Awards
• Viewer’s Choice Awards and Artist of the Year in 2020 The Headies Awards
• Best R&B/Pop Album, Best Collabo, Viewer’s Choice Awards, and the Best Music Video in 2018 The Headies Awards
• Top R&B Collaboration, Top R&B Song, and Top Streaming Song in the 2016 Billboard Music Awards
• Hottest Single of the Year and Male Artist of the Year in the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
• Hottest Single of the Year in the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
• Best Pop/R&B Artist of the Year and Best Album of the Year in the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
• Best African Act in the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards
• Best Worldwide Act in the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards
• Best Music Video (“Brown Skin Girl”) in the 2021 Grammy Awards
• Musician of the Year in the 2012 Future Awards
• Best Music Video (“Brown Skin Girl”) in the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards
• Canadian Single of the Year (“One Dance”) in the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Video Awards
• Digital Artist of the Year in the 2017 SoundCity MVP Awards
• Artist of the Year in the 2011 Dynamix All Youth Awards
• Promising Artiste of the Year in the 2010 Dynamix All Youth Awards
• Best Male Artist, Album of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Video, and Song of the Year in the 2021 African Entertainment Awards USA
• Song of the Year, Best West African Artiste, Artiste of the Year in the 2017 AFRIMA awards

Who Is More Successful Between  Wizkid and Davido?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Davidowizkidmedia (@davidowizkidmedia)

In the Nigerian and African music industry, Wizkid and Davido are ranked close to each other in terms of fame, achievements, and likes from fans. In terms of their age, Wizkid is two years older than Davido. Both started singing at a young age, but Wizkid came into the music industry before Davido. They have both contributed immensely to the music industry, and they are famous not only in Nigeria but in Africa and the world at large.

In terms of awards, Wizkid has received more awards than his counterpart Davido. In the 2017 BET award for the Best International Act (African category), both artists were nominated for the award, but Wizkid won the award. However, Davido won several other awards over Wizkid; nevertheless, Wizkid has more Awards. Wizkid has also won the Grammy Award, an edge he has over Davido.

Coming to their fans and how much they are liked, here’s a rundown on their social media followers.

• Wizkid has over 7.2 million Facebook followers, 13.8 million Instagram followers, and 9.1 million followers on Twitter.
• Davido has over 22.6 million Instagram followers, 7.2 million Facebook followers, and 10 million followers on Twitter.

With these statistics, it is clear that Davido has more followers on Instagram and Facebook, thereby making him one of the most followed African artists. While some show their love for the artists by identifying with them on their social media pages, we should know that some others will like to love them anonymously, while others who love them are not on social media.

Both artists are successful in their own rights. Aside from singing, both own record labels and other businesses that add more money to their already fat pockets. They are from different family backgrounds, one rich and the other poor, but they have achieved their present status through their efforts and determination. With this, we can say that Wizkid and Davido are both successful, and it may be difficult to establish who is more successful.

How Much Does Wizkid Charge Per Show?

Wizkid charges between $800K to $1 million per show. This makes him one of the most expensive Nigerian musicians to hire for a public performance. Others that fall in this category include Burna Boy – $1 million, Davido – $500K, Olamide – $500k, Rema – $200k, and Tiwa Savage – $1000K.

Mind you, asides the outright payment of his performance fees, you also have to book flights for Wizkid and his entourage as well as rent hote accommodations for them. You also have to pay daily performance charges running into hundreds of dollars.

Besides His Career, Wizkid Has 3 Children and Is Still Single

Wizkid is indeed the ladies’ man as he has been linked with so many ladies since his music career began. He was first rumored to be involved with Sophie Rammal and then Sola Ogudugu, with whom he has a child. He has also been linked with the following ladies: Tiwa Savage , Tonto Dikeh , Temilaade Opeyemi (Tems), Victoria Kimani, Hudah Monroe, Binta Diamond Diallo, Seyi Shay, Justine Skye, Chidinma Ekile , and Tania Omotayo.

However, the singer has never been engaged and has never been married. He currently has three children, all boys, from three different women. The children are Zion Ayo-Balogun, born in 2017 by Jada Pollock ; Boluwatife Balogun, born in 2011 by Shola Ogudu; and Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun Jnr., born in 2016 by Binta Dallo. He features his sons in his music videos and spends quality time with them.

FAQs about Wizkid 

Who is wizkid.

Wizkid is a popular Nigeria afro-beats musician. He has dropped numerous hit tracks and has won many awards including a Grammy award.

How Tall is Wizkid?

Wizkid is 5 feet 4 inches or 1.63 m tall.The Nigerian musician is shorter than the average height of Nigerian men which is put at 5 feet 7 inches or 170 cm.

What is Wizkid’s Net Worth?

Wizkid’s net worth is $4 million. He acquired this from record sales, streaing revenue, endorsement deals, performance fees etc.

Is Wizkid Married?

Wizkid is not married but he is in a relationship with Jada Pollock, his music manager.

How May Children Does Wizkid Have?

Wizkid has four children, all sons, and they are Boluwatife Balogun (born 2011), Ayodeji (2016), Zion Balogun (2017), and unnamed fourth son (born 2022).

Who are Wizkid’s Baby Mamas?

Wizkid’s baby mama’s are Oluwanisola Ogudu (Boluwatife’s mother), Binta Diallo (Ayodeji’s mother), and Jada Pollock (mom of his 3rd and 4th sons), who is his current partner.

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Wizkid Biography

Birthday: July 16 , 1990 ( Cancer )

Born In: Surulere, Lagos

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Also Known As: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun

Age: 34 Years , 34 Year Old Males

mother: Jane Dolapo

children: Ayodeji Balogun, Boluwatife Balogun, Zion Balogun

Partner: Jada Pollock

Pop Singers Hip Hop Singers

Height: 5'4" (163 cm ), 5'4" Males

Grouping of People: Black Men

City: Lagos, Nigeria

You wanted to know

What is wizkid's most popular song, how did wizkid rise to fame, what genre of music does wizkid primarily focus on, has wizkid collaborated with any international artists, what are some notable achievements of wizkid in the music industry.

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Wizkid became the first African artist to hit a million followers on Twitter in 2014, showcasing his immense popularity globally.

See the events in life of Wizkid in Chronological Order

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Who is Nigerian music star Wizkid – and why is he taking over the world?

Lecturer, University of Nigeria

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Samson Uchenna Eze does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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The global appreciation of West Africa’s Afrobeats music has grown significantly in the last decade. Afrobeats stars are touring the world, racking up record sales, winning awards and collaborating with big-name international artists.

In fact, seven of the nine African artists nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award – one of the world’s most sought after music awards – are West African. Most of these make music driven by Afrobeats sounds.

Afrobeats is a broad, generic term for African contemporary popular music with rhythmic and harmonic influences of West Africa’s highlife and Afrobeat traditions and Euro-American funk and hip-hop.

For the 2022 edition of the Grammy Awards , Nigeria’s Wizkid is nominated twice – for best global music album and best global performance. Wizkid won his first Grammy Award in 2021 for the video of Brown Skin Girl , a track he made with US superstar Beyoncé.

The 31-year-old stands out as a leading Afrobeats artist from Nigeria whose music has already made a huge sway on the charts of many countries. Wizkid boasts over 32 hits, more than 70 music awards, 50 singles and four albums, as well as sold out concert performances across Africa, Europe and America. As a result, he commands a fan base of more than 30 million combined followers on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

His songs straddle the rhythmic texture of Nigerian pop that connects with West African diaspora communities across the globe. And when it comes to his career, he set his eyes firmly on America and strategically propelled himself to global fame.

Wizkid was born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16 July 1990 in Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. He started singing and recording music at the age of 11 in a group called the Glorious Five. He joined Empire Mates Entertainment record label in 2009.

The songwriter, singer and performer worked hard in the early days of his music career in Nigeria’s highly competitive industry. In one of his hit songs, Ojuelegba , he narrates his experience at Mo’Dogg studio in Lagos, where he toiled for a better life. He became famous in Nigeria in 2011 after the release of his debut album titled Superstar . The album opened up many more live performance opportunities.

As a young star who foresaw his music traveling beyond Nigeria, Wizkid seized every opportunity to make connections across the music world. For instance, when US R&B star Chris Brown (also famous for allegations of sexual violence against women) performed in Lagos in 2012, Wizkid was with him on stage and subsequently collaborated with Brown on the song African Bad Gyal .

Unlike some other Nigerian popular musicians, Wizkid understood the power of transnational collaboration and worked hard to align his music within the structure and texture of American hip-hop and R&B. In a 2019 interview , he is quoted as saying he did not make music just to be an African superstar.

In 2016, transnational appreciation of his music grew after his collaboration with Drake , the Canadian singer and rapper. It is a popular opinion among Nigerian music analysts and journalists that Wizkid’s collaboration with Drake marked the genesis of his global appeal.

He has since collaborated with top-notch American stars such as Beyoncé, Akon, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj.

Wizkid’s music career has not been without controversy. Like many of his contemporaries in the industry, he rose to fame amid worries over objectifying images of women in some of his lyrics and music videos. I have argued elsewhere that sexual objectification of women has been a useful strategy for publicity, and serves as a means of enhancing his social status and commercial viability in the Nigerian popular music industry.

Read more: Video vixens and cash: how Nigerian hip hop music objectifies women

Wizkid is particularly accused of emphasising and objectifying female bodies in the songs In My Bed and Expensive Shit . The public outcry against sexist messages in his music culminated in the banning of In My Bed in 2015, by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Despite this, his local and international appeal continued to grow.

Pop’s promised land

Wizkid has won more prestigious local and international music awards than any of his Afrobeats peers. He has more than 100 nominations in different categories of music awards. Some of his big wins include Artist of the Year at the 2021 Apple Music Awards, two BET Awards for Best International Act, three Soul Train Music Awards, an MTV Europe awards for Best African Act, three Billboard Music Awards – and that 2021 Grammy.

For Africa, especially Nigeria, America is the popular culture promised land. To make it in America is to conquer the pop world. And a US Grammy is the most cherished music award. Following the global spread of West African migrants that consume and promote Afrobeats, the music will continue to gain more listeners across the world as more people yearn for new sounds from Africa. Likewise, the demography of its global consumers on Youtube and Spotify grows as top record labels – such as Sony and Universal Music – sign up and promote more Afrobeats artists.

Propelled by the growing spread of Afrobeats, Wizkid has achieved global fame through a strategic set of music goals throughout his career – and has boosted his image by courting controversy and big name collaborators, infusing Western pop with African flavour in the process.

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Who is nigerian music star wizkid – and why is he taking over the world.

The global appreciation of West Africa’s Afrobeats music has grown significantly in the last decade. Afrobeats stars are touring the world, racking up record sales, winning awards and collaborating with big-name international artists.

In fact, seven of the nine African artists  nominated  for a 2022 Grammy Award – one of the world’s most sought-after music awards – are West African. Most of these make music driven by Afrobeats sounds.

Afrobeats is a broad, generic term for African contemporary popular music with rhythmic and harmonic influences of West Africa’s highlife and Afrobeat traditions and Euro-American funk and hip-hop.

For the 2022 edition of the Grammy Awards, Nigeria’s  Wizkid  is nominated twice – for best global music album and best global performance. Wizkid won his first Grammy Award in 2021 for the video of ‘Brown Skin Girl’, a track he made with US superstar Beyoncé.

The 31-year-old stands out as a leading Afrobeats artist from Nigeria whose music has already made a huge sway on the charts of many countries. Wizkid boasts over 32 hits, more than 70 music awards, 50 singles and four albums, as well as sold-out concert performances across Africa, Europe and America. As a result, he commands a fan base of more than 30 million combined followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

His songs straddle the rhythmic texture of Nigerian pop that connects with West African diaspora communities across the globe. And when it comes to his career, he set his eyes firmly on America and strategically propelled himself to global fame.

Wizkid was born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16 July 1990 in Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. He started singing and recording music at the age of 11 in a group called the Glorious Five. He joined Empire Mates Entertainment record label in 2009.

The songwriter, singer and performer worked hard in the early days of his music career in Nigeria’s highly competitive industry. In one of his hit songs, Ojuelegba, he narrates his experience at Mo’Dogg studio in Lagos, where he toiled for a better life. He became famous in Nigeria in 2011 after the release of his debut album titled Superstar. The album opened up many more live performance opportunities.

As a young star who foresaw his music travelling beyond Nigeria, Wizkid seized every opportunity to make connections across the music world. For instance, when US R&B star Chris Brown (also famous for allegations of sexual violence against women) performed in Lagos in 2012, Wizkid was with him on stage and subsequently collaborated with Brown on the song African Bad Gyal.

Unlike some other Nigerian popular musicians, Wizkid understood the power of transnational collaboration and worked hard to align his music within the structure and texture of American hip-hop and R&B. In a 2019 interview, he is quoted as saying he did not make music just to be an African superstar.

In 2016, transnational appreciation of his music grew after his collaboration with Drake, the Canadian singer and rapper. It is a popular opinion among Nigerian music analysts and journalists that Wizkid’s collaboration with Drake marked the genesis of his global appeal.

He has since collaborated with top-notch American stars such as Beyoncé, Akon, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj.

Wizkid’s music career has not been without controversy. Like many of his contemporaries in the industry, he rose to fame amid worries over objectifying images of women in some of his lyrics and music videos. I have argued elsewhere that sexual objectification of women has been a useful strategy for publicity, and serves as a means of enhancing his social status and commercial viability in the Nigerian popular music industry.

Wizkid is particularly accused of emphasising and objectifying female bodies in the songs In My Bed and Expensive Shit. The public outcry against sexist messages in his music culminated in the banning of In My Bed in 2015, by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Despite this, his local and international appeal continued to grow.

Pop’s promised land

Wizkid has won more prestigious local and international music awards than any of his Afrobeats peers. He has more than 100 nominations in different categories of music awards. Some of his big wins include Artist of the Year at the 2021 Apple Music Awards, two BET Awards for Best International Act, three Soul Train Music Awards, an MTV Europe awards for Best African Act, three Billboard Music Awards – and that 2021 Grammy.

For Africa, especially Nigeria, America is the popular culture promised land. To make it in America is to conquer the pop world. And a US Grammy is the most cherished music award. Following the global spread of West African migrants that consume and promote Afrobeats, the music will continue to gain more listeners across the world as more people yearn for new sounds from Africa. Likewise, the demography of its global consumers on Youtube and Spotify grows as top record labels – such as Sony and Universal Music – sign up and promote more Afrobeats artists.

Propelled by the growing spread of Afrobeats, Wizkid has achieved global fame through a strategic set of music goals throughout his career – and has boosted his image by courting controversy and big-name collaborators, infusing Western pop with African flavour in the process.

Samson Uchenna Eze is a lecturer at the University of Nigeria. This article first appeared on  The Conversation . 

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Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, known professionally as Wizkid and sometimes Starboy, is one of this time's most famous Nigerian singers and songwriters. Wikzid has enjoyed an impressive career, getting recognition locally and internationally, from collaborations to chart success awards and endorsements. In 2018, Wizkid walked the runway for luxury Italian designer Dolce and Gabbana with Naomi Campbell.

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The King of Afropop

“Hey, baba, you okay?”

“Ayy, hello. Come say hi. No?”

“He's acting shy,” says Wizkid, turning to me. He's referring to his son Zion Ayo Balogun, the beautiful, cherub-like three-year-old who has just interrupted our conversation to remind his father that he was promised a trip to the zoo today. “He's not shy.”

As for many of us, domestic life for Africa's biggest pop star has gotten tricky. Wizkid is calling from Accra, Ghana, where he has spent the past several months, somewhat unexpectedly, on account of pandemic travel restrictions that have kept him from returning to his native Nigeria. “I was in Ghana for a two-week holiday and now I've been here for six months,” he says in the pidgin cadence of Lagos, the city he calls home. “So I'm just here working, making music, spending time with my family and son. Just taking each day as it comes.”

Unlike most of us, however, Wizkid looks to be living inside an Old Master painting, at least judging by the slice of domestic reality that is visible through our shared Zoom window. Framed by the pristine backdrop of a floor-to-ceiling white curtain, Wiz is draped in a black-and-gold Versace robe, which falls open just enough to reveal the heavy platinum links that adorn his neck and wrist. His “work from home” mode strongly suggests a 21st-century avatar of Mansa Musa, the 14th-century West African ruler whose personal wealth was so great that he disrupted the gold markets of Cairo with the gifts he dispensed along his pilgrimage to Mecca. If not for Wiz's faintly visible tattoos and the spliff tucked behind his left ear, you'd think you were talking to actual royalty.

In a way, it's easy to see why the nickname Little Prince has trailed Wizkid, born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, since he started making music in the mid-2000s. It's a career arc that runs parallel with the emergence of Afrobeats as a distinct genre, or at least as a distinct wave within Afropop. The genre fuses the song structures of R&B with the distinctive melodic energy of West African palm wine music, pushing the hard, offbeat pulse of Jamaican dancehall into a more polyrhythmic clave. The s in Afrobeats nicely captures a plurality inherent to the sound itself, which is less a set formula than a constellation of Afromusics, made in West Africa but for an audience that encompasses the whole Black Atlantic diaspora.

In the 2010s, that Black Atlantic wave became a global phenomenon, and Wizkid was the scene's standard-bearer—a position only solidified when he collaborated with Drake on “One Dance,” which became the most-streamed song in the world. (It was also around this time that Wizkid's fans stopped referring to him as Little Prince, and instead started calling him Starboy.) By the time Beyoncé released her Black Is King visual album for Disney's 2019 remake of The Lion King, there was really only one artist she could have called to provide the proper Afro-diasporic stamp of approval on “Brown Skin Girl,” the track on which her daughter, Blue Ivy, made her musical debut.

In the music video, which won a Grammy, Wiz performs against the tableau of a Black debutante ball, initially frozen in time like a 3D version of a painting by John Singer Sargent. It's a fantasy celebration in which every stream of the Black diaspora seems to be represented, from Kenyan-Mexican Lupita Nyong'o to Guyanese-American rapper Saint Jhn. The interplay of visual and vocal almost seems to be saying: global pop music has always been African—it's only now that it is centered in the continent of Africa, and only now that the world recognizes the source. And no one has done more to crystallize that recognition than Wizkid, the Starboy.

He was raised in Surulere, a sprawling central district of the Lagos mainland. Born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother, Wizkid is the youngest of 11 children and his mother's only boy. His older sisters were both his first audience and his first team, covering for him when he went to the studio instead of school. By age 11, he had formed a band—Glorious Five—with friends from his Pentecostal church, who, like him, were more into rap and R&B than spiritual hymns. Glorious Five pressed up a seven-track EP and sold enough copies to put some money in young Wiz's pocket. His talent was evident enough that, by the age of 15, a Surulere-based producer named OJB Jezreel took him into the studio to observe the sessions he was recording with artists like D'Banj and 2Face Idibia, and advised him to hold off on releasing music until he was ready—to take his time.

Our conversation was originally conceived as a virtual tour of his hometown: He's meant to be guiding me through Ojuelegba, the bustling hood where he first recorded music, and the surrounding area of Surulere, once home to Fela Kuti's legendary Shrine. Instead, due to the vagaries of the pandemic, we are discussing Lagos's global moment while one of its chief architects sits in Accra.

The irony of the situation—talking lovingly about an African city from another African city—seems to glide off Wizkid like water washing over a smooth stone. “Whenever I make music, I'm kind of in my own world,” he says when I point this out. “I can be anywhere. You can put me in India, I'll make exactly what I'm there to make. Nothing would influence my sound. So me being in Ghana is more just where it's comfortable for me, making the most amazing music that I can make.”

His influence on African pop culture is difficult to overstate—as is the impact he's made on a generation of young artists. Prince Gyasi, the celebrated photographer and visual artist behind this very photo shoot, says he first saw Wizkid perform at a 2011 Fabolous show in Ghana. “It was my first ever concert as a kid,” says Gyasi, “and Wiz was one of the supporting artists who came onstage.” Wizkid was just 20 at the time and didn't have an album to promote, but his presence was so enrapturing that a grainy video of the performance ended up going viral. It seemed to announce to aspiring young creatives like Gyasi that, if an African artist like Wiz could make their mark on the world, perhaps they could too.

Accra has long had a twinlike relationship with its bigger, brasher neighbor Lagos. Home to the highlife sound that inspired almost all modern West African music, Ghana was especially attractive to African musicians during the reign of Kwame Nkrumah, who actively promoted and subsidized the incorporation of traditional musical forms into modern pop. As a result of his programs, everyone from Fela to Hugh Masekela did extended stints in Accra during the golden era of the '60s and '70s, and it remains a creatively inspiring—and somewhat calmer—second home to many African musicians. “Wiz has been here so many times, I would even say he's more Ghanaian than most of us,” says Gyasi, laughing. “This is where he takes his vacation, records most of his music. This is where his kid goes to school.”

Almost a decade or so after that concert, Prince Gyasi and Wiz would finally meet in person, crossing paths at the penthouse owned by the woman they both describe as their “big sister,” the supermodel Naomi Campbell. When Wiz and I speak, he and Gyasi have been busy painting Accra various shades of pinkish, given Gyasi's penchant for inserting his subjects into colorful vignettes that split the difference between Op Art and Day-Glo surrealism. He and Wiz were so into working together, in fact, that their photo session stretched out for more than eight hours—with Wiz dancing, smoking, and vibing his way through one alien landscape after another, his default setting one of unhurry.

“I am working on a new album, but I never like to be, like, in a rush,” says Wizkid coolly. “Sometimes it takes me a year, two years, to make an album. I always record in terms of albums, not just songs. I like to make music that way, because it gives you a sense of direction.”

Pressed on what that direction might be, he simply states, “Well, in the next album, I'm just trying to enjoy myself with the music now, because of the reception from the fans for my last album. I just keep evolving with the sound.”

Before Made in Lagos —his latest album and the one pushing him to new heights—was released, Wiz had hinted that the follow-up would be his last “as Wizkid,” though whether this might mean full-on retirement, or simply a change of name, is impossible information to extract from him. In fact, guessing the concept of his next and possibly last album has become the favorite pastime of just about every Afrobeats commentator, with Wiz in the eye of the storm.

“His vibe is always the same, man! This guy is always so calm,” says Prince Gyasi. “He has a vibe of, like, this king type of thing. I don't know if it's a trend with Nigerians, but, you know, when I was shooting him, I actually wanted to do different things: like five guys behind him, wearing Zorro masks and black suits. And he was like, ‘No. Strong kings stand alone.’

“We laughed about it, but he was also very respectful about it, where other artists might be stressed out,” Gyasi adds. “I'm told if he really doesn't like something, he just walks away.”

I met Wiz once before, in 2018, when he made an appearance at the tiny New York street style boutique Reign to launch his Starboy capsule collection. I was there to cover the event for Vogue, and the intimate gathering morphed into an impromptu concert.

And then a mob scene.

At the time, “Ojuelegba” and “One Dance” were already huge hits, but it was the newer singles like “Soco” that sent the crowd—mostly young fans packed claustrophobically around a Starboy-branded glass dome that looked like the top of the Popemobile—into a frenzy. The store was dangerously packed, so Wiz and I had to flee to the backyard to chat. Even in the middle of all the chaos, his demeanor remained gracious and unflustered: his mood never up or down, his eyes hidden behind a pair of opaque sunglasses.

Today, in 2021, he maintains a similar remove, elevating “unbothered” to a level that is less a pose than a philosophical discipline. In Wiz's native Yoruba, the word for coolness, itutu, describes not a modern trend but a classical concept, a value as central to its culture as catharsis or hubris were to classical Greece. Itutu, according to the writings of the blues musician Scott Ainslie, is a rare form of nobility that emerges when an individual possesses both ashe (“a greater vision of the world”) and iwa (“strength of good character”).

Those who possess itutu don't have time to feel bothered by small, everyday indignities, like the rest of us. Instead, they hold to a grand vision for what they want to achieve with their time on earth, and the rest of it just washes over them: water over a stone.

There is one moment during our conversation, however, when Wiz's immutable cool defrosts, at least by a few degrees. The question is about “Essence,” his collaboration with the singer Tems, a rising star of Nigeria's alté scene. When we speak, the song is making its way up the Billboard Hot 100 and is already the most-requested song in New York clubs—which, until recently, were ruled by reggae and hometown rap heroes. The track is so hot that Justin Bieber even jumped on a remix.

The question I pose is: What quality drew Wiz to record with a relative newcomer like Tems? What exactly did he see in her?

“That's a very exciting question,” he says, sitting up suddenly. “You know, I've known Tems…I can't even actually remember how we met, but I know I brought her out for one of my shows in Lagos. We had talked about working and I went back home to record.” He's fully animated now. Present. “When I record at home, it's like I have a crazy situation. I'll be in a room with like 8, 10 producers, everyone's got their rooms and we're just making music. She came through to the hotel and we laid down the idea. It was just effortless. Just lay down the melodies, and she didn't even think anything of it. She felt like we had to do another record, but I already knew we had magic.”

“I love meeting new artists,” says Wiz. “When I'm in a room with a new artist, it feels like, Oh, my God. It feels like I'm right there when the magic is just about to take off and take form. It's so exciting to me. When I get in the room with a new artist, it's like you're learning from me, I'm learning from you. I even get more excited getting in the room with new artists than my peers or my friends that I know. I can't explain it.”

He's loquacious now, having seemingly moved from the mode of itutu to the inspirational mode of ashe: “When I'm in a room with someone like me, there's expectations. People want to hear, ‘Oh, yeah, there's these two names, so we definitely want to hear this type of sound on this. We want to hear big work.’ ”

I assume the “big work” he's talking about is “Ginger,” Wiz's collaboration with fellow African superstar Burna Boy. In a sense Wiz is right. While the song might stand head and shoulders above other recent Afrobeats hits, for both Wiz and Burna it ranks as a lesser work. It's the resulting music video directed by Meji Alabi, however, that makes the super-collaboration extra worthwhile. Contained to a soundstage, Wiz and Burna look regal as a fashion show blooms around them. At one point they amuse themselves by playing the traditional West African game of adi on the hood of a cream-colored Benz from the '80s—only instead of the traditional marbles, they're using sparkling cut diamonds. The image conjures pure royal excess, the spirit of which would make Mansa Musa proud.

Zion is back in frame now, this time to announce the end of his father's available interview time by delivering him a lush bouquet of flowers. Seeing the two of them side by side, as soft, tropical light filters creamily through the window, I'm struck by how much of Wiz's artistic persona until now has been a projection of youth: Starboy, Little Prince, the Wizkid.

It is hard to imagine him without the perpetual excitement, the joy in the playful act of creation that is so evidently at the core of his motivation. One wonders if the foreshadowed change of persona is simply a shedding of that “kid” from Wizkid, the “boy” from Starboy.

Whatever the next iteration of Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun looks like post-Wizkid, his work will surely be received by a global audience, awaiting each new release as he pushes the waves of modern style toward something like a new classicism. He'll continue to explore king-making as a creative act, all while fomenting new artistic friendships. That, to him, is what makes the work fulfilling. “You know, in life we're growing and we're learning,” he says, completing an earlier thought. “Nobody knows it all. By meeting new artists, making new friends…we're just trying to find ourselves.”

And with that, Wizkid accepts his flowers and is off to the zoo.

Edwin STATS Houghton is a writer, editor, and DJ. He has yet to visit Femi Kuti's New Afrika Shrine.

A version of this story originally appeared in the October 2021 issue with the title "​​The King of Afropop."

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PRODUCTION CREDITS: Photographs by Prince Gyasi Styled by Karen Binns Produced by Sharifah Issaka

About Wizkid

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born July 16, 1990) is a Nigerian recording artist and composer from Lagos, Nigeria, better known by his stage name Wizkid. Wizkid’s life centered around music when he was young, as he used to sing at church. At the age of eleven, music became an obsession, while drawing inspiration from artists such as Bob Marley . Through his newfound talent, Naeto C spotted him and helped in developing his skills.

WizKid release his first studio album, Superstar, on June 12, 2011, with the single “Holla at your boy,” propelling him into the spotlight. He sought collaborations with recognized artists such as Ojb Jezreel , Naeto C , and Banky W on the album. WizKid followed up his sophomore album, Ayo, in September 2014. It depicted more of his Nigerian roots, with music critics generally giving the album mediocre reviews.

On April 5, 2016, WizKid was featured on Drake ’s hit single, “One Dance” which took off thanks to its dancehall and afrobeat sound. After the unfavorable reception of his second studio album Ayo, WizKid released Sounds from the Other Side as his third studio album on July 14, 2017, which proved the majority of the critics wrong. The album’s hit single “Come Closer,” boosted the Nigerian star to stardom and garnered him a sizable fan base.

On October 29, 2020, WizKid released his fourth studio album, Made in Lagos . The album’s tracks showcased his versatility while exhibiting his Yoruba nature. Made in Lagos was a great success due to songs like “Essence,” which featured fellow Nigerian singer Tems . The album became the first African album to debut at #1 on the World Album chart.

WizKid celebrated the success of his fourth studio album with a deluxe edition on August 27, 2021, which featured cameos from BNXN fka Buju and Justin Bieber for the remix of the 2019 blockbuster track “Essence.”

More Love, Less Ego

Made In Lagos (Deluxe)

Made in Lagos

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Who is Nigerian music star Wizkid – and why is he taking over the world?

Nigerian artist Wizkid during Katika Festival Festival in Nairobi in 2018.  

By  The Conversation

What you need to know:

• Wizkid was born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16 July 1990 in Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria.
• The songwriter, singer and performer worked hard in the early days of his music career in Nigeria’s highly competitive industry.

The global appreciation of West Africa’s Afrobeats music has grown significantly in the last decade. Afrobeats stars are touring the world, racking up record sales, winning awards and collaborating with big-name international artists.

In fact, seven of the nine African artists nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award – one of the world’s most sought after music awards – are West African. Most of these make music driven by Afrobeats sounds.

Afrobeats is a broad, generic term for African contemporary popular music with rhythmic and harmonic influences of West Africa’s highlife and Afrobeat traditions and Euro-American funk and hip-hop.

Afrobeats is having a global moment

Diamond aikosa tuzo ya MTV EMA 2021, Wizkid atakata

For the 2022 edition of the Grammy Awards, Nigeria’s Wizkid is nominated twice – for best global music album and best global performance. Wizkid won his first Grammy Award in 2021 for the video of Brown Skin Girl, a track he made with US superstar Beyoncé.

The 31-year-old stands out as a leading Afrobeats artist from Nigeria whose music has already made a huge sway on the charts of many countries. Wizkid boasts over 32 hits, more than 70 music awards, 50 singles and four albums, as well as sold out concert performances across Africa, Europe and America. As a result, he commands a fan base of more than 30 million combined followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Rhythmic texture

His songs straddle the rhythmic texture of Nigerian pop that connects with West African diaspora communities across the globe. And when it comes to his career, he set his eyes firmly on America and strategically propelled himself to global fame.

Wizkid was born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16 July 1990 in Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. He started singing and recording music at the age of 11 in a group called the Glorious Five. He joined Empire Mates Entertainment record label in 2009.

The songwriter, singer and performer worked hard in the early days of his music career in Nigeria’s highly competitive industry. In one of his hit songs, Ojuelegba, he narrates his experience at Mo’Dogg studio in Lagos, where he toiled for a better life.

Nigerian singer Wizkid performing during the Barbeque Live Concert  at the KICC Grounds, Nairobi on July 22, 2017. 

He became famous in Nigeria in 2011 after the release of his debut album titled Superstar. The album opened up many more live performance opportunities.

As a young star who foresaw his music traveling beyond Nigeria, Wizkid seized every opportunity to make connections across the music world. For instance, when US R&B star Chris Brown (also famous for allegations of sexual violence against women) performed in Lagos in 2012, Wizkid was with him on stage and subsequently collaborated with Brown on the song African Bad Gyal.

An African superstar

Unlike some other Nigerian popular musicians, Wizkid understood the power of transnational collaboration and worked hard to align his music within the structure and texture of American hip-hop and R&B. In a 2019 interview, he is quoted as saying he did not make music just to be an African superstar.

In 2016, transnational appreciation of his music grew after his collaboration with Drake, the Canadian singer and rapper. It is a popular opinion among Nigerian music analysts and journalists that Wizkid’s collaboration with Drake marked the genesis of his global appeal.

He has since collaborated with top-notch American stars such as Beyoncé, Akon, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj.

Wizkid’s music career has not been without controversy. Like many of his contemporaries in the industry, he rose to fame amid worries over objectifying images of women in some of his lyrics and music videos. I have argued elsewhere that sexual objectification of women has been a useful strategy for publicity, and serves as a means of enhancing his social status and commercial viability in the Nigerian popular music industry.

Nigerian singer Wizkid.

Wizkid is particularly accused of emphasising and objectifying female bodies in the songs In My Bed and Expensive Shit. The public outcry against sexist messages in his music culminated in the banning of In My Bed in 2015, by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Despite this, his local and international appeal continued to grow.

Wizkid has won more prestigious local and international music awards than any of his Afrobeats peers. He has more than 100 nominations in different categories of music awards. Some of his big wins include Artist of the Year at the 2021 Apple Music Awards, two BET Awards for Best International Act, three Soul Train Music Awards, an MTV Europe awards for Best African Act, three Billboard Music Awards – and that 2021 Grammy.

For Africa, especially Nigeria, America is the popular culture promised land. To make it in America is to conquer the pop world. And a US Grammy is the most cherished music award. Following the global spread of West African migrants that consume and promote Afrobeats, the music will continue to gain more listeners across the world as more people yearn for new sounds from Africa. Likewise, the demography of its global consumers on Youtube and Spotify grows as top record labels – such as Sony and Universal Music – sign up and promote more Afrobeats artists.

Propelled by the growing spread of Afrobeats, Wizkid has achieved global fame through a strategic set of music goals throughout his career – and has boosted his image by courting controversy and big name collaborators, infusing Western pop with African flavour in the process.

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Wizkid (Nigerian Singer)

Discography, wizkid biography.

Wizkid a Nigerian Singer and songwriter , born as Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on 16 July 1990, in Surulere, Lagos. He grew up in an interfaith household with twelve female siblings. He is one of the most commercially successful music artistes from Nigeria. He started his music career at a very early age despite opposition from his family.

Who is Wizkid?

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born July 16, 1990) is a Nigerian music superstar who is known professionally as Wizkid or Starboy . He is considered to be one of the top three Afrobeats artists from the African continent due to his influence in growing the music culture over the years up. Formerly known by the stage name, Lil Prince, Wizkid became a national sensation after the release of Holla At Your Boy , the lead single in his chart-topping debut album, Superstar. He is also addressed as Big Wiz or Machala .

He rose to the international limelight in 2016 after he lent his vocals to Drake‘s award-winning song, One Dance , which was a global hit. The singer and songwriter dropped his fourth studio album, Made In Lagos , in October 2020, and since it has been released into the public domain, the project has gone on to win several laurels and set different records. One of the album’s top singles, Essence , became the first Nigerian song to chart on Billboard Hot 100.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun  is a Nigerian music Megastar. He is known professional as Wizkid or Starboy , or Big Wiz . He came to the limelight after signing to Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009 and releasing his hit single, Holla At Your Boy .

The song which won him millions of fans set the pace for Wizkid to drop commercially successful albums in the past twelve years. His latest album, Made In Lagos , has won him international acclaim as it reached number one on the Billboard World Album Chart.

One of the album’s singles, Essence featuring Tems , has become the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, it was announced in February 2021 that Wizkid has attained the honor of being the most-streamed Nigerian artist on Spotify, amassing over 3.4 billion streams from all his works.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun , who became popularized professionally with Wizkid is a 32 years old Nigerian singer, rapper, and songwriter whose present in the Nigerian industry is classified as a blessing.

Wizkid Early Life

Wizkid was born to the family of Mr. Ibrahim Balogun (father) and Mrs. Jane Dolapo Balogun (mother) on the 16th Of July 1990. He was born into an inter-faith household, where his father practiced the Muslim religion while his mother adhered to the Christian faith. His parents christened him Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun .

A native of Ogun State in the South West region of Nigeria, he comes from a large household – as he has twelve siblings, who are all females. He was raised in a polygamous household in the Ojuelegba district of Surulere City in Lagos State. His father is married to three wives.

He spent his formative years in Lagos City, which exposed him to the rich Nigerian music culture and helped foster his passion for the discipline. As a young boy, he attended church regularly with his mother and other siblings and immersed himself in activities relating to the choir unit of his local church.

By the age of eleven, he had co-founded a music group named Glorious Five, and they released an album before disbanding to pursue solo careers. During this period, he went by the stage name, Lil Prinz. His interest in music was fostered by listening to music legends like Fela Anikulapo Kuti , Bob Marley , Lucky Dube , King Sunny Ade .

As he advanced into teenagehood, he began visiting the recording studio of iconic Nigerian producer OJB Jezreel and became acquainted with the older artiste. OJB Jezreel acted as a mentor for Wizkid , advising him to wait till a year before he began recording and that he should use the period to fine-tune his sound. His path also crossed with rapper, Naeto C at the age of fifteen, and the two developed a mentor-mentee relationship. The pivotal moment of Wizkid‘s career occurred when he was discovered by music executive, talent manager, and singer Banky W .

Wizkid was born into a polygamous family on the 16th Of July 1990. He hails from the Yoruba tribe and was named Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun by his parents. His father is a Muslim, while his mom adheres to the Christian faith and attends a Pentecostal church in Nigeria.

He was born and bred in the Ojuelegba district of Surulere. Although born in Lagos State, He is a native of Ogun State. He grew up as the only son among twelve siblings, who are all females. His father, Mr. Balogun, married three wives. Despite being a polygamous family, the Baloguns lived in peace and harmony. And this gave room for Wizkid to pursue his music dreams without having to deal with family issues.

Wizkid‘s foray into music started at the young age of eleven when he formed a music group, Glorious Five , with his friends. These friends were his church members. Together, the group released a collaborative album before disbanding. Wizkid‘s initial stage name was Lil Prinz, and he switched to his present moniker in 2006.

As Wizkid advanced in years, he began meeting some big names in the music industry. He first met an ace music producer, OJB Jezreel , who advised him not to record any music for a year but focus instead on improving his songwriting ability. During this period, he paid a regular visit to OJB Jezreel ‘s studio, which was located in his neighborhood, Ojuelegba . And this gave him the opportunity to watch artists like 2baba and Sound Sultan records songs.

He later came in contact with rapper, Naeto C , who he credits for being one of his mentors in the industry. Success finally fell on Wizkid‘s laps when his path crossed with Banky W , a singer, talent manager, and CEO of E.M.E Records . Banky W was taken to Wizkid immediately and began working with the younger artiste to refine his sound. As a result, Wizkid signed a record deal with E.M.E records in 2009.

Wizkid Education

Wizkid hailed from a financially comfortable family, which afforded him to be educated at top private schools in Surulere for his primary and secondary education.

He gained admission to Lagos State University but dropped out of the school in 2009. He later applied to Lead City University , Ibadan, and was offered admission, and managed to study for two academic sessions before withdrawing from the institution to face music squarely.

The Baloguns spared no expense in giving their son a quality education. Wizkid attended top private schools in Surulere for his primary and secondary school education.

After obtaining his West African School Certificate, he gained admission into Lagos State University . After that, however, he dropped out of the university.

Thereafter, he enrolled at Lead City University , Ibadan, to further his studies. But he left the institution after completing two sessions.

Wizkid Music Career

In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment which was owned and managed by Banky W . He first gave the world a taste of his exceptional songwriting skill when he co-wrote the single, Omoge You Too Much , one of the songs of Banky W‘s album – The W Experience. That same year he began recording his debut album titled Superstar and released the project’s lead single, Holla At Your Boy , on the 2nd Of January 2010. The song was an instant hit, helping to skyrocket his fame in the music space and winning him the coveted Next Rated Artist award at The Headies in 2011.

The album’s second single, Tease Me/Bad Guys, was released into the public domain on the 2nd Of April 2010. While the project’s third single, Don’t Dull, was released as a Christmas jam on the 6th Of December 2010. After two years of recording and compiling the project, Superstar – which is a fusion of Afrobeats, Dancehall, R&B, and Reggae sounds- was finally released on the 12th Of June 2011 at a launch party held at Eko Hotel and Suites. The album racked up numerous nominations, going on to win the Best Album Of The Year at the 2012 Nigerian Entertainment Awards.

After releasing his first flagship project, Wizkid embarked on a tour in London alongside his label mates, Skales , Shaydee , Banky W , and Niyola . He also worked with his label mates to record E.M.E‘s compilation album titled, Empire Mates State Of The Mind, which was released in 2012.

By 2012, Wizkid had begun recording his second studio album, Ayo, which was completed and released in 2014. The album was a commercial success, thanks to the inputs of creative minds like Femi Kuti , Seyi Shay , Phyno , Tyga , Akon , Wale , Sarz , Shizzi , Legendury Beatz , Dokta Frabz , Maleek Berry , and Spellz . Earlier in May 2013, the album’s lead single, Jaiye Jaiye , had been released. The song had Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti as a featured artist.

While in October 2013, he dropped On Top Your Matter , the album’s second single. The production credits for this single go to Del B. After the expiration of his contract with E.M.E, he left the record label to become an independent artist, founding his own record label.

At the start of the new year (January 2015), Wizkid released the song Ojuelegba , which speaks about the early days of his career and the hurdles he faced on the way to the top. After signing a record deal with RCA Records in March 2017, he dropped his highly anticipated third album, Sounds From The Other Side , in July 2017. The album contained notable works like African Bad Gyal featuring American singer, Chris Brown , Expensive Shit , Daddy Yo featuring Efya , Come Closer featuring Drake , and Sweet Love .

In 2016, Wizkid was guest featured on Drake‘s hit single, One Dance . The song helped him gain greater international exposure as it reached the number one position in Billboard Hot 100 chart, staying there for 10 non-consecutive weeks. The song also topped music charts in fifteen different countries. Due to his involvement with One Dance , he became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records.

Also, in 2018, leading international singers, Normani and Calvin Harris reached out to Wizkid to collaborate together. And the trio released the single, Checklist that year, which was a huge success. As the song rose to the number-one spot on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. In 2019, he had the honor of being invited to work on Beyoncé‘s album, The Lion King: The Gift. He was featured on the single, Brown Skin Girl alongside SAINt JHN , Blue Ivy Carter , which went on to win the Grammy Award For Best Music Video in 2021.

In October 2021, he released his fourth studio album, Made In Lagos , which was a commercial success internationally, as the album found its way to the number-one position on Billboard World Album Chart. One of the project’s singles, Essence , featuring fellow Nigerian singer, Tems , became the first Nigerian song to appear on Billboard Hot 100. The song also made it to the top ten spots after the remix with Justin Bieber . In February 2021, he was the most-streamed Nigerian artist of all time on Spotify, garnering over 3.4 billion streams across the songs on his discography.

After he was signed to E.M.E records, Wizkid began working on his debut album, Superstar. The album, which is a mix of Afrobeats, R&B, and Reggae sounds, saw Wizkid work with talented producers such as Masterkraft , Samklef , Shizzi , Jay Sleek , and Q-Beats .

He released the first and lead single of the project in January 2010. The song titled Holla At Your Boy thrust Wizkid into the national limelight and made him the favorite artiste of many young Nigerians. In addition, the song is credited for helping him win the Next Rated Artiste award at The Headies 2011.

Wizkid released the second single of the album, Tease Me/Bad Guys , in April 2020. Like his first work, this song was also a commercial success. And the single was followed by Don’t Dull , which became the club jam and party song during the December Festive season. Superstar was released to critical acclaim on the 12th Of June 2011, and its launch party was held at Eko Hotel and Suites. The album secured a nomination for Album Of The Year at The Headies 2012.

In 2012, Wizkid worked with his label mates, Shaydee , Niyola , Skales , and Banky W , on the collaborative album: Empire Mates State Of The Mind. Upon the album’s release, he and other E.M.E acts toured the United States, performing at over two dozen cities.

After two years of working hard in the studio, he released his sophomore album, Ayo, which also did great numbers commercially. The album’s lead single, Jaiye Jaiye , was released on the 2nd of May, 2013. He featured music icon, Femi Kuti on the song. The second single of the album, On Top Your Matter, was dropped on the 26th Of October 2013. Again, he collaborated with ace producer, Del B on the song.

After the expiration of his five-year contract with E.M.E records , he chose not to renew his contract and left the label. Instead, he decided to set up his own music outfit, which he called Starboy Entertainment. Prior to leaving E.M.E , there had been speculations that Wizkid was having issues with the management due to the terms of agreement of his contract. And this was the reason given for his leaving the E.M.E mansion into his own house in February 2013. On the formation of Starboy Entertainment , he signed recording artists, Legendury Beatz and Maleek Berry to the label.

In January 2015, Wizkid released Ojuelegba , which spoke about his struggles during the early years of his career. After being featured on Drake‘s single, One Dance, he became the first Nigerian artist to be listed on Billboard Twitter’s Last 24 Hours chart. By May, the song had reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart earning Wizkid more accolades. Furthermore, due to his contribution to One Dance, he became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records.

He signed a record deal with the international music label, RCA Records in March 2017. Four months after, he released his third studio album titled Sounds From The Other Side. The album saw Wizkid collaborate with big names like Drake , Chris Brown , Sarz , Spellz , Del B , Major Lazer , Ty Dolla Sign , Efya , and DJ Mustard . Before the album’s release, he had released three hit singles; Daddy Yo, Sweet Love, and Come Closer.

In 2019, he was contacted by American diva, Beyonce and invited to work with her on the album: The Lion King: The Gift. As a result, he lent his vocals to the chart-topping song, Brown Skin Girl. The song helped him win his first Grammy Award for Best Music Video. Also, it earned him nominations at the BET Awards, NACCP Image Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards.

On the 30th Of October 2020, Wizkid released his fourth studio album titled, Made In Lagos. In 2021, Essence, one of the album’s singles, became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The album has also amassed millions of streams, positioning him for many nominations. Due to the success of Essence, Justin Bieber reached out to Wizkid to work on a remix.

The Legendary Nigerian singer, Wizkid was formerly signed by Banky W to Empire Mate Entertainment (EME) in 2009 and rose to fame with “ Holla At Your Boy ,” a single off his Superstar Album. He left the label EME due to contract differences and started his own record label StarBoy .

Wizkid Personal Life

Wizkid is 31 years old at the moment. Despite being a father of three handsome sons – Boluwatife Balogun, Ayodeji Balogun, and Zion Balogun – he is believed to be single. However, rumor has it that the superstar is in a relationship with Jada Pollock , his manager, and the mother of his third son, Zion Balogun . Also, some blogs have fingered him to be dating Tems . Nevertheless, Wizkid dotes on his children, spending his free time with them whenever he isn’t making music in the studio or on tour.

Wizkid is a very successful artiste, both in terms of financial and music assets. He currently shuffles his time between his residences in Lagos and Accra. Asides from owning a fleet of luxurious cars, he also has choice properties across the world, with diverse business investments.

He is also a music executive as he had flagged off his own music imprint, Starboy Entertainment , in 2013, signing artists such as Maleek Berry and Legendury Beatz . Fast-rising singer, Starboy Terri is currently signed to the label.

He is an ambassador of Pepsi , signing his first deal with the multinational in 2012. He has also had brand partnership deals with companies like MTN Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and the United Bank Of Africa (UBA).

He is currently being managed by Mr. Sunday Are. And he is also known by other nicknames like Starboy, Machala, Big Wiz, and Big W.

Wizkid is often considered as one of Africa’s top three artists. The others being Burna Boy and Davido . He also has the most substantial fanbase in Nigeria, who identify themselves as Wizkid FC . Wizkid is also known by the nicknames, Starboy or Big Wiz or Big W.

The Lagos-born singer is 32 years old. Although he is yet to be married, he has three sons from different women. His first child, Boluwatife , was born in 2011. He was just 21 years old at the time. He dotes on his children a lot and spends his free time vacationing with them or taking them out to lovely places.

He is currently rumored to be dating his manager, Jada P , who happens to be the mother of his third son, Zion Balogun. He also has another manager named Sunday Are. In addition, he announced the signing of singer, Terri, in 2018.

The singer, who is known for his iconic fashion style, has choice properties across the world. Presently, he spends his time between his houses in Lagos and Ghana.

Wizkid is a father of three;

• Boluwatife Balogun mothered by Oluwanisola Ogudugu
• Ayodeji Balogun mothered by Binta Diallo
• Zion Balogun mothered by Jada Pollock

All three mentioned above are his baby mamas and ex-girlfriends except Jada Pollock. Wizkid has also dated Tonto Dikeh , Tiwa Savage , and Seyi Shay in the past.

Wizkid Net Worth

As one of Africa’s most significant artists and music executives, Wizkid is a very wealthy man. He earns a lot of royalties from his songs and makes money from organizing shows and performing at shows across the world.

Wizkid‘s net worth is estimated to be having a net worth of US$35,000,000.

Wizkid International Recognition

Wizkid ’s official international recognition came in 2016 when Drake collaborated with him on “One Dance,” a chart-topping single in several countries including the United States, for which he is credited to be the writer. He also went ahead to feature Drake in Come Closer .

Wizkid also got a collaboration on Chris Brown’s 2022 album called “Breezy.” A single on the album titled “Call Me Every Day” featured Wizkid on it.

• Made In Lagos (2020)
• Made In Lagos Deluxe (2021)
• Sounds From The Other Side (2017)
• Superstar (2011)
• Empire Mates State of Mind (with EME) (2012)
• Soundman Vol. 1 (2019)
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Wizkid biography: Age, full names, parents, girlfriend, home state

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun also known as Wizkid is a sensational singer and one of the most established Nigerian artistes who has made a name for himself all over the continent and world. He understands that to make it in the music industry one has to come up with a unique and authentic style he or she can be identified with. His is the kind of music many urban youths can identify with in Africa and as long as he does not change anything his star will continue to shine. But how much do you know about Wizkid biography?

Like many artists all over the world, Wizkid had a passion for singing from a young age, and he was a very active singer in church. Back then, he used to call himself Lil Prinz, but he did not fancy the name for his professional career. From his very first track, it was clear that he was destined for great things, and he has lived up to the expectations.

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He has made club-bangers, international hits, toured the world and even collaborated with the most prominent international artists. Nigeria may be proud to have him as their son, but entire Africa is thankful to him for putting the continent on the world musical map.

Wizkid profile summary

• Name: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
• Stage name: Wizkid
• Date of birth: July 16th, 1990
• Place of birth: Lagos, Nigeria
• Age: 29 years
• Nationality: Nigerian

Wizkid biography

Wizkid was born in 1990 in Surulere Lagos and was enrolled at the Ijebu Ode Grammar School in Ogun State. Upon completing, he proceeded to Lagos State University but dropped out in 2009 before finishing. Later on, he joined Lead City University in Ibadan but dropped out after studying for only two semesters.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun began singing in church at a very young age. It was not until 2001 when he was 11 years old that Wizkid launched his music career. Using the name Lil Prinz, he teamed up with some of his friends from church to form a group called Glorious Five, and they released their first record that year.

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In the year 2006, Wizkid decided to pursue music full-time. He sought collaborations with already established singers such as OJB Jezreel, Naeto C and Banky W. It took him until 2011 to record his first solo album, Superstar. This album was an instant hit across Africa with great reviews from critics.

In 2014, Wizkid, now a recognized star, released his second album, Ayo. In Ayo, he featured several guest appearances such as the famous Femi Kuti. Ojuelegba was the standout track in this album propelling Wizkid to international fame. This song was so big that artistes such as Drake and Skepta remixed it.

Drake later picked Wizkid to be in his 2016 hit single dubbed One Dance. In 2017 Wizkid signed a major deal with RCA and Sony International to manage his music and so his third LP, Sound from the Other Side, was produced. It put him on a path working with great celebrities such as Drake, Saint John and Beyonce, among others.

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Wizkid parents show the diversity in his and many other Nigerian families. According to Wizkid biography, he artiste’s father, Mr Alhaji M. O Balogun, is a practising Muslim while his mother, Mrs Balogun, is a Pentecostal Christian.

Wizkid and his twelve siblings were given the freedom to choose whatever religion they wanted. Being a Muslim, his father has three wives, and that explains the big family.

When it comes to dating, Wizkid is no different from many other African celebrities. It will take ages before Wizkid wife headlines can be made but having girlfriends is another thing altogether. He has had probably more than 11 girlfriends since 2011. That is roughly one per year.

He once dated a girl named Sophie Rammal when he was starting to gain fame. Sophie was featured in Wizkid’s first song, Holla At Your Boy but the relationship was short-lived after that. Next was Sola Ogudugu with whom Wizkid has a child.

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He then moved on to Nollywood star Tonto Dikeh, but the relationship was never publicized. In the next relationship, Wizkid had crossed borders to Kenya dating singer Victoria Kimani. After Victoria, it was another Kenyan, Big Brother Africa contestant Hudda Monroe.

Next was Chidinma Ekile who Wizkid had a crush on for a long time. This too did not last long as the star moved on to Tania Omotayo before ditching her for Seyi Shay followed by Binta Diamond Diallo with whom they have a son.

Wizkid then had a stint with American singer Justine Skye. The last in this long list is fellow Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage who it emerged was dating Wizkid after they released their song Fever in which they are seen caressing each other. Tiwa Savage and Wizkid have been together ever since, and fans pray that they stay that way.

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Wizkid was born in a place known as Surulere in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos is the largest city in Lagos State. Lagos also happens to be the most populous city in the whole of Nigeria.

The city has one of the highest GDP in Africa and is home to one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent.

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Wizkid awards

Wizkid is the recipient of several awards. The long list of awards begins with the following:

• City People Entertainment Awards (2 times)
• BET Awards (2 times)
• Channel O Music Video Awards (2 times)
• Ghana Music Awards (2 times)
• The Headies Awards (6 times)
• MOBO Awards (3 times)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards (6 times)
• Billboard Music Award (3 times)
• MTV Africa Music Awards (4 times)
• Future Award(1 time)
• Soundcity MVP Awards (2 times)
• iHeartRadio Music Awards (2 times)

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He has also been nominated for awards such as:

• American Music Award (3 times)
• Grammy Award
• MTV Europe Music Award (5 times)
• World Music Award (4 times)

Wizkid cars and houses

Those who see pictures of Wizkid house must envy the lavish lifestyle of the musician. Currently, the known houses Wizkid owns are two. One in Lekki rumoured to be worth 68 million Naira and the other in Los Angeles.

When it comes to cars, he has not betrayed his passion. He owns a collection boasting of a Honda Accord I-VTEC, Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes 2012 Compressor, BMW X6, Hyundai Sonata, Bentley and Porsche Panamera.

Body measurements

How tall is Wizkid? The star may not have one of the most athletic of bodies with a medium height of 5 feet and 4 inches tall.

However, with the number of girlfriends he has had one would wonder, do girls really like tall men? If you are a short guy and you are getting your hopes high be sure to have a fat bank account just like Wizkid too.

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He came, he saw, he conquered, and Wizkid biography shows just that. It is no doubt that the lad was born to be a singer. He has single-handedly revolutionized African music and the perception it receives overseas. Wizkid was able to open frontiers for other African musicians in places such as Asia where many had shied off before.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke

Gladys Mokeira Obiero (Lifestyle writer) Gladys is a content creator who has worked with Tuko since 2018, where she won the Best Writer Award in 2022. She previously held other positions, including an editing role at Kami.com.ph, Yen.com.gh, and Legit.ng. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Project Planning and Management. In 2023, Gladys finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: [email protected]

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), known professionally as Wizkid , is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.

Wizkid was born in Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in an interfaith household with twelve sisters; his mother is a Pentecostal Christian, and his father practices Islam. He attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School for his primary education and later Lead City University, though he left to focus on his music career. Wizkid began recording music at 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five (5), a group he and a couple of his church friends formed.

Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W 's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009. He later rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also contained the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull."

His international breakthrough came in 2016 with the release of "One Dance," a collaboration with Drake that topped the Billboard Hot 100 and other global charts. Wizkid’s third album, "Sounds from the Other Side", was released in 2017 and included collaborations with artists like Drake and Major Lazer. In 2019, he gained further recognition with his feature on Beyoncé 's "Brown Skin Girl," earning him a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

In 2017, Billboard reported that Wizkid signed a multi-album worldwide record deal with RCA Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music.

Wizkid's fourth studio album, "Made in Lagos", released in October 2020, was met with commercial success and critical acclaim, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard World Album Chart. The single "Essence," featuring Tems , became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. His fifth album, "More Love, Less Ego", was released in November 2022.

Personal Life

Wizkid has four children from three different women. Wizkid's first child, Boluwatife Balogun , was born in 2011. In 2016, he welcomed his second child, Ayodeji Balogun, followed by a third child, Zion Balogun, born in 2017. His mother passed away in London on August 18, 2023.

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Wizkid Biography, True Life Story, Personal Records, How He Started And How He Rose To Fame

• By Austine Ikeru
• November 8, 2023
• No Comments

Wizkid completed both his primary and secondary school education in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. While still in school, he started pursuing his music career at the age of 11 years old with the stage name of Lil Prinz and released his first studio album in 2001 but it was not successful.

In 2009, Wizkid decided to further his studies. He got admitted into Lagos State University (LASU), but he couldn’t concentrate in his studies and later drop out from school to focus on his craft. His parents later admitted him into a private university known as Lead City University in Lagos, but he dropped out after completing two sessions and then decided to focus full time on his music career.

Wizkid grew up in an average rich family and an interfaith household with twelve female siblings and being the only male child and last baby in the family. His mother is a Pentecostal Christian and his father practice Islamic religion. His parents wanted the best for him and planned to sponsor him to any level of his career in education, but his view was different from that of his parents. He wanted to become a famous musician after admiring the likes of Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Bob Marley, but his parents never supported his music ambition.

According to him, 2Face Idibia and Sound Sultan where his source of inspiration. Wizkid later cited Naeto C as one of the people who mentored and coached him when he was just 15 years old. He started working with Naeto C, OJB Jezreel, Ikechukwu, and M.I as a Backup singer while developing his craft back then as a teenager. In 2009, Wizkid met with Banky W and signed a record endorsement contract deal with Banky W, the chairman of Empire Mates Entertainment [EME] and started recording his debut studio album “Superstar” in 2009.

In 2010, Wizkid rose to prominence and became a famous celebrity with the release of hit single “Holla at Your Boy.” In 2011, the song “Holla at Your Boy” won him the award for Next Rated at the 2011 Headies Awards and was also nominated for Best Pop Single at the Headies Awards.

On 14 th February 2011, Wizkid released his first debut studio album Superstar. On 12 th June 2011, Wizkid hosted his album launch party at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victory Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The album’s launch party featured performances from Banky W, Skales, 2Face Idibia, Samklef, Wande Coal, D’Prince, Olamide, Ice Prince, Seyi Shay and Lynxx.

In 2011, the music video of his hit single “Holla at Your Boy” was nominated for Most Gifted Newcomer Video of the Year at the 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards. It was also nominated for Best Afro Pop Video at the 2011 Nigeria Music Video Awards.

In 2012, his first debut studio album “Superstar” won him the Best Album of the Year at the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and was also nominated for the Album of the Year at the 2012 Headies Awards. In 2012, Wizkid signed a one year international endorsement deal with Pepsi reportedly worth $350,000.

On 5 th March, 2013 Wizkid left EME records label and established his own records label named “Star Boy Entertainment”. On 28 th May 2013 Wizkid signed a one year endorsement deal with MTN Nigeria worth millions of naira. In 2014, Wizkid released his second studio album “Ayo” and it features guest appearances from Femi Kuti, Banky W, Seyi Shay, Phyno, Tyga, Akon and Wale. On 23 rd October 2013 Wizkid signed a multimillion endorsement deal with Guinness. Wizkid is currently one of the richest and most influential artiste in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $25.5 million.

In 2016, Wizkid had a controversial misunderstanding with Nigerian top female blogger Linda Ikeji over publication of malicious content. Especially for publishing that Wizkid was ejected out from the house he was living in by his landlord, which Wizkid believes to be malicious. The case was later settled in Lagos police station and handled by the Lagos state commissioner of police.

On 18 th June 2015 Wizkid signed an endorsement deal with Globacom Nigeria worth # 128 million. Wizkid has won many awards such as Headies awards, MTV awards, Nigeria Entertainment awards and City People Entertainment awards.

Wizkid’s contribution to the Nigerian Music Industry has won him several awards and lifetime achievements which include two BET Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, Two iHeartRadio Music Awards, one MTV Europe Music Award, four MTV Africa Music Awards, two SoundCity MVP Awards, three MOBO Awards, six Headies Awards, two Channel O Music Video Awards, six Nigeria Entertainment Awards, two Ghana Music Awards, two Dynamix All Youth Awards, two City People Entertainment Awards and one Future Award.

Wizkid is currently single but has been faced with lots of controversial issues with women who claimed he is fathering their babies. However, Wizkid during an interview has admitted that he has a son with his babymama who look exactly like him. The child has been on the spotlight alongside with Wizkid ever since. It may interest you to know that Wizkid treasures his son so much.

In addition to the awards which he won, Wizkid has also been nominated five times at the MTV Europe Music Awards, three times at the American Music Awards, four times at the World Music Awards, and once at the Grammy Awards. Wizkid also contributed to the songwriting of Drake popular hit single “One Dance”. Wizkid is currently the brand ambassador of United Bank of Africa (UBA).

In 2017, Wizkid created history by becoming the first Nigerian celebrity to win the prestigious awards of Best International Act at the MOBO Awards in New York City in the United States of America, beating the likes of Jay Z, Drake, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Akon, Nicki Minaj and a host of other world class celebrities. Wizkid has been described as one of the richest and most influential musician not only in Nigeria but in the continent of Africa.

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Who Is WizKid… | Biography, Albums, Awards, Hit Songs

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun known professionally as Wizkid, Big Wiz, Machala , etc is a Nigerian singer and songwriter born on 16th of July, 1990 in Surulere, Lagos Nigeria to a polygamous family. He comes from a multi-devotional family and got exposed to both the Christian and Islamic religion while growing up as a young boy. His mother is a Christian while his father is a practicing Muslim. Wizkid attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School and Lead City University, although he later dropped out of the latter.

Wizkid currently lives in the United Kingdom with his manager and baby mama, Jada Pollock. He has 3 children from 3 different women. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed.

Later on, Wizkid moved on to become a studio rat at OJB Jezreel`s Point Beat studio in Surulere, studying the game for five good years and watching Afrobeats legends such as 2Baba, Sound Sultan, Konga etc, do their thing.

“ I hung around the studio for a year and never recorded one song, watching stars record and just learning and waiting for my time. I was about 11, 12 when I met him (OJB Jezreel) and was frequent there until 16 .” – WIZKID

In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W’s E.M.E. and he was brought out alongside Skales at the 2009 Hip Hop World Awards, with Banky W proclaiming the two young artists as the future.

He later rose to the limelight after releasing Holla At Your Boy , the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar which dropped in 2011. The album also included the singles Tease Me and Don`t Dull, and went on to become one of the most successful debut albums in the history of the Nigerian music space.

With the Superstar album , Wizkid solidified his artistry in 2011, and carted home most of the awards at the year`s Headies including the coveted Next Rated Awards & Album of the year award. Holla at your boy also went on to clinch the single of the year category in style.

In September 2014, he released the self-titled second studio album, AYO . The album was supported by six singles, including the monster hit single; Jaiye Jaiye . Wizkid left E.M.E after the expiration of his contract in 2015. Wizkid departed E.M.E following the release of his second studio album and the expiration of his five-year contract. In a video interview with Capital Xtra in October 2019, Wizkid said he left E.M.E without any money.

In 2014, Wizkid became the first Nigerian musician to have over one million followers on Twitter. Later that year, Wizkid visited The Beat 99.9FM studio in Lagos and told OAP Toolz on the Midday show that he had a song in the works with singer Rihanna.

On 5 January 2015, Wizkid released the music video for Ojuelegba , a song that highlights the struggles he endured in the early years of his recording career. The song’s official remix features vocals from Drake & Skepta and it premiered on OVO SOUND Radio in July 2015. The remix of Ojuelegba went on to become one of the biggest songs in the world in 2015. It was named by Fader Magazine as the 5th biggest song in the world in 2015.

Wizkid first announced that he was working on a new album during a visit to London in October 2014. He revealed African Bad Gyal , a single with Chris Brown and said it would be the lead single from his third studio album, but it was met with criticism. In April 2015, Wizkid and Chris Brown performed African Bad Gyal at Brown’s concert in Durban, South Africa.

In April 2016, Wizkid became Nigeria’s first artist to be listed on Billboard`s Twitter Last 24 Hours chart, tasting a glimpse of global success and acclaim following his guest feature on Drake’s Afrobeats-infused One Dance single, which charted at number 21, the song reached number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a position it kept for 10 non-consecutive weeks.

One Dance went on to become an international smash hit, topping the charts in 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France and Germany. The single became Wizkid’s first number-one single as a featured artist in these territories, and made him become the first Afrobeats artist to be featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.

In March 2017, Wizkid signed a multi-album deal with RCA and released his third studio album Sounds From The Other Side (SFTOS) later that year. The album was supported by five singles, including lead single Come Closer featuring Drake. SFTOS debuted at number 107 on the US Billboard 200. It also debuted at number 58 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The album’s release was preceded by three singles: Daddy Yo featuring Efya , Sweet Love , and Come Closer featuring Drake .

In 2019, Wizkid was featured on Beyonce`s single Brown Skin Girl which reached number-one on the World Digital Song Sales chart, earning him two (2) Soul Train Music Awards, a NAACP Image Awards, a BET Awards, and his first Grammy Award, for Best Music Video .

On 6 December 2019, Wizkid’s label Starboy Entertainment released the EP Soundman VOL 1 , featuring Wizkid, Chronixx, Legendury Beatz and other artists.

In October 2020, Big Wiz released his fourth album, Made In Lagos which received global commercial success and acclaim, reaching number-one on the Billboard World Album Chart. Made In Lagos is currently the longest charting Afrobeats album on the billboard charts, having dominated the global album charts for over 52 Weeks and counting.

The album includes the single Essence , featuring Tems which became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten following a Remix that featured Justin Bieber .

Wizkid is currently one of the biggest music exports out of Africa and definitely the biggest Afrobeats artist in the world at the moment. In 2021, Wizkid sold out the O2 on 3 consecutive days, breaking a world record that had previously been set by only 8 artists.

A member of the WIZKID FC, Wizkid`s cult-like fan group @BigMallyy, claims the singer is the first African artiste to break the record. He wrote on Twitter, “ @wizkidayo becomes the first African Artist to Sell Out The O2 Arena in 2 Minutes ”, breaking his first record as the first to sell out the Arena in 12 Minutes.

Written by AfrobeatsMerije. Bisi-Taiwo Chukwumerije is a blood-bound Nigerian writer & Music Executive. Tweet your favourite, random, mind-boggling songs, EPs, LPs, Albums, & music projects to him; @AfrobeatsMerije.

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Wizkid’s profile summary

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How old is Wizkid today?

Wizkid is 32 years old as of 2022. He was born on 16 July 1990. His zodiac sign is Cancer. Where is wizkid from? The Nigerian singer was born in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. WizKid's real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun.

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His parents are Alhaji Muniru Olatunji Balogun and Jane Dolapo Balogun. He grew up in an interreligious home with a Pentecostal Christian mother and an Islamic father. His father, Alhaji, has three wives.

Wizkid has 12 sisters, only two of whom are his biological siblings; the rest are step-siblings born to his father’s other two wives. His two biological sisters are Yetunde Awoniyi, his elder sister, and Lade Balogun, his younger sister. He is the family's last child and the only son.

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He joined Ijebu Ode Grammar School before enrolling at Lagos State University, where he dropped out. Afterwards, he enlisted at Lead City University but dropped out after two educational sessions to undertake his musical profession.

Wizkid is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is one of Nigeria's most successful musicians. He began his musical career when he was 11 years. His first album, Lil Prinz , was released in 2001 in collaboration with the Glorious Five, a group made up of him and his church friends.

He attained success in the music industry in 2009 when he collaborated with M.I Abaga, who had already established himself in the industry. They created the award-winning song Fast Money. This song catapulted Wizkid to prominence and left people hoping for more.

Wizkid's first hit single, Holla at Your Boy , was released in 2010 after he had made a name for himself in the music industry. The song earned him numerous awards and nominations. Some of his songs and albums include:

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The artist has released four albums, which have done so well. They are:

Countless people have commended Wizkid's songs for capturing African enthusiasm. His musical talent has earned him various accolades. He has been recognized by:

• 3Music Awards
• Afro X Digital Awards
• African Entertainment Awards USA
• African Muzik Magazine Awards
• African Pride Awards
• American Music Awards
• Apple Music Awards
• Billboard Music Awards

What is Wizkid's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth , the Nigerian singer has a net worth of $4 million. He earns his income through his music career. He also earns through endorsements. Some of the brands he has partnered with include Nike, Pepsi, and Dolce & Gabbana.

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9 Things You Need To Know About WizKid

From guest features with drake and bieber to winning a grammy with beyonce, wizkid is the original starboy. , by ben boddez, photo illustration by erik grice.

• Published on August 26, 2021

As multilingual music from every continent around the world continues to work its way into North American culture, Nigerian dancehall and Afrobeat singer WizKid is one of the many hailing from Africa who have already made a big impact on the charts. The young star is riding a new wave that includes artists like Burna Boy , DaVido , and Mr Eazi . 

With the deluxe version of his record-breaking latest album, Made In Lagos , and a new remix of his hit single, “Essence,” featuring Justin Bieber , WizKid is poised to become the continent’s leading voice in sharing the exciting new Afrobeats style with the world.

Here are nine things you need to know about the rising star that is WizKid.

1 | The Glorious Five

WizKid, born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, got his start as a successful musician from an early age. Formerly known as Lil Prinz, WizKid formed a group called The Glorious Five at the age of only 11 with four friends he met while attending church. The group’s first album sold 10,000 copies in his native country of Nigeria, its success a sign of things to come for the young superstar. 

2 | One Dance

Ever the trendsetter, hip-hop icon Drake was the first to introduce WizKid to Western audiences when he reached out to him for a feature on his hit single “One Dance.” Arguably one of the most influential songs of the past decade, the track opened the floodgates for dancehall and Afrobeats to start working their way into mainstream pop music, the genre’s trademark rhythm patterns becoming inescapable. The song landed WizKid in the Guinness Book of World Records, formerly holding the title of Spotify’s most-streamed song. 

3 | Africa Is Charting

When WizKid’s fourth studio album, Made In Lagos , originally dropped in October 2020, it quickly broke several streaming records among African artists, becoming the first African album to debut on Spotify’s Global Album’s Chart. The album racked up 100 million streams in only nine days and picked up numerous accolades, landing on many year-end best-of lists including NME , The Guardian , GQ , Clash and a number one spot from British Vogue . 

4 | The Next Despacito

Made In Lagos ’ fourth single, “Essence,” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 17, 2021. Although quite a few albums in the Afrobeats genre have made appearances on the famous magazine’s albums chart as interest in the style grows, the track’s appearance made WizKid the first to bring an authentically Afrobeats song to the singles chart in the United States. When Bugatti Biebs jumped on board for a remix, the song shot into the top 20. Perhaps WizKid is looking for a repeat of that “Despacito” magic. 

5 | Original Starboy

Long before The Weeknd hijacked the name for an entire album cycle, WizKid’s fans have affectionately referred to him as the Starboy – so much so that it became the name of the label he runs, Starboy Entertainment. The label features some of Afrobeats’ most promising talents, including acts like Mr Eazi, Maleek Berry and production duo Legendury Beatz, who have all associated with some of the biggest stars on the other side of the Atlantic already. 

6 | Just Do It 

When WizKid teamed up with fashion supergiant Nike for an exclusive jersey emblazoned with his Starboy logo and the colours of the Nigerian flag, he simultaneously dipped his toes into the world of philanthropy by announcing his intent to use all of the proceeds from sales of the jersey to help with building schools in Africa. While focusing primarily on his home country of Nigeria, WizKid says he hopes to build a school in all of the continent’s 54 nations. 

7 | Style & Substance

WizKid’s work with Nike is far from his first foray into fashion. He names Pharrell Williams as his style icon and plans to put out a full clothing line in the future. WizKid describes his personal style as a mixture between modern streetwear and traditional Nigerian clothing, and has previously walked the runway as a model for Dolce and Gabbana. 

8 | Beyonce

WizKid picked up his first ever Grammy Award earlier this year, for his contributions to the Beyonce track “Brown Skin Girl” from her music film Black Is King that accompanied the live-action Lion King movie. The song won the award for Best Music Video. With countryman Burna Boy picking up an award on the same night, the two became the first Nigerians to ever win one of the coveted golden gramophones as a solo act. 

9 | International WizKid Day

WizKid has an official holiday in one of the last places you’d expect – the frigid state of Minnesota. With a government proclamation stamped with the state’s official seal, former governor Mark Dayton declared October 6th “WizKid Day” in his home state. On the release, Dayton dubbed him “one of the biggest cultural influencers of our time” and proved his worth to his state’s residents by pointing to him being the first African to sell out Minneapolis’ Skyway Theatre.

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Wizkid Biography: Age, Wife, Children & Family

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun known professionally as Wizkid is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.

Biography of Wizkid

As a child, Wizkid was influenced by legendary musicians such as Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and King Sunny Ade.

This inspired him to form a music band with his friends which they named the “ Glorious Five “.

Wizkid attained his primary education at a community school in Surulere, Ikeja.

He attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School where he had his secondary education and got his West African Senior Secondary Certificate (WASSCE).

He then proceeded to the Lagos State University for his higher education degree.

However, in his second year, he transferred to Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

While at Lead City University , his passion for music became stronger and he dropped out to pursue his musical career full-time.

In 2009, when his music began to blow up, he was asked if he regretted dropping out of school and he said,

‘ I don’t regret stopping school for a bit because it did give me all the time to push and work on my music. I’m definitely going back to school. Education is very necessary and I hold it in high esteem.

Sacrificing his education for his music might have been the life-changing decision that propelled him not only to become one of the best musicians in Nigeria but also one of the biggest Afrobeats artists in the world.

Family Background

Wizkid grew up in a large interfaith polygamous family with 12 sisters and was the only son.

His father, Alhaji Muniru Balogun , is a devout and highly respected Muslim cleric and a titleholder from Ogun state.

Wizkid’s father married a total of three wives and we cannot say for sure if wizkid’s mother, was the first, second, or third wife.

Wizkid’s mother Juliana Morayo Balogun, was a Christian and ardent supporter of Wizkid’s career.

She was a familiar sight at his concerts and events, especially while he was still up and coming.

Sadly, Morayo Balogun died on the 18th of August 2023 in London at the age of 66 and was survived by her 4 children, Yetunde, Omolara, Olubusayo, and Ayodeji ( Wizkid ).

She was buried on the 13th of October 2023 in her hometown.

Wizkid’s father Alhaji Muniru had a total of 13 children from his three wives.

Among them, Wizkid’s mother, Juliana Balogun , gave birth to three children, including the singer. 

His other two siblings from his mother are girls, named Lade Balogun and Yetunde Balogun .

Yetunde Balogun is currently married and residing in the US, whereas Lade Balogun is Wizkid’s younger sister, and there is not much information available about her online.

Wizkid has ten more sisters who are from his stepmothers, but there isn’t much information about them available online.

Despite the polygamous nature of his family, Wizkid and his large number of siblings were raised in a loving and peaceful home.

The close relationship between the singer and his sisters is a testament to this.

Out of Wizkid’s 12 siblings, only two of his sisters, Yetunde Awoniyi and Lade Balogun (younger sister), are from his mother.

Music Career

Wizkid started his music career when he was just 11 years old.

At that young age, he recorded his first collaborative album ‘ Lil Prinz ‘ with the ‘ Glorious Five ‘, a musical group consisting of his church friends in 2001.

In 2006, he decided to pursue music full-time and take his music career more seriously.

His big break came when he caught the attention of Nigerian music mogul Banky W , who was impressed by his talent. 

Banky W signed Wizkid to his Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) record label in 2009, marking a pivotal moment in his career that provided the platform to showcase his unique sound and talent.

By 2011, Wizkid was ready to record his debut studio album as a solo artist.

His first studio album ‘ Superstar ‘, was released via Empire Mates Entertainment and was widely acclaimed across the continent.

The album featured hit tracks like “Holla at Your Boy,” “Tease Me-Bad Guys,” and “Don’t Dull.” 

After releasing his first flagship project, Starboy embarked on a tour in London alongside his label mates Skales, Shaydee, Banky W, and Niyola. 

He also worked with his label mates to record E.M.E‘s compilation album titled, “Empire Mates State Of The Mind”, which was released in 2012.

Wizkid’s fame continued to soar, and he quickly became a sought-after artist for collaborations.

His collaboration with senior colleague, Banky W on “The W Experience” album further increased his popularity in the Nigerian music industry.

However, it was his collaboration with UK artist Tinie Tempah on the 2010 track “Mamacita” that set him on the stage for international success.

In 2013, Wizkid created his record label Starboy Entertainment, after multiple delays and label disagreements with him leaving EME Records .

Under two record labels, Star Boy Entertainment and EME Records, he released his second studio album ‘ Ayo ‘ in 2014.

Ayo, which means Joy in the Yoruba language, was coined from his first name, Ayodeji .

The album featured many mega-hits and appearances from other talented musicians like Femi Kuti.

One of Wizkid’s greatest songs ‘ Ojuelegba ‘ was also featured on the album.

The song speaks about the early days of his career and the hurdles he faced on the way to the top.

This effect of this song was life-changing for the singer as it opened the doors to international collaborations for him.

In 2016, Wizkid collaborated with Drake on one of the biggest chart-topping singles “One Dance”.

This song marked a historic moment for Afrobeats, and Wizkid became the first Nigerian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song also topped the music charts in fifteen different countries.

Due to his involvement with ‘ One Dance ‘, he became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records.

In July 2017 he dropped his third studio album, ‘ Sounds From The Other Side ‘, under RCA Records.

The album contained notable songs like African Bad Gyal, Expensive Shit, Daddy Yo, Come Closer, and Sweet Love.

In 2019, he had the honor of being invited to work on Beyoncé‘s album, The Lion King: The Gift.

He was featured on the single, Brown Skin Girl alongside SAINt JHN, Blue Ivy Carter, which went on to win the Grammy Award For Best Music Video in 2021.

In October 2021, he released his fourth studio album, ‘ Made In Lagos ‘, which was a commercial success internationally, as the album found its way to the number-one position on the Billboard World Album Chart.

It was also listed as the number 1 album on Native Mag and was featured on Vogue’s 20 Best Albums of 2020.

One of the project’s singles, ‘Essence’, featuring fellow Nigerian singer, Tems, became the first Nigerian song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 .

In February 2021, he was the most-streamed Nigerian artist of all time on Spotify , garnering over 3.4 billion streams across the songs on his discography.

Discography

Below is a list of all Wizkid’s albums to date:

• Superstar (2011)
• Sounds From The Other Side (2017)
• Soundman Vol 1 (2019) – EP
• Made In Lagos (2020)
• More Love, Less Ego (2022)

International Recognition 

Drake made Wizkid famous internationally after they both featured in the songs “One Dance”, “Come Closer” and “Ojuelegba” (remix).

On April 5th, 2016, Wizkid achieved a major milestone by becoming the first Nigerian musician to feature on the Billboard charts, courtesy of his feature in Drake’s single “One Dance”, which peaked at number 21.

“One Dance” went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart on May 12th, 2016, for a total of 10 non-consecutive weeks.

The song was a massive success internationally, reaching number one in 15 different countries, including Canada, France, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

For Big Wiz, it was his first number-one single as a featured artist in all of these countries.

Record Label

Wizkid is currently signed to both Starboy Entertainment Records and Sony’s RCA Records .

After leaving his previous label, EME , Wizkid created Starboy Records in 2013.

In March 2017 Wizkid signed a record deal with RCA Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music .

In 2014, he signed three new artists to the label: ‘Maleek Berry’, ‘Legendary Beats’, and ‘LAX’.

The StarBoy label expanded to StarBoy Worldwide in 2016 with the signing of Ghana’s ‘Efya’, ‘Mr. Eazi’, and ‘R2Bees’.

In 2021, Lagos-born singer ‘Terri’ joined the label.

Wizkid’s musical journey in Nigeria started in 2009 when he signed his first major music deal with EME Records.

Under the label, he released two albums, ‘Starboy’ and ‘Ayo’.

The label was owned by ‘Banky W’, ‘Segun Demuren’, and ‘ Osagie Osarenz ‘, who was Wizkid’s ex-manager and introduced him to Banky W.

The record deal wasn’t completely favorable to him, but he did not have any other choice at that time.

Later on, Wizkid left the label and also sacked his manager , Osagie Osarenz.

He is currently managed by his baby mama, Jada Pollock .

Personal Life

Just like other famous personalities in Nigeria’s Afrobeat scene, Big Wiz enjoys a luxurious lifestyle.

He owns beautiful mansions, accessories, and cars. 

However, despite all of this, the Afrobeat Singer keeps a low-key lifestyle.

He has become a present father to his kids, and this just shows how much the singer values his family over fame.

The singer has spoken about how he enjoys living a regular life and doesn’t feel the need to share his personal life with the public.

Achievements/Awards

Wizkid has won a total of 85 awards so far.

Below is a list of all awards won by Wizkid:

• BET Awards (3)
• Soul Train Awards (2)
• Billboard Awards (3)
• iHeartRadio Music Awards (2)
• MOBO Awards (4)
• Headies (17)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards (6)
• MTV Europe Music Awards (2)
• All Africa Music Awards (7)
• African Muzik Magazine Awards (2)
• NAACP Image Awards (4)
• Teen Choice Awards (1)
• Soundcity MVP Awards (4)
• 3Music Awards (1)

Read our article on Wizkid’s net worth for extensive details about the singer’s fortune and sources of income.

As of 2024, Wizkid is 34 years old

It was revealed in a recent GQ interview that Wizkid might have tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend and baby mama, Jada Pollock .

During the interview, the interviewer mentioned “Wizkid’s wife and son” being present during a photo shoot, to which the singer did not provide any correction.

Fans have been speculating about the rumor of their secret marriage, and this interview might be proof of it. 

Jada Pollock is a well-known music executive, talent manager, and entrepreneur who has worked with top artists like Drake, Chris Brown, Pia Mia, and Akon. 

She met Wizkid in 2012 while working as a brand manager for Chris Brown, and in 2015, she started working as his manager.

The couple welcomed their first child, Zion Ayo-Balogun, in 2017, and they recently had their second child together.

Their relationship hasn’t been without its ups and downs, in 2019, Jada Pollock accused Wizkid of domestic abuse and fled the relationship.

The couple would however resolve their feud privately a few months later and since then have been living in harmony.

Wizkid has 4 children from 3 baby mamas.

His first son Boluwatife Balogun was born by Oluwanishola Ogudugu his first babymama.

Boluwatife was born in 2011 when Wizkid was only 21 years old and Shola was 19.

The two fought over child support and had a DNA test to prove that Wizkid was the father.

His second son Ayodeji Balogun was born to him in 2016, by American-based Guinean model, Binta Diallo.

She also had to do a DNA test for her son to prove that Wizkid was his father.

On October 28th, 2017, Wizkid welcomed his 3rd son Zion Balogun with Jada Pollock.

This time there was no argument regarding the paternity of the son.

Just recently, Wizkid welcomed his 4th son and second child with Jada P .

Although the name of his son wasn’t shared, the singer shares pictures and videos of him every once in a while.

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