Wizkid

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), widely known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is a prominent figure in the modern Afrobeats movement, blending Afrobeats, Afropop, R&B, Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop music. Early Life and Education Wizkid was born and raised in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in an interfaith household; his mother was a Pentecostal Christian, and his father practices Islam. He began singing in a church choir at the age of 11. Wizkid attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School. For his tertiary education, he initially attended Lagos State University (LASU) and later transferred to Lead City University, but he dropped out in his second year to focus on his burgeoning music career. Career Progression and Notable Works Wizkid began his professional music career in 2001 and achieved early recognition after signing a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009. He co-wrote "Omoge You Too Much" on Banky W.'s The W Experience album and worked with various Nigerian artists while developing his craft. He released his debut studio album, *Superstar*, in 2011, followed by *Ayo* in 2014. In 2017, he released his third album, *Sounds from the Other Side*. His fourth album, *Made in Lagos* (2020), achieved widespread global success. Major Achievements and Current Status Wizkid's career has been marked by significant milestones, including pioneering the global spread of Afrobeats. He is reportedly the first African artist to surpass 10 billion streams across all credits on Spotify, achieving every billion-stream milestone from 1 billion to 10 billion first among African artists. His notable works include his collaboration on Drake's global hit "One Dance." His sixth album, *Morayo*, released on 22 November 2024 and dedicated to his late mother, broke the record for the biggest streaming debut for an African album on Spotify. He is active in the music industry, with an upcoming joint EP with Asake, *REAL, Vol. 1*, slated for release in January 2026.