Nigerian superstar Wizkid has claimed his place in history, asserting that he was the first young artist from the country to achieve international fame and recognition, sparking debate and reflection on the impact he has had on Nigerian music and culture.
Afrobeats singer, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, AKA Wizkid, has declared himself the first young Nigerian artist to hit stardom.
He acknowledged his parents for giving him the freedom to chase his dreams.
He, however, stated that even his parents were initially pessimistic about his chances of making it in the music industry.
“I was the first young artist to ever blow up on the [Nigerian music] scene. So my parents didn’t even believe that there was a chance in that,” he said per Uplift X.
“Every parents, of course, when they see their kid growing up and you’re making a big career decision that they’re not sure about, especially coming from Africa; living in a home where your mom is a Christian and your dad is a Muslim, and they never had an argument about the religion or what the kids wanted to do… My dad would be like, do whatever you want. If you want to be a Muslim or Christian, you’re free, do whatever you like.
“I love my parents so much. That’s something that has helped me become who I am today. All I understood was love was the only thing that kept them together for so long.”
Wizkid had announced that he would release a new album in memory of his late mother who passed away on August 18, 2023, in London.
The album is titled ‘Morayo’, his mother’s middle name.
