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Wizkid at Iyanya’s album launch concert, 2013-by TCD PHOTOGRAPHY-

Top 10 Fun Facts about Wizkid

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, also known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and composer. He was born on July 16, 1990.

The Glorious Five, a group he and a few of his church buddies founded, published a joint CD with him when he was 11 years old. He started recording music at that age.

In 2009, Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment and Wizkid agreed to a record deal (E.M.E). 

Following his collaboration with Drake on the hit song One Dance, which topped the charts in 14 more nations in addition to the US Billboard Hot 100, Wizkid gained popularity on a global scale in 2016.

He appeared on the Normani and Calvin Harris song Checklist, which peaked at number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart in 2018.

Wizkid, who has received over 3.4 billion plays across all of his credits on Spotify, was the most streamed Nigerian musician of all time by February 2021.

Here are 10 fun facts about Wizkid.

1. Wizkid is one of the first African pop stars to perform/sell out Royal Albert Hall in London

Royal Albert Hall – Gallery Central View-by Colin-

The renowned Royal Albert Hall in London hosted a sold-out performance by Wizkid.

The afrobeat icon performed as the night’s headlining act in front of a packed house that included Skepta and Tinie Tempah, two other Nigerian musicians.

Congratulations were due for Wiz after his highly anticipated performance when it was revealed that the 27-year-old singer had become one of the first African artists to sell out the illustrious hall his tickets.

Which he had sold out two days prior to the performance. Celebrities and fans alike congratulated the rising sensation on social media.

Even the Royal Albert Hall tweeted the historic information. Even similarities between Wizkid and the late Fela Kuti started to surface.

2. He is the Nigerian artist with the most nominations for awards in that country

This is a list of Wizkid’s nominations and awards for music. In recognition of his contributions to the global music scene, the singer received a Grammy Award for Brown Skin Girl, which was featured on Beyonce’s soundtrack for The Lion King.

At the BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, Billboard Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and MOBO Awards, he has received the most accolades from the African music industry.

Additionally, he was given an ASCAP award for Drake’s One Dance. Wizkid is the most honored musician in The Headies award history thanks to his contributions to the Nigerian music scene.

3. He is the first African to receive seven nominations from Billboard

The 2017 Billboard Music Trophies were planned to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, United States, where Nigerian popstar Wizkid was nominated for seven awards.

He received all the nods because of his successful 2016 One Dance collaboration with Drake and Kyla.

He received nominations in, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Selling Song, Top Radio Song, Top Streaming Song, Top Collaboration, Top R&B Song, and Top R&B Collaboration.

4. He is the first musician from Nigeria to receive three Billboard awards

Three honors were given to the well-known singer at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards for his participation in Drake’s smash track, One Dance.

The first musician from Nigeria to appear on the Billboard charts is Wizkid.

5. He is also the first afro-pop artiste to appear in the Guinness Book of World Records

Guinness world records-by Unknown author-

After his single One Dance received over a billion streams, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known by his stage name Wizkid, became the first Afro-pop musician to be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

This achievement indicates that the music has received the most Spotify plays. Wizkid has collaborated with a number of American Hip Hop starts including Chris Brown and Future.

6. He is the youngest African artiste to get a Grammy nomination

WizKid – Smile (album cover)-by â„— 2020 Starboy Entertainment Ltd-

WizKid received his first Grammy Award for his work on Beyonce’s song Brown Skin Girl from her music video for the live-action Lion King film, Black Is King.

The best music video award went to the tune. This made him the first Nigerian to ever win a Grammy for a solo performance.

When Drake’s Views was nominated for Album Of The Year, the vocalist of joro became the youngest African musician to receive a nomination. 

7. He is so renowned that Minnesota’s governor, Mark Brandt Dayton, honored him by designating a US national holiday in his honor

Mark Dayton, a former governor of Minnesota, designated October 6th to be “WizKid Day” in his state.

On the release, Dayton referred to him as “one of the biggest cultural influencers of our time”.

He also used the fact that he was the first African to sell out Minneapolis’ Skyway Theatre to demonstrate his value to the people of his state.

8. He owns a Record Label

Starboy Entertainment was founded by Wizkid in March 2013. Maleek Berry and Legendury Beatz were the first artists Wizkid signed to the label.

 He signed L.A.X to Starboy as its first recording act in August 2013. Tunez was hired as the in-house disc jockey in February 2016 and Efya, R2Bees, and Mr. Eazi were signed to the label in May.

The label also has contracts with Terri, Efya, Legendury Beatz, and R2Bees. Starboy Entertainment has received four Beatz Awards nominations and one nomination from City People Entertainment Awards for the best record label.

9. Itunes World Chart Record

The fact that Wizkid is the only singer from Nigeria to achieve the top spot on the iTunes World Chart and hold it for longer than a week thanks to one dance gives him even more reason to gloat.

10. Wizkid is the first Nigerian to Win an ASCAP award

ASCAP logo-by ASCAP-

The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) has given Wizkid its worldwide prize, making him the first Nigerian (if not African) to do so.

Wizkid received the honor for his contribution to the composition of Drake’s #1 smash song One Dance, which was written by him.

Additionally, Wizkid is the first star from Nigeria to ever have three million Twitter followers. His song Soco became the first Afrobeats track he had in Canada to receive a Gold certification.