Wizkid
A Nigerian superstar who fused Afrobeats with global pop sensibilities, becoming Africa's definitive musical export of his generation.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Nigerian singer·Birthday: July 16·Millennials
Biography
Wizkid didn't just enter the music scene; he emerged from it fully formed. Recording in a Lagos studio from the age of 11, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun was a product of the city's vibrant soundscape. His 2011 debut, 'Superstar,' announced a new, sleek direction for Nigerian pop, moving with a confident swagger that resonated across the continent. But Wizkid's vision was always global. The seismic collaboration 'One Dance' with Drake in 2016 wasn't just a hit; it was a cultural bridge, placing Afrobeats squarely on the world's main stage. He built his own Starboy Entertainment label, nurturing new talent, and his 2020 album 'Made in Lagos' became a masterpiece of atmospheric, mature Afropop, celebrated for its smooth fusion of genres and collaborations with artists from Beyoncé to Skepta. More than a hitmaker, Wizkid became a symbol of African modernity—cool, connected, and uncompromisingly rooted.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Wizkid was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Wizkid Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Wizkid's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His collaboration on Drake's 'One Dance' helped propel the song to number one in over 15 countries, including the US and UK.
- Released the critically and commercially massive album 'Made in Lagos', which broke international streaming records for an African artist.
- Won a Grammy Award for his contribution to Beyoncé's 'The Lion King: The Gift' album on the track 'Brown Skin Girl'.
- Became the first African artist to sell out the 02 Arena in London three times in a row.
Did You Know?
He started his first musical group, the Glorious Five, with friends from his church.
He has a large tattoo of the Nigerian flag on his arm.
He was reportedly signed to his first major record label, E.M.E., after handing a CD of his music to label head Banky W at a car wash.
“I'm just an African kid. I didn't think I could do this.”
