WIZKID MARKS 15 YEARS IN MUSIC AS HE CLOSES AFRO PLUS FEST IN MARYLAND
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Grammy Award-winning Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, marked 15 years in the music industry with a headline performance at the 2026 Afro Plus Fest in Maryland, United States.
The 35-year-old singer headlined the final night of the three-day festival, held from September 4 to 6 at the Northwest Stadium Complex in Landover, Maryland.
Wizkid’s appearance came 15 years after he shot to prominence with his breakout single, “Holla at Your Boy,” from his 2011 debut album, Superstar.
Taking the stage on Sunday, the singer delivered a selection of songs spanning different stages of his career, with the crowd singing along to tracks including “In My Bed,” “Daddy Yo,” “Bad to Me,” “Slow Down,” “Caro,” “Essence,” “Alaye,” “Jogodo,” “Money Constant,” and “Ojuelegba.”
The performance further highlighted Wizkid’s enduring influence on Afrobeats and his contribution to the genre’s global expansion.
Since his breakthrough, Wizkid has established himself as one of Africa’s most decorated music stars. He became the first Nigerian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 as a featured artist and co-writer on Drake’s “One Dance.”
His discography includes critically and commercially successful albums such as Ayo, Made in Lagos, More Love, Less Ego and Morayo.
Wizkid has also won a Grammy Award for his contribution to Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl,” while his Tems-assisted single “Essence” became a major global crossover hit.
His appearance as the festival’s closing act underscored his status as one of the leading figures in Afrobeats and highlighted the growing international reach of African music.
The 2026 Afro Plus Fest featured a major line-up of Afrobeats, dancehall and hip-hop acts. Nigerian superstar Davido headlined the opening night, Jamaican dancehall star Alkaline took the Saturday slot, while Wizkid brought the festival to a close on Sunday.
Other performers included Lil Baby, Latto, Tems, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Olamide and Adekunle Gold.
Billed as the largest Afro-Caribbean-Hip Hop festival, the 2026 edition expanded to a three-day format featuring two stages and was projected to attract about 40,000 fans daily.
Reflecting on the festival’s growth, Founder and Executive Producer, Michael Awosanya, had earlier described the event as more than a music festival, noting its emergence as a global diaspora movement.
“The block party we dreamed about for a decade became a reality, and it exceeded every expectation. This sold-out debut proved that Afro Plus Fest is not just an event — it’s a movement. This was only the beginning. Afro Plus Fest is here to stay,” Awosanya stated.
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