Wizkid was Local Artist Before I Brushed Up His Career – Akon Reveals
Senegalese-American music star Akon has claimed credit for playing a foundational role in the global rise of Nigerian Afrobeats, stating that he was instrumental in elevating superstar Wizkid from a local act to an international name.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Bagfuel Brigade podcast, Akon reflected on his early involvement in Nigeria’s music scene, particularly around 2008. According to him, it was during this period that he began signing and mentoring Nigerian artists under his label, a move he believes helped open global markets to the then-nascent Afrobeats genre.
“Wizkid was just a local Nigerian star before we touched him,” Akon said. “When we signed him, it gave him access to a bigger market.”
He also mentioned signing the pop duo P-Square, whom he described as the first Nigerian group to achieve international recognition under his guidance.
While acknowledging the collective effort of many artists and producers in growing Afrobeats, Akon emphasized the role he believes he played in introducing structure and global business practices to the industry. “There was no business, no infrastructure—none of it attached to [Afrobeats] back then. I brought the business side of music to it,” he added.
Akon’s remarks have sparked a mix of support and debate online, with some praising his early investment in African music and others arguing that Nigerian artists were already on their way to global success.
Wizkid, who rose to prominence with hits like Holla at Your Boy and later solidified his global status through collaborations with Drake and Beyoncé, has yet to publicly respond to Akon’s claims.
