Wizkid, who is undeniably one of Nigeria’s biggest and most decorated artistes of all time, turns 36 today. What better way is there to celebrate the Biggest Bird than to take a look back at 36 different ways he has shown us over the years that he’s the one true Starboy?
- When he dropped the Superstar album (2011)
After building momentum with a brilliant run of singles, including Holla At Your Boy and Tease Me/Bad Guys, Wizkid released his debut album. The title was essentially a prophecy, as “superstar” immediately became the most apt word to describe him once this album hit the shelves. To date, Superstar is considered one of the best Nigerian debut albums of all time.
- That time he won the Headies Next Rated Award (2011)
He beat out a field of promising acts to be crowned Next Rated at the same Headies where Superstar was already turning heads, basically making his future stardom official before he’d even had time to enjoy the present.
- When he became Nigeria’s first musician to hit 1M Twitter followers (2014)
He crossed the mark years before most Nigerian celebrities were even taking the platform seriously, proof that Wiz was already living several eras ahead of everyone else.
- “Ojuelegba” turned his own struggle into a global anthem (2015)
Named after the rough Lagos neighbourhood he came up around, the song became so beloved that both Drake and Skepta hopped on their own remixes of it, introducing his origin story to a whole new audience.
- Grammy win for “Brown Skin Girl” (2021)
His feature on Beyoncé’s Lion King: The Gift cut won Best Music Video, handing him his first Grammy and a permanent spot in one of the most star-studded videos of the decade, alongside Blue Ivy Carter and Saint Jhn.
- When he collaborated with Drake on One Dance (2016)
The song spent ten weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most streamed songs ever released, instantly making Wizkid a name outside Nigeria for the first time.
- When Vogue called him the best-dressed Nigerian popstar
Long before the rest of the fashion world had caught up to Afrobeats, Vogue had already singled Wizkid out for his effortless, unbothered style.
- Became the first Nigerian to be listed on Billboard’s Twitter Chart (2016)
Riding the wave of One Dance, he landed on Billboard’s Twitter Real-Time chart, a fitting milestone for a man who’d already made history on the app two years earlier.
- Sold out the Royal Albert Hall (29 September 2017)
He became the first Afrobeats artist to headline a sold-out show at the storied London venue, with tickets gone two days early. Mid set, he told the crowd, “you know what Wizkid’s problem is? Too many hits,” before launching into another one.
- Six MOBO Awards
No African artist has been honoured by the MOBOs more times than Wizkid, a run that spans nearly his entire career.
- Got into the Guinness Book of World Records (2016)
One Dance became the first Afrobeats track to reach one billion streams on Spotify, earning Wizkid the distinction of being the first Afrobeats artist ever recognised by Guinness World Records.
- Got himself an actual pet goat (February 2018)
In the middle of the internet’s running joke about him being “the GOAT,” Wizkid decided to lean all the way in and buy himself a literal baby goat, dressed it up with neck chains, and allegedly signed it to Starboy. Wonder what became of it.
- Signed to RCA Records (March 2017)
The multi-album deal opened the door to the version of Wizkid that would go on to conquer arenas and stadiums well outside Nigeria.
- Walked the runway at Milan Fashion Week for Dolce & Gabbana (16 June 2018)
He closed out the show right before his friend Naomi Campbell, decked in a gold and crystal encrusted jacket, becoming the first African artist to walk a Dolce & Gabbana show.
- Most awarded artist in Headies history
Across two decades, nobody has taken home more trophies at Nigeria’s biggest music awards show (17 in total) than Wizkid.
- Made in Lagos dropped in the middle of a global pandemic and still became a classic (October 2020)
Releasing an album while the world was in lockdown is a gamble. Making that album the one people still call his best years later is a different level entirely.
- The “Everywhere Stew” tweet became internet folklore
Not every entry on this list has to be an award. Sometimes it’s just a tweet so gloriously random that it lives on as a meme long after the moment itself.
- Four BET Awards, more than any other African artist
He’s picked up the trophies, including Best International Act and a BET Her win for “Brown Skin Girl,” even while being openly critical of the show and its treatment of African artists.
- “Essence” cracked the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 (2021)
With Tems and later a Justin Bieber-assisted remix, the song climbed to number nine, the highest a song led by an Afrobeats artist had ever charted on the Hot 100 at the time.
- Sold out The O2 Arena for three straight nights (2021)
He became the first African artist to do it, packing one of London’s biggest venues on his name alone, three times over.
- Three Soul Train Music Awards and three Billboard Music Awards
Two more American institutions where Wizkid stands among the most decorated African artists to ever grace the stage.
- Headlined Rolling Loud Germany
Wiz was the first African artist to headline Rolling Loud in 2023, when the Germany edition debuted. Proof his pull extends well past Afrobeats specific festival bills and into hip hop’s biggest stages.
- Started his own record label, Starboy Entertainment
Giving himself, and a new generation of artists coming up under him, a home built entirely on his own terms.
- Brought Chris Brown out for his first UK show in 12 years
During one of those O2 Arena nights, Wizkid pulled off a genuine surprise, getting Chris Brown to perform in the UK for the first time in over a decade.
- Four American Music Award wins, the most by an African artist
Another American stage, another record that still belongs to him.
- Sold out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in front of 45,000 fans (29 July 2023)
Kicking off the More Love, Less Ego tour dressed in a bright red suit, he became the first African artist to sell out the 62,000 capacity stadium, joining Beyoncé as one of the only acts to headline it that year.
- First Nigerian artist to earn an RIAA Diamond certification
One Dance crossed ten million certified units in the US, making it the first Nigerian credited song to ever reach Diamond status.
- Sold out the Hollywood Bowl
Another legendary stage, another packed house, this time on the other side of the Atlantic.
- Six career Grammy nominations, the latest for “Gimme Dat” with Ayra Starr (2026)
From Brown Skin Girl to Essence to his most recent feature nod, Wizkid keeps finding his way back onto the Recording Academy’s ballot.
- Sold out Madison Square Garden
Few artists from anywhere in the world ever headline the Garden. Wizkid did it as an Afrobeats artist, on his own terms.
- The most RIAA certified Nigerian artist of all time
Between Essence, Come Closer, Soco, One Dance and more, nobody from Nigeria has stacked up more American certifications than him.
- Delivered an intimate Apple Music Live session at London’s Roundhouse
A stripped back set that reminded everyone just how amazing of a showman he is and how deep his catalogue of hits actually runs.
- That Made in Lagos cover
The album cover became iconic in its own right. It felt so undeniably Wiz, and is a huge part of why the album still feels like a full era and not just a collection of songs.
- Sounds From The Other Side gave us “Come Closer” (2017)
His third album, released off the back of the RCA deal, delivered another Drake collaboration and further proof that One Dance was no fluke.
- Morayo, named for his late mother, posted a massive Spotify streaming debut (2024)
A tender tribute that still performed like a proper Starboy release, topping day one numbers most artists only dream of.
- Five kids, in this economy!
Say what you want, but a proud father of five (five stomachs, five school fees, five wardrobes…) is a flex only superstars can pull off in these dark times.
Happy birthday, Starboy. Here’s to 36 more.
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