Starboy. Wizzy. Baba Nla. Whatever name you choose to call Wizkid, he earned it, and he has earned to be anybody’s artiste of 2016.
2016 belongs to Wizkid, without a doubt. When he was insistent of leaving EME three years ago and chasing his own dreams, he knew what was possible for him to achieve by himself and boy did he achieve them!
Month after month, he showed why he is the artiste of a generation, delivering hits that went farther than his predecessors had, not to talk of his contemporaries. International collaborations for him became – like Falz will say – soft work.
READ: Wizkid makes grand return to Lagos, wins Artiste of the Year at Headies Awards 2016
He appeared on unforgettable songs this year, songs that will become iconic in years to come. He did songs with Chris Brown, Trey Songz, French Montana, Justine Skye, DJ Maphorisa and several others.
Does any one need to be reminded of ‘One Dance’? It helped push Drake to newer markets courtesy of the uniqueness Wizzy brought to the pop sound Champagne Papi was experimenting.
Add to that the SONY Music deal and it becomes apparent that nobody has done more in the year under review. Only Davido comes close. Yes, he signed with Sony but did he tour with Chris Brown? Does he have a Grammy nomination?
READ: Wizkid gets 1st ever Grammy nomination for featuring on Drake’s ‘Views’
Every once in a while, certain artistes break the mould and become beacons of a cultural revolution. At a time it was Michael Jackson in the West and Majek Fashek crossing borders from here. Right now, Drake is the biggest artiste in the world and Wizkid is the biggest in Africa.
As it was at MTV MAMAs in October, Wizkid was crowned as the Artiste of the Year. It’s no mistake that again at the 2016 Headies Awards, he’s winning the same title.
Wizkid has long since ceased being only a Nigerian artiste – his artistry has placed him among the all-time greats and 2016 has shown everybody what the boy is about.
The last minute cancellation of his engagements this Christmas season would dent a lesser artiste. But as he said, even whizkids are not wizards.
READ: Wizkid cancels homecoming concert over health issues
His explanation of needing rest didn’t cost him any fans or made him lose any goodwill. As he made his way into the Headies award ceremony at 1:05 a.m., a spontaneous applause went round the hall, interrupting AY who was presenting the award for the Next Rated category.
In 2016, nobody has been more deserving of the accolade Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun has received. He’s the undisputed heavyweight (never mind his shanko body) champion of Nigerian and African music, and very worthy artiste of the year.