Fifteen years after “Holla at Your Boy” introduced him to the world, Wizkid is still showing why his name remains one of the biggest in African music.
Nigerian music superstar Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, brought the 2026 edition of Afro Plus Fest to a memorable close on Sunday, September 6, as he headlined the festival’s final night in Maryland, United States.
The 35-year-old singer took the stage at the Northwest Stadium Complex in Landover, Maryland, as the closing act of the three-day festival, which ran from September 4 to 6.
For Wizkid, however, the performance was more than just another international show. It came as he marked 15 years since his major breakthrough in the Nigerian music industry.
Back in 2011, a young Wizkid captured the attention of Nigerian music lovers with “Holla at Your Boy,” the lead single from his debut album, Superstar. Fifteen years later, that same boy has grown into one of the most recognisable African music stars in the world.
And judging by the Maryland performance, the old records still have plenty of life in them.
Wizkid treated fans to a trip through different stages of his career, performing songs such as “In My Bed,” “Daddy Yo,” “Caro,” “Slow Down,” “Bad to Me,” “Essence,” “Alaye,” “Jogodo,” “Money Constant” and “Ojuelegba.”
The crowd reportedly sang along to the familiar records, creating one of the major highlights of the festival’s closing night.
From “Holla at Your Boy” to the global stage
Wizkid’s 15-year journey has been anything but ordinary.
From his early days under Banky W’s EME label to becoming a globally recognised Afrobeats figure, the singer has continued to expand his reach and influence.
His discography now includes projects such as Ayo, Made in Lagos, More Love, Less Ego and Morayo, with songs from different periods of his career continuing to connect with listeners.
His international breakthrough became even more obvious with Drake’s “One Dance,” where Wizkid was featured and credited as a co-writer. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the biggest global records associated with an African artist.
Then came “Essence” with Tems, a song that pushed Afrobeats even further into the global mainstream.
Wizkid also won a Grammy for his contribution to Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl,” adding another major achievement to an already impressive career.
Afro Plus Fest brings major stars together
Wizkid wasn’t the only heavyweight to grace the festival.
The 2026 Afro Plus Fest featured a star-studded lineup that included Nigerian superstar Davido, Jamaican dancehall artiste Alkaline, Tems, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Adekunle Gold, Lil Baby and Latto, among others.
Davido reportedly headlined the opening night on Friday, while Alkaline took over Saturday before Wizkid closed the festival on Sunday.
The festival, which describes itself as the largest Afro-Caribbean-Hip Hop festival, expanded into a three-day event this year, featuring two stages and a projected attendance of about 40,000 fans daily.
For founder and executive producer Michael Awosanya, the growth of the festival represents something bigger than just entertainment.
He previously described Afro Plus Fest as a growing global diaspora movement following its successful debut.
And with some of the biggest names in Afrobeats, dancehall and hip-hop sharing the same festival platform, that ambition is certainly beginning to look real.
15 years and still counting
Wizkid’s Afro Plus Fest appearance offered another reminder of just how long his journey has been.
The boy who once sang “Holla at Your Boy” is now closing major international festivals in front of tens of thousands of people.
Whether you rate Wizkid as the greatest Nigerian artist or not, his impact on Afrobeats and the global perception of Nigerian music is difficult to ignore.
Fifteen years in, Starboy is still on the big stage — and the story is clearly not finished yet.
Leave a Reply