Grammy Award-winning Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayodeji Balogun, known as Wizkid, wrapped up the 2026 Afro Plus Fest in Maryland, USA, on Sunday. This marked 15 years since he broke into the music scene.
The 35-year-old singer was the main act on the last night of the festival, which took place from September 4 to 6 at the Northwest Stadium Complex in Landover, Maryland.
Wizkid’s performance was special as he celebrated a decade and a half in music. He first gained fame with the hit song "Holla at Your Boy" from his debut album, Superstar, released in 2011.
He shared the stage with a mix of Afrobeats, dancehall, and hip-hop artists. Wizkid performed several of his iconic tracks that had fans singing along.
The setlist included songs like "In My Bed," "Daddy Yo," "Bad to Me," "Slow Down," "Caro," "Essence," "Alaye," "Jogodo," "Money Constant," and "Ojuelegba."
Since entering the industry, Wizkid has built a highly successful career in African music. He made history as the first Nigerian artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, co-writing and featuring on Drake’s hit "One Dance."
His albums include Ayo, Made in Lagos, More Love, Less Ego, and Morayo. Wizkid won a Grammy Award for his work on Beyoncé’s "Brown Skin Girl" and is the most-streamed African artist on Spotify. His song "Essence," featuring Tems, achieved massive international success.
Wizkid’s role as the final headliner highlighted his impact on Afrobeats and the growth of Afro Plus Fest as a significant gathering for the diaspora.
Festival announcements featured Nigerian star Davido as the headliner for Friday, Jamaican dancehall artist Alkaline on Saturday, and Wizkid closing on Sunday. Other performers included Lil Baby, Latto, Tems, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, and Adekunle Gold.
Described as the largest Afro-Caribbean-Hip Hop festival, the 2026 edition was expanded to three days across two stages, with an estimated 40,000 fans attending each day.
Michael Awosanya, the Founder and Executive Producer, shared his thoughts on the festival’s success. He said in a previous statement that the event has become a global 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.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇