Although Wizkid has proven to the world countless times that he is the biggest artiste in Africa, there are still some people out there who still rate him low. To those who are still in doubt maybe this listicle might be able to change your mind.
Top 20 Records and Achievements of Nigeria’s Wizkid
In no particular order, here are the Top 10 Records Nigeria’s Wizkid Has Broken since he came into limelight in 2009..
1. Wizkid is the first African pop star to perform/sell out Royal Albert Hall in London
https://twitter.com/wizkidayo/status/914074044835692545
Wizkid is the first African to not only perform but also sell out London’s most iconic venue, Royal Albert Hall as Headliner, joining musicians like Beatles, Adele, Elton.
Star boy ⭐️⭐️❤️ pic.twitter.com/wCrItveMRO
— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) September 30, 2017
He sold out the venue in less than 72 hours and gave a very thrilling performance.
2. His Song “Come Over” Broke a Record too
24 hours after its release, Wizkid’s “Come Closer” Ft. Drake got up to a Million views on YouTube, This makes Wizkid the first African artiste whose video hit the million mark within the first 24 hours of its release.
Currently the video has over 80 million views and is the 8th most viewed Nigerian music video on youtube.
3. Wizkid is The first Nigerian to Win An ASCAP award
Wizkid is also the first Nigerian (if not African), to bag an international award from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
The award was given to Wizkid in recognition of his role in the writing of Drake’s chart-topping hit single “One Dance”.
4. Wizkid is the first Afro-pop artiste to appear in the Guinness World Records
Yes, Wizkid is really the first Afro-pop artiste to appear in the Guinness Book of World Records. This is as a result of his contribution to Drake’s smash hit, ‘One Dance’, which topped several charts worldwide.
Although the song is technically Drake‘s single, Wizkid has songwriting credits for the One Dance which has the Guinness World Record as the most played song on Spotify with over 1 billion streams.
5. Wizkid is also the first New Generation Nigerian artiste to make it to the top of Billboard Charts
One Dance also made history on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it reigns for a record 18th week. Making Wizkid the first Nigerian Artiste to make it to the top of the coveted Billboard Charts.
The single also went on to become an international smash hit, topping the charts in 15 different countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France and Germany. The single thereby became Wizkid’s first number-one single as a featured artist in these territories.
6. First African to Secure 7 Billboard Nominations
The Ojuelegba crooner Wizkid became the first African artiste to secure up to 7 billboard nominations. This happened at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards which aired on May 21.
He grabbed nominations for Top Hot 100 Song, Top Selling Song, Top Radio Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Collaboration, Top R&B Song,and Top R&B Collaboration.
7. Wizkid is The Youngest African Artist to Receive a Grammy Nomination
Wizkid aka Wizzy Wizzle as he is fondly called by Nigeria’s legendary DJ “Jimmy Jatt”, is also the youngest African Artiste to get nominated for a Grammy award Courtesy of the 2016 Drake album, Views which he co-produced. He was just 26 years old when he got nominated.
8. He Is The Artiste With The Most Award Nominations in Nigeria
As of 2021, Wizkid has received a total of 85 awards from 223 nominations. More than D-banj who has received only 29 awards out of 87 Nominations. Also more than Davido who has received 29 awards from 74 nominations.
9. Itunes World Chart Record
Wizkid also has the additional bragging rights of been the only Nigerian musician who not only made the number one spot on the iTunes World Chart but maintained that top spot for more than one week courtesy of “one dance”
“One Dance has now spent one whole week at #1 on iTunes worldwide,” he wrote, adding, “madness.”
10. He’s the Most Followed Nigerian Celebrity on Twitter
Wizkid is also the first Nigerian celebrity Ever to record three million followers on Twitter. (Davido surpassed this feat)
11. His Single ‘Fever’ also Broke a Record
Wizkid’s Fever video is his second video to break the Nigerian YouTube record as the most watched video in less than 24 hours. The video for Fever has garnered over one million YouTube views in less than 21 hours.
The video features Nigerian superstar, Tiwa Savage who plays his love interest. Their chemistry has the internet talking.
12. He Has Modeled for Dolce & Gabana
Wizkid is the first Nigerian – if not African – Musician ever to model for fashion giant Dolce & Gabana.
In the video above he can be seen walking down the runway majestically like someone who has been a model all his life.
13. Wizkid has his own official Jersey
His collaboration with Nike for a new collection of Starboy jerseys made Wizkid the first African artist to have his own official jersey, and if that doesn’t blow you away, we’re not sure what your measure of cool is!
14. Wizkid is the first African musician to sell out tickets to a concert in 2 minutes
Nigerian superstar, Wizkid is the first African musician and only the third musician to ever to sell out the O2 Arena in London.
This is the second date released for Wizkid’s UK concert after the first date sold out in 12 minutes.
15. Spotify Global Album Record
Wizkid’s fourth album ‘Made in Lagos’ is also the first African album to debut on the Spotify Global Album chart at top ten position barely a week after its release. The album surpassed 100 million streams across five platforms nine days after release, a rare milestone for Afro-pop artists.
16. Billboard Album Chart Record
Ten months after the release of ‘Made in Lagos’, the album peaked at number one on the Billboard world albums chart, becoming only the second African album—after Burna Boy’s “Twice as Tall”—to do so.
17. Most Shazamed Song in the US
On August 31, 2021, Wizkid’s groundbreaking single, ‘Essence’ featuring Tems became the most searched song on music search platform, Shazam.
A Twitter account, operated by Shazam even congratulated him on Twitter, “Big congrats to @wizkidayo!! #Essence is now the most Shazamed song in the United States.”
18. Wizkid’s Made in Lagos US iTunes Record
Wizkid is the first Nigerian artiste with an album peaking at number 3 in the US iTunes history.
