Wizkid Closes Afro Plus Fest in US as Afrobeats Star Marks 15 Years in Music

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, brought the 2026 edition of Afro Plus Fest to a close with a headline performance in Maryland, United States, as he marked 15 years in the music industry.

The 35-year-old singer headlined the final night of the three-day festival, held from September 4 to 6 at the Northwest Stadium Complex in Landover, Maryland.

Wizkid’s appearance carried added significance as it coincided with the 15th anniversary of his breakthrough in Nigerian music. He rose to prominence with “Holla at Your Boy,” the lead single from his 2011 debut album, Superstar.

The singer performed a selection of songs from his extensive catalogue, including “In My Bed,” “Daddy Yo,” “Bad to Me,” “Slow Down,” “Caro,” “Essence,” “Alaye,” “Jogodo,” “Money Constant” and “Ojuelegba.” His performance prompted enthusiastic reactions from fans who sang along to several of his career-defining hits.

Wizkid has since developed into one of Africa’s most internationally recognised music stars. His career highlights include a Grammy Award for his contribution to Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” and a historic No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 as a featured artist and co-writer on Drake’s “One Dance.”

His discography includes acclaimed projects such as Ayo, Made in Lagos, More Love, Less Ego and Morayo, while his collaboration with Tems on “Essence” became one of Afrobeats’ biggest global crossover hits.

Wizkid shared the Afro Plus Fest stage with a wide range of Afrobeats, dancehall and hip-hop acts during the festival, which featured artists including Davido, Alkaline, Lil Baby, Latto, Tems, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Olamide and Adekunle Gold.

The 2026 festival was expanded to three days and featured two stages, with organisers projecting attendance of about 40,000 fans daily. Founder and Executive Producer Michael Awosanya described the event as having grown beyond a music concert into a global diaspora movement.