The name Wizkid barely needs introduction in Nigeria, but the story behind it is worth knowing. Ayodeji Balogun recorded his first album at 11 years old in Surulere, Lagos, with a group called Glorious Five. By 17, he was signed to Empire Mates Entertainment under Banky W. By 20, he had “Holla at Your Boy” charting across West Africa. The decade that followed turned him into Africa’s most globally recognised Afrobeats export, with a Grammy credit, a number-one hit on the UK charts, and a stadium tour that stopped in cities where most Nigerian artists had never played.
Born on 16 July 1990 and raised in Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid began recording music at 11 years old with a group he formed with church friends called the Glorious Five. By 2009 he had signed to Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment. Fifteen years later he is one of the two or three artists most responsible for Afrobeats crossing into a sustained mainstream global format.
As of 2026, industry estimates of Wizkid’s net worth place him in the 25 to 35 million dollar range. These are estimates derived from public reporting on tour grosses, label-disclosed sales, and known endorsements, not from audited accounts, and should not be read as financial advice.
This profile covers his Surulere upbringing, his EME debut, his RCA signing, the “One Dance” and “Essence” chart runs, the Morayo era, his Starboy label, and his personal life including his three sons.
Quick facts
Real name
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
Stage names
Wizkid, Big Wiz, Starboy
Date of birth
16 July 1990
Age (2026)
35 (turns 36 on 16 July 2026)
Birthplace
Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria
Heritage
Yoruba and Edo (father Yoruba, mother Edo)
Nationality
Nigerian
Labels
Starboy Entertainment / RCA Records / Sony
Grammy wins
1 (Best Music Video, 63rd Grammys, 2021)
Net worth (2026 estimate)
~$25-35 million (industry estimate, not verified)
Early life and family
Wizkid was born in Ojuelegba, a densely populated area of Surulere in Lagos, on 16 July 1990. His father, Alhaji Balogun, is Yoruba and had three wives; his mother, Jane Dolapo Balogun, is of Edo descent. Wizkid grew up in a household with 12 siblings from his father’s three marriages, in a multi-faith environment where his father was Muslim and his mother was Christian.
He attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School and later Lagos State Model College in Meiran. His music interest was evident early: he began recording at 11 years old with the Glorious Five, a singing group he formed with church friends at the Salvation Army church where his mother worshipped. He released a joint recording with Glorious Five at 11 and with a second group, the Glorious Two, by 13.
His mother, Jane Dolapo Balogun, was one of the central figures in his life and his most direct emotional reference point. She died in 2023, and his sixth studio album Morayo (a Yoruba word for “I have found joy again”) was named for her and released in November 2024 as a public dedication to her memory.
Empire Mates Entertainment and the debut era
Wizkid signed to Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E.) in 2009 at the age of 18, becoming the label’s youngest signee. His debut studio album Superstar, released in July 2011, included “Holla at Your Boy”, “Don’t Dull”, and “Tease Me / Bad Guys”. The album established him as one of the most promising voices of the early Afrobeats era and sold widely across Nigeria and in the West African diaspora in the UK and United States.
His second album Ayo (17 September 2014) was produced after he had left E.M.E. and founded his own imprint, Starboy Entertainment. Ayo contained “Jaiye Jaiye” (with Femi Kuti), “Show You the Money”, “Bombastic”, and “Joy”, and was the first Nigerian album to deploy a recognisably 2010s Afrobeats production palette throughout. The album went to number 1 in Nigeria and charted in Ghana, South Africa, and across the UK West African streaming market.
The period from 2013 to 2016 also produced a string of standalone singles that defined the mid-decade Afrobeats sound: “Ojuelegba”, the song named for his Surulere neighbourhood and remixed by Drake and Skepta in 2015, became one of the first Afrobeats records to attract serious critical attention in London’s music press.
One Dance and the RCA era
The global pivot came with Drake’s “One Dance” in April 2016, on which Wizkid is credited as a featured artist. The song spent 15 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, reached the top position in 14 additional countries, and entered the Guinness World Records as the first Afrobeats-credited record to reach number one in the United States. The record’s success made Wizkid an attractive signing for RCA Records, which he joined in March 2017.
His third studio album Sounds from the Other Side (RCA, July 2017) was the first deliberately international Wizkid record, with collaborations with Drake (“Come Closer”), Major Lazer, and Trey Songz. His fourth album, Made in Lagos (October 2020), produced the breakout hit “Essence” with Tems, which became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The Justin Bieber remix lifted “Essence” to the top 10 in the United States and certified it as a global crossover standard.
In 2019 he featured on “Brown Skin Girl” with Beyonce and SAINt JHN for The Lion King: The Gift album. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 63rd Grammy Awards in March 2021, making Wizkid a Grammy-winning artist alongside his Citi Field-headlining status.
More Love, Less Ego and Morayo
His fifth studio album More Love, Less Ego (November 2022) leaned further into R and B territory with “Bad to Me” and “Money and Love” as lead singles. The record was less commercially dominant than Made in Lagos but demonstrated Wizkid’s willingness to move toward slower tempos and a more introspective register than the peak-Afrobeats era demanded.
His sixth album Morayo (22 November 2024), named for his late mother Jane Dolapo Balogun, broke Spotify’s record for the biggest streaming debut for an African album. Lead singles included “Kese (Dance)” and “Piece of My Heart” with Brent Faiyaz. The album debuted at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and entered the Billboard 200 at number 25, his highest chart positions to date on both metrics.
The Morayo world tour ran through 2025 and into 2026, with sold-out dates at the O2 Arena in London (three nights), Madison Square Garden in New York, and the Accor Arena in Paris. The tour is one of the highest-grossing African music tours on record.
Starboy Entertainment and business interests
Wizkid founded Starboy Entertainment after leaving E.M.E. in 2013 and used it to release his own records from Ayo onward, as well as signing developing acts. The Starboy roster has at various points included Maleek Berry, R2Bees, Terri, and L.A.X. Starboy Worldwide, the touring and merchandising arm, runs his stadium dates and brand collaborations.
Confirmed brand endorsements include a long-running Pepsi partnership, Ciroc, Glenfiddich, Smirnoff Ice, and a 2024 campaign with Adidas. He has also been the face of several African and pan-African digital finance and mobile money campaigns. His endorsement portfolio is one of the broadest by volume in African pop music.
Personal life
Wizkid has three sons from three different relationships. His first son, Boluwatife Balogun, was born to Sola Ogudele in 2011. His second son, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun Jr., was born to Binta Diallo in 2016. His third son, Zion Ayo Balogun, was born to his manager and partner Jada Pollock in 2017. He has spoken warmly about all three children in interviews and is regularly photographed with them on social media.
His relationship with Jada Pollock, a British-American creative director and manager who has worked with him since 2016, is the longest of his public partnerships. Pollock manages several aspects of his creative and touring operations through her London-based management company.
He maintains residences in Lagos (Lekki), London, and Los Angeles. His Lagos home has been featured in several lifestyle interviews and is a regular backdrop for his social media content. He is a practising Muslim, a detail that has not significantly shaped his public persona but which he references in interviews when asked about his personal beliefs.
Awards and honours
Wizkid won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 63rd Grammy Awards in March 2021 for “Brown Skin Girl” with Beyonce and SAINt JHN. He has been nominated for multiple Grammy categories including Best Global Music Album and Best Global Music Performance.
He has won three BET Awards for Best International Act (African), MTV Africa Music Awards for Artist of the Year twice, and the MOBO Award for Best African Act on four occasions. He holds the Guinness World Record as the first Afrobeats artist in the records, following “One Dance”.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has recognised him with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). He has received honorary recognition from Lagos State and from several pan-African music industry bodies.
Net worth and income
Industry estimates put Wizkid’s net worth in the 25 to 35 million dollar range as of 2026. The primary income streams are live touring (the Morayo tour included three O2 Arena nights and a Madison Square Garden date), streaming royalties (“Essence” alone passed 500 million Spotify streams), and endorsements. Starboy Entertainment’s publishing catalogue is a steady secondary income source. As with all such estimates, these figures are derived from public reporting and are not verified personal accounts.
FAQ
What is Wizkid’s real name?
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun. He was born on 16 July 1990 in Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos, to a Yoruba father and an Edo mother. He began recording music at 11 with the Glorious Five, a church music group.
Has Wizkid won a Grammy?
Yes. He won Best Music Video at the 63rd Grammy Awards (March 2021) for “Brown Skin Girl” with Beyonce and SAINt JHN. The song appeared on the Lion King: The Gift album, which Beyonce curated.
What is Wizkid’s net worth in 2026?
Industry estimates: 25 to 35 million dollars. These are estimates from public reporting on tour grosses, streaming, and endorsements, not verified personal accounts. The Morayo world tour has been one of the highest-grossing African music tours on record.
What is the album Morayo about?
Morayo (a Yoruba word meaning “I have found joy again”) is Wizkid’s sixth studio album, released on 22 November 2024. It was dedicated to his late mother Jane Dolapo Balogun, who died in 2023. The album broke Spotify’s record for the biggest streaming debut by an African album.
How many children does Wizkid have?
He has three sons: Boluwatife (born 2011, mother Sola Ogudele), Ayodeji Jr. (born 2016, mother Binta Diallo), and Zion (born 2017, mother Jada Pollock). He has spoken about all three children publicly and is regularly photographed with them.
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About the author
Written by Max Adeyemi
Max Adeyemi is a Lagos-based writer covering Nigerian and African entertainment, sport, business, and culture. He has spent over a decade tracking the careers, controversies, and quiet achievements of the people who move the culture. He writes all profiles on Nolly.
