The Global Afrobeats Scene and the Pressure to Perform
The global Afrobeats scene is a constant whirlwind of activity. New singles drop every Friday, TikTok challenges dominate every week, and social media is filled with endless chatter. Artists are expected to be present online as much as they are in the studio. Everyone is performing, everyone is talking, and everyone is available.
But Wizkid is different.
A Legend in the Making
Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, has become a household name in the Afrobeats world. His career highlights include earning a Grammy Award for his collaboration with Beyoncé on “Brown Skin Girl.” His 2020 hit “Essence,” featuring Tems, marked a significant crossover moment, becoming the first Nigerian song to chart on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200.
His influence extends further, as he holds a Guinness World Record for his contribution to Drake’s hit “One Dance.” The Made In Lagos album achieved Gold certification in both the U.S. and the U.K., with “Essence” securing multiple Platinum certifications—achievements that were unprecedented for an African artist. These accomplishments led to him being the first African artist to surpass 20 billion global audio-on-demand streams. Prolific is an understatement.
The Art of Disappearance
Despite his massive success, Wizkid has spent the past few years mastering the art of disappearance. Since 2022, he has existed almost like a ghost, granting little to no interviews, no media rounds, no unnecessary statements, and no attention-seeking antics. The 35-year-old icon appears when it matters and fades just as fast.
However, in 2025, Wizkid isn’t exactly quiet. He’s just strategic. After nearly two years of creative invisibility, Starboy has quietly staged a takeover, dropping features across continents while maintaining the same mysterious, almost royal distance. Wizkid’s silence isn’t weakness; it’s his most powerful move yet.
Is He Really Silent? Or Just Loud in His Own Way?
Wizkid has built his entire empire around selective visibility. He doesn’t flood the internet with selfies or snippets. Some say he moves like a sniper, making one post, one comment, one perfectly timed clapback, then nothing. And yes, sometimes that shot is aimed squarely at his longtime rival, Davido.
Others describe him as Afrobeats’ untouchable enigma. To truly understand Wizkid’s silence, one must contrast it with the aggressive youth he left behind.
In his early years, Wizkid was famously hot-headed, sparring routinely on X (formerly Twitter) with anyone who dared to ‘misyarn’ towards his path. Back then, unfiltered online confrontations were a large part of his brand. This relentless visibility and willingness to engage directly with his audience and rivals is partly how he accrued his loyal fanbase, Wizkid FC, who still regularly go to battle online on his behalf.
The Evolution of Silence
Does his current silence signal growth? Absolutely! The Starboy himself provided the philosophical framework for this evolution. In a profound November 2022 interview with The Guardian, Wizkid detailed the necessary fracturing of his identity, a concept reminiscent of how Beyoncé once discussed her alter ego, Sasha Fierce.
“I treat [Wizkid] as a million-dollar company, man. It’s a business, not me,” he told the publication. This quote clarifies the entire strategic withdrawal. The silence is the CEO protecting the brand. He acknowledges the battle for visibility remains, admitting: “Most of the time, I don’t want cameras in my face. But I understand why I have to. That’s one of the things I still battle with. I just want to live a normal life.”
As with Beyoncé, there is a level of dissociation between his public and private identities. As he grows older, he yearns for authenticity: “I would love for people to get 100% Wiz Ayo Balogun. To give people one [person], the true me in my realest form.”
The Contradiction of Silence
The most fascinating, and perhaps, maybe frustrating thing about Wizkid’s silence is the quiet contradiction behind it. “I’m about to go crazy on their asses this election,” he told The Guardian, referencing the upcoming 2023 elections. His message to the political class was sharp: “All these old men are going out of power this time. They need to go to an old people’s home and chill out.”
Wizkid’s Calculated 2025 Collaboration Run
Wizkid’s Power in Not Performing