The Wizkid Album That Put Nigeria on the Global Map

What started as a smooth, soulful love letter to Lagos quickly became a global phenomenon, one that didn’t just dominate Afrobeats but also pushed the sound into spaces it had never reached before.

The project wasn’t just another album; it was a cultural movement. With its mellow rhythms, lush instrumentation, and Wizkid’s signature calm delivery, Made In Lagos found its way from the streets of Surulere to playlists in London, New York, and Tokyo. It didn’t take long for history to start unfolding.

To begin with, Made in Lagos made history by becoming the first African album that debut on the US Spotify Global Albums Chart, a significant indication of Afrobeats’ increasing influence around the world.

It quickly dominated the Billboard World Album Chart, peaking at number one for an incredible three weeks and remaining there for 86 weeks overall, the longest any Nigerian album has ever remained.  For context, that is almost twice as long as the previous record of 45 weeks set by Fela Kuti’s The Black President.

The wins kept rolling in. The album made history as the first Nigerian body of work to spend consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard World Album Chart, holding that spot for seven straight weeks. On the main Billboard 200, it peaked at number 28, setting a new record for Nigerian artists at the time.

The certifications followed, with Made in Lagos becoming the first African album to receive a gold certification in the US.  Its most notable song, Essence, which featured Tems, also broke down borders.

In addition to becoming a summertime soundtrack, the seductive anthem became the first Afrobeats song to reach platinum status in the United States, and it went on to achieve four-time platinum status.

Essence had such an impact that it received a Grammy nomination for Best Global Song, while the album itself was nominated for Best Global Album at the 2022 Grammys.  The Essence (Remix), featuring Justin Bieber, peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting Afrobeats single of all time.

Recognition followed quickly. At the 2022 BET Awards, Essence won Collaboration of the Year, marking the first time an Afrobeats song had ever claimed a major category at the BETs.

Looking back, Made In Lagos wasn’t just a body of work; it was a landmark moment for Nigerian music. It bridged continents, redefined Afrobeats on the global stage, and reminded the world that the sound from Lagos isn’t just made for Africa; it’s made for everyone.