The latest in HBO’s Music Box series turns the spotlight towards Nigerian superstar, Wizkid.
Created in 2021 by Bill Simmons, HBO’s Music Box series explores key moments and figures within the industry, covering artists such as Alanis Morisette, DMX, Kenny G, Counting Crows and more.
Directed by Karam Gill, Music Box: Wizkid: Long Live Lagos uses Wizkid’s preparation for his groundbreaking performance at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July 2023 as a lens into not only his stratospheric rise from the streets of Surulere, but also his impact on both the African music ecosystem and global perceptions of African music.
With appearances from music royalty including Femi Anikuplao-Kuti, Wiz’s manager and parter Jada Pollock, Seni Seraki, CEO of The Native, and more, Wizkid: Long Live Lagos paints an intimate portrait of one of Nigeria’s biggest stars, tracking his journey of moulding the industry in his own image, and how his journey has reshaped how Africa is seen and heard around the world.
“When you see how far Africa has come, you cannot ignore the impact of Wizkid,” Kuti explains in the film’s trailer. “Wizkid is a symbol of hope.”
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Seraki concurs, calling the artist born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun a “national hero” and “one of the biggest ambassadors for Nigeria,” a vision shared by the artist himself: “It’s very important to us to educate the world about our culture.”
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos premieres on HBO Max on 11 Dec and will be available to stream across the African continent on Showmax from 26 December.
