Akon Reflects on His Early Influence in Wizkid’s Journey and Afrobeats Growth
Akon is opening up about his behind-the-scenes role in shaping the early days of Afrobeats and giving Nigerian artists a global spotlight.
While chatting on the Bagfuel Brigade podcast, the Senegalese-American artist shared how, back in 2008, he saw something special brewing in Nigeria’s music scene—and decided to be part of it.
He revealed that Wizkid, now a global name, was still just a homegrown talent when Akon brought him onto his label. “He was doing his thing locally,” Akon said, “but once we signed him, it helped push him to a much wider audience.”
He didn’t stop there. Akon recalled also working with the duo P-Square, calling them the first Nigerian group he helped cross over into the international scene.
“I spent that year building what later became the Afrobeats wave we know now,” he said. “Most of those artists will tell you—I was in Nigeria helping put that foundation in place.”
According to Akon, the creative side of music was thriving in Nigeria, but the structure behind the scenes—marketing, distribution, industry know-how—wasn’t there yet. “We brought in the business mindset,” he added, noting that his involvement helped shape the future of the genre.
Although he’s not claiming full credit, Akon made it clear: without those early efforts, Afrobeats might not have grown into the global force it is today.
