Wizkid soars at London stadium concert

And so, following fellow Grammy winner Burna Boy’s June spectacle at the London Stadium, Wizkid took on the 63 000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday – and won!

The singer’s just-ended show, in support of his 2022 album More Love, Less Ego, is a sort of continuation of the legacy of his historic three-day residency at the O2 Arena in 2021, where tickets sold out in record time.

As expected, the Surulere native’s grand London return saw a crackling atmosphere, opening with the haunting notes of the sombre flute and heralding another episode of impending history.

Amid thunderous cheers and smartphone lights, Wizkid emerges onto the stage with ‘Reckless’ off his Grammy-nominated 2020 collection Made In Lagos. But before he delves into the performance proper, patrons are reminded of his famous interview moments before last year’s Apple Music Live show where, asked what patrons should expect, the singer responds in the same laid-back tone that characterises the many carnal spiels flooding his music: “A lot of love, a lot of love in their hearts – that’s what I want them to feel.”

By now, the Wizkid sound is straightforward. Stress-free. On record, the man seldom broaches high notes, instead relying on a soft-spoken cadence over soothing melodies filled with horns that draw from both West Africa and the Caribbean. His offerings are typically designed to be savoured slowly.

Still, this far in his career Wizkid’s showmanship can be a revelation. A performance chameleon, he deftly oscillates between sweat-drenched jam sessions and tender serenades forging intimate connections with his audience.

This night finds him revisiting the rich chapters of his discography spanning five LPs: from ‘Ojuelegba’, his evergreen victory song, through the sentimental melodies of ‘True Love’ and ‘Joro’, to the Fuji-inspired ‘Pakuromo’ off his illustrious debut Superstar, to the anthemic rhythms of ‘Soco’ and ‘Caro’, the amapiano-inspired ‘Bad To Me’, and the alluring charm of ‘Fever’, where the line “Starboy dey for you” takes on an air of dependability during his live renditions.

Still, three years after its release, it is ‘Essence’, his golden duet with Tems, that emerges as the crowning glory and melodic anchor, tying it all together and leaving the audience cooing in delight while fireworks explode in the sky above.

It is not long before Wizkid – backed by his long-time wingman, DJ Tunez, and supported by a slim line-up including Ghana’s King Promise and fellow Nigerian compatriots Wande Coal and The Cavemen – sheds his shirt much to the particular excitement of his female constituency, who are thrown into a whirlwind of youthful delirium. The memento finds its way into the hands of three shrieking ladies, marking the onset of his quintessential mid-show energy torrent.

Afrobeats has indeed come a long way, as echoed by DJ Tunez at the beginning of the show before bringing out Wizkid: “Tonight is a celebration for Africa!” Pop from the continent is experiencing a remarkable boost in both the quality of its music, regular chart success and the standard of its live performances. The stage infrastructure and art direction now rival those of global popstars and African artists expect nothing less than top-level organisation. Rema’s recent walkout at a show in Atlanta underscores the demand for excellence, one notably fulfilled by Burna Boy and Wizkid who now descend on stage in over-the-top contraptions that were once mere wishful thinking.

There’s a moment from Burna Boy’s London Stadium in June when, with his bare-chested, tattooed figure, he gracefully spins on one leg during ‘Last Last’, his face aglow with a glorious smile. He is no doubt in his element, basking in the overwhelming reception of an adoring 60 000-strong crowd. This non-verbal act acknowledges a new level of success in his career, and marks a powerful exclamation point in the soaring trajectory of Afrobeats.

After Wizkid’s show, amid jubilant camaraderie, we witness a similar scene of triumph, thanks to amateur backstage footage posted on social media: draped in majestic white, with jewellery glistening through a new, unbuttoned shirt, Wizkid is drenched in the warm embrace of congratulatory hugs from his peers. A toast to a new frontier for Afrobeats.