After releasing the greatest Afrobeats song in 2020, Wizkid’s career of several decades has finally led him here: to the coveted The O2. Most artists dream of selling it out once, let alone three times in less than 15 minutes – but considering that the Nigerian star has dropped a flawless album like ‘Made In Lagos’, it all makes sense.
When you walk into The O2, it feels akin to the Black Met Gala, all dressed in their finest threads to watch Starboy. The party is kicked off by DJ Tunez, and with lots of Afrobeats hits and throwback reggae up his sleeve, it’s clear from the start that tonight is the night to celebrate African expertise. Welcoming Wizkid on stage is also a duty left to his collaborator. “It’s that time. Time is of the essence,” says Tunez, referring to the artist’s Billboard smash ‘Essence’. Joro ‘. Slowly and gloomily, Wizkid caresses his microphone stand as he serenades into the vast space.
From here, momentum rarely lets up as he winds up hit after hit, weaving highlights from “album of the year” ‘Made in Lagos’ (again apart from DJ Tunez) with cult tracks like ‘Don’t Dull’, ‘Get Closer’ and ‘Caro’ ‘. Still, the audience is loudest for the evening’s array of unexpected guests: British legend Skepta helps on the summer belts ‘Longtime’ and ‘Energy (Stay Away)’, and when they call back to each other, the pair have true camaraderie on stage. No wonder their collaborators are reaping such a hysteria.
As the audience is immersed in emerald lights, all roads lead to ‘Essence’ – but as the hit single fills the place, the reception seems a bit subdued. Still, audiences still enjoy the show – it’s undoubtedly a full, sold-out audience – and rising afro-R & B star Tems has a large presence as she attends the show, loses her long trench coat and enjoys Wiz.
And concertgoers’ skins get even louder as Wizkid produces his “big surprise” – American singer and rapper Chris Brown. He’s welcomed a loud chorus of people singing his latest hit ‘Go Crazy’ back to him – and sadly, tonight Brown also makes his first appearance in the UK in over a decade amid several serious allegations of violence against women. It’s a stilted moment, and Brown does little else but dance at the end of the stage and barely acknowledge Wizkid.
However, things go up again with ‘Ojuelegba’. It’s the perfect end to Wizkid’s exhibition of Nigerian expertise, as the whole space joins – with power and conviction – with this growing tale of getting out of his hometown of Ojuelegba. Green and silver confetti are sprayed into the sky (representing the Nigerian flag colors green and white) and it is a heartwarming moment during a song that has helped many through tumultuous times.
In the final moments of the evening, however, you still long for more. With all the hits smashed in a row, there is no room for boredom, but that does not leave its audience much closer to Wizkid. While a moment of silence held for the late fashion and culture icon Virgil Abloh shows a more reflective side, there is less direct connection with the crowd elsewhere. Despite the amazing community enjoying the moment at O2, it occasionally makes you want to see more of the personality that brought them together tonight in the first place.
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