How I Helped Sign Wizkid Through Banky W – Akon Opens Up
Senegalese-American music star Akon has opened up on his role in the early stages of Nigerian superstar Wizkid’s career, revealing how he helped facilitate the singer’s signing through Banky W.
Speaking during a recent interview, Akon recalled his growing interest in the Nigerian music industry at the time and explained that he saw immense potential in Wizkid before the singer became a global Afrobeats sensation. According to him, his relationship with Banky W played a key role in connecting the then-rising artist to the platform that would launch his career.
Akon said the move was part of his broader efforts to support African music and invest in emerging talents across the continent, noting that he believed Wizkid had the qualities needed to succeed on the global stage.
The revelation has generated fresh conversations among music fans, with many revisiting the early days of Wizkid’s career under Empire Mates Entertainment (EME), the record label founded by Banky W that introduced the singer to mainstream audiences.
The development was also reported by entertainment news platforms including Pulse Nigeria, NotJustOk, and BellaNaija, which highlighted Akon’s account of how the partnership came together and its impact on the growth of Afrobeats.
Wizkid eventually rose from being one of EME’s brightest prospects to becoming one of Africa’s biggest music exports, earning multiple international awards and collaborating with some of the world’s biggest artists.
