Grammy Award-winning Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, brought the 2026 edition of Afro Plus Fest to a close on Sunday in Maryland, United States, as he marked 15 years in the music industry.
The 35-year-old singer headlined the festival’s final night, held from September 4 to 6 at the Northwest Stadium Complex in Landover, Maryland.
Wizkid’s appearance was particularly significant as it coincided with 15 years since his breakthrough with “Holla at Your Boy,” the hit single from his 2011 debut album, Superstar.
Performing alongside a global lineup of Afrobeats, dancehall and hip-hop acts, the singer thrilled fans with a selection of career-defining songs, including “In My Bed,” “Daddy Yo,” “Bad to Me,” “Slow Down,” “Caro,” “Essence,” “Alaye,” “Jogodo,” “Money Constant” and “Ojuelegba.”
Since his rise to prominence, Wizkid has established himself as one of Africa’s most influential music exports. He became the first Nigerian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 as a featured artist and co-writer on Drake’s “One Dance.”
His acclaimed discography includes Ayo, Made in Lagos, More Love, Less Ego and Morayo. He has also won a Grammy Award for his contribution to Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl,” while his Tems-assisted single “Essence” became a major global crossover hit.
Wizkid’s headline performance further highlighted the growing influence of Afro Plus Fest as a major celebration of African and Caribbean music in the diaspora.
The three-day festival featured Nigerian superstar Davido as Friday’s headliner and Jamaican dancehall star Alkaline on Saturday, while Wizkid took centre stage on the final night. Other performers included Lil Baby, Latto, Tems, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Olamide and Adekunle Gold.
Billed as the largest Afro-Caribbean-Hip Hop festival, the 2026 edition expanded to a three-day, two-stage format and was projected to attract about 40,000 fans daily.
Reflecting on the festival’s growth, Founder and Executive Producer Michael Awosanya described Afro Plus Fest as more than an entertainment event, saying it had evolved into a global diaspora movement.
