O2 Arena, LondonA magnetic performance, including a surprise appearance by Burna Boy, is thrilling proof that Wizkid deserves his spot at the top
When Wizkid emerges into the packed O2 Arena, he tells his legion of screaming fans that tonight is not about him: “Tonight is about African music.” Afrobeats, which blends African highlife with external influences from R&B to reggae, has a large following among Britain’s African diaspora. Only in recent years has the genre begun to break into mainstream
British music. The
London leg of his Starboy fest tour celebrates that expansion with a glittering gallery of sound.
On stage, it’s evident that Wizkid deserves his seat at the top of the Afrobeats scene. He’s a magnetic performer. Songs such as Tease Me and Don’t Dull, underpinned by snapping drums and jittery choruses, send feet stomping through the arena. Elsewhere, the crowds sway as he croons the softer, more melodic offerings of Come Closer (featuring Drake) and Energy (Stay Far Away), a collaboration with Skepta.