Wizkid becomes one of the highest paid entertainers in the world after performing at royal Indian wedding

NIGERIAN pop star Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as Wizkid has joined the ranks of the highest paid artists in the world following his performance at a royal wedding in India for which he was paid nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

Last week, Wizkid performed during a royal wedding at one of the world’s top private residences, Umaid Bhawan Palace in India. He was reported to have been paid 50m Rupees ($681,200) for a live performance and he got his Indian audience dancing to some of his best tunes like Soco and Fake Love.

One commentator said: “Wizkid becomes one of the highest paid artists for bookings in the world, as he performs at a royal wedding at one of the world’s top private residences, Umaid Bhawan Palace in India. He was reportedly paid 50m Rp ($681,200) or N245.9m.’’

Wizkid said: “Thank U India! Met some amazing people, performed at an amazing wedding and created some amazing memories with my boys’."

Now a household name, Wizkid started his recording music at age 11 and in 2009 signed a record deal with Banky W’s record label, Empire Mates Entertainment, rising to prominence in 2010. Wizkid achieved international recognition following his collaboration with Drake on the global hit One Dance, which reached number one in 15 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

He was ranked fifth on Forbes and Channel O’s 2013 list of the top 10 richest/bankable African artists and in 2014 he became the first Nigerian musician to have over one million Twitter followers. Wizkid also became the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the 2018 Guinness World Records for his contribution to Drake’s hit song One Dance.