The highly anticipated HBO original documentary, Wizkid: Long Live Lagos, premieres today, December 11th. The 85-minute feature provides an unprecedented, intimate portrait of Nigerian music icon Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (Wizkid). It depicts his extraordinary journey from Lagos street-level hustles to commanding global arena stages.
The documentary tracks Wizkid’s journey from his early days in Lagos to his rise as a global icon. It also explores how his music reshaped Afrobeats’ global appeal and challenged Western views of African identity.
Directed by Karam Gill and produced by Gill with Daniel Malikyar, the film features interviews with several close collaborators. Among them are Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti, long-time manager and partner Jada Pollock, media personality Julie Adenuga and music executive Seni Saraki.
Femi Anikulapo-Kuti emphasised Wizkid’s role in cultural awakening, saying, “When you see how far Africa has come, you cannot ignore the impact of Wizkid.”
Jada Pollock, his manager and partner, highlighted the immense pressure surrounding the historic London stadium show. She said, “This is the first time that we’re doing the stadium show. That’s a lot of pressure.”
Wizkid also highlighted the lack of an existing structure for him, saying, “There was no blueprint for me. I had to build a structure for myself.”
The film had its world debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025. Critics at the screening praised the documentary for offering an honest and dynamic portrait of Wizkid’s life.
The documentary presents more than a career timeline. It shows how Wizkid helped reshape global views of African music through his roots in Lagos and his global stages.
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