‘Wizkid: Long Live Lagos’ offers an intimate look at Grammy winner’s artistic process as he prepared for historic London stadium performance.
HBO’s latest Music Box documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of Nigerian superstar Wizkid’s recording studio, revealing how the Grammy-winning artist uses his craft as both creative expression and cultural statement.
“Wizkid: Long Live Lagos,” premiering December 11 on HBO and HBO Max, provides an intimate portrait of Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun’s artistic process as he prepared for his historic 2023 performance at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he became the first African recording artist ever to sell out the venue that has hosted Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, and Post Malone.
Director Karam Gill describes the documentary’s studio footage as revealing an artist with purpose beyond commercial success. “For Wiz, music is a tool — and as Fela Kuti once said, ‘a weapon,'” Gill explains. “This moment illustrates how seriously Wiz takes that responsibility as an artist who is actively combating generations of post-colonial stereotypes about Africa.”
The documentary, part of Bill Simmons’ Music Box franchise, shows Wizkid’s stripped-down approach to creativity. Unlike the typical music industry excess, the Afrobeats pioneer maintains a focused, grounded environment with only close family and friends present during recording sessions.
A recording artist since age 11, Wizkid has established himself as a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. According to Gill, who spent extensive time filming in the studio, the artist views his work as transformative. “He understands the power music has to reshape how people view Africa,” the filmmaker notes. “When he’s in the studio, it’s bigger than making hit records — it feels like watching someone with a deep sense of purpose use their gift to change perception and the world around them.”
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.