Senegalese-American singer Akon has revealed details about his early involvement in the career of Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid, stating that he did not discover the artiste.
In an interview with The Shade Room, Akon credited Banky W as the one who identified and developed Wizkid before introducing him.
According to Akon, he encountered Wizkid during a visit to Nigeria in the late 2000s and was impressed by his talent. He later signed the young singer, helping him gain early exposure in the United States at a time when Nigerian music had limited global reach.
Akon said the move contributed to Wizkid’s international breakthrough, though he stressed that Banky W laid the foundation by signing him to Empire Mates Entertainment.
The singer also disclosed that he once considered signing Canadian rapper Drake around 2008 but declined due to a reported $1 million signing demand. He noted that Drake had not yet developed his signature sound at the time.
Drake’s career later took off following the release of his 2009 hit “Best I Ever Had” before joining Young Money Entertainment.
Wizkid rose to fame under EME with hits from his debut album Superstar (2011) and went on to establish Starboy Entertainment in 2013 after leaving the label. He is now widely regarded as one of Africa’s biggest global music exports, collaborating with international stars including Drake and Beyoncé.
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