Every October 6, Wizkid’s fans flood timelines with the same message: it is Wizkid Day. It is not just a fan tradition. It began with a sealed and signed proclamation from the State of Minnesota.
On October 6, 2018, Governor Mark Dayton declared the date Wizkid Day, honouring the Nigerian star for his music and his reach as one of the biggest cultural influencers of his time. The timing was deliberate. That same night, Wizkid was in Minneapolis for his Made in Lagos show at the Skyway Theatre, which he sold out, becoming the first African artist to do so.
The proclamation read like a record of Afrobeats’ early breakthroughs. It pointed to One Dance, his Billboard number one collaboration with Drake, which carried the sound of Lagos into living rooms that had never heard it. It noted his sold out run at London’s O2 Arena, a milestone few African acts had come close to. It also cited his history making Nike collaboration, whose profits went to charity projects in Nigeria, and his appearance on the runway for Dolce & Gabbana in June 2018, making him the first African artist to walk for the Italian house. Add his Billboard Music Award wins, and the case was easy to make.
Wizkid shared the document online, and it spread fast. For many Nigerians, it was proof that the world was no longer just listening to Afrobeats but formally acknowledging the people behind it.
Years later, the date still carries weight. It marks a moment when Afrobeats stopped asking for a seat and started getting its name on the wall. For Wizkid, it sits among the clearest signs that Starboy’s influence reaches far beyond Surulere.