From Lagos With Love… Wizkid Covers Guardian Life Magazine’s Latest Issue

Wizkid is on the cover of Guardian Life Magazine’ latest issue. He speaks about his family, challenges, motivation, the city of Lagos, his fans popularly known as ‘Wizkid FC’, politics, his legacy, activism and his latest album titled ‘Made in Lagos’.

Read key points from the interview below.

Wiz on Family, Challenges, and Motivation

“My family has been my biggest motivation for everything that I do, my kids, right from when I had them to now more than ever, they are my biggest motivation [they mean everything to me]. Family is the number one thing for me, that keeps me grounded, that keeps me sane and makes me feel like a normal human being.”

“I never relented and kept on working, believing in myself and I still believe in myself more than anyone else. It’s just been years of hard work, belief, and the grace of God.”

Wiz and The City of Lagos

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“The music I grew up listening to walking down the street, the Fuji music that plays from the sound system of people that sell cases on the road, the Makossa that plays when your standing at the bus stop, it’s these experiences that influenced me to be who I am today, that’s what influenced my music and  that ‘s why I don’t joke with Lagos, Nigeria, Africa [my home]”.

“I’m still very much in touch because it’s the same timing [you know], my family is still there and I talk to my people in Lagos every minute. It’s like I’m still there in Lekki, in Surulere, because I talk to people there every day.”

Wizkid FC

“I love them pass, I’m thankful and I appreciate everything, it’s impossible for me to reply to everybody but I appreciate all the love.”

“I wanna take this opportunity to thank everyone that has been supporting the album and just talking about it in any way like I just want to appreciate you guys and I wanna say a big thank you to everyone. To my fans, I’m nothing and I wouldn’t be anywhere without you.”

Wiz on Politics and Activism
Wizkid recently made a 180 and took a different stance from his usual non-involvement in politics and socio-political issues. He took the bull by the horn and outrightly called out President Muhammadu Buhari for misplaced priorities and actively used his platform to advocate for change and police reforms.

He believes that there is no room for silence anymore and decisive action needs to be taken immediately.

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“We can’t keep quiet anymore, now it’s past the level of sitting on the fence. I mean it’s 2020, and all these shouldn’t even be a conversation at this time”.

“I have cousins that go through this sh*t every day like I have family that have been harassed and they have their own stories so it affects me. My child is 9 years old, about to be 10 so he’s growing up and going out and if I don’t talk about these issues it’s like I’ve failed him

“It’s personal for me and I will continue speaking about it, any opportunity I get I will speak about it.”

“Regardless of being in London, it still gets to me because on various occasions I’ve had my boys, producers, cousins or somebody call me to talk with policemen that have stopped them and make them understand that these people are being truthful and they’re working with Wizkid and that’s madness to me [you know] I’m being 

affected by it cos I have people in Nigeria working with me that have to be on the road and when they get stopped it affects them and ultimately affects me so I’m directly affected because they’re affected.”

Wiz on Made In Lagos

“I think it was just me trying to make it feel perfect, I just wanted it to feel good. Now, it feels great, I feel good about the videos. So yeah, Why not now?”

“Every time I go to the studio, I try to make something different. I don’t go in the studio making something that made people dance yesterday. I’m not that kind of artiste. I try to better my craft, better my sound, and improve my mixes. That’s the kind of artiste I am. This album is just part of that growth. The elevation of the sound, a continuous story of my life” 

“One of the most amazing feelings is seeing your kids come together. For me, it was very important to put that out because I am a very quiet and low-key person and I am very much in my kids’ life but I am not the one to come and show you that yeah, I’m hanging out with my sons. I am not that kind of father, I chose this life, and they didn’t choose it. I try to raise them as normal kids as much as I can.”

Wiz on Legacy

“Those are things I don’t think about, I just know if you’re a good person in life and you do good and work hard, you will inspire people and you’ll never be forgotten. From music to other areas like the government, I believe you’ll be remembered for your actions and the life you lived.

 

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Credit: Guardian Life