On this day four years ago, Wizkid released his much-anticipated album titled Made In Lagos. Four years later, it’s one of the most celebrated and recognized African albums around the world.
The album did a lot for the culture and movement of the genre and opened doors that other superstars would now take to the high road. It remains one of the most certified albums to date, but it did a lot more locally than we like to accept.
Before Wizkid dropped the album in 2020, he had tested the waters locally and internationally to see how the sound he was trying to bring would do in the market.
He was very intentional about changing the sound direction for African music, and he made sure to take his time. He dropped Sounds From The Other Side in July 2017 and heavily promoted it in foreign markets. The record with Drake saw massive acceptance in the US and introduced Wizkid as a superstar to watch out for.
On the local scene, he kept servicing the audience here with songs like Fever, Nowo, Soco, Master Groove and more, trying to find the perfect balance between the sound direction he was coming from and where he was heading.
On the 6th of December, 2019 he released an EP titled Soundman Vol 1 and strengthened his chokehold on the local scene. On the 30th of October, 2020 he finally released arguably the most anticipated album in Afrobeats, Made In Lagos.
Made In Lagos saw Wizkid evolve into a new soundscape and this came with harsh opinions. The immediate reception of the album on the local scene wasn’t encouraging and fans, influencers and industry heads didn’t have a lot of positive things to say about the album. Some tagged the project as too slow while others felt Wiz wasn’t making music for Nigerians anymore.
Many questioned Wiz naming the album Made In Lagos, claiming that it didn’t sound like or look like it was made in Lagos. Four years down the line, it all made sense.
Made in Lagos did more for the genre than we care to admit. Apart from the plaques and certifications, the records and charts, and the moments in international media, Made In Lagos gave us another perspective on Afrobeats. It showed us another way to express our sound. It defined the mid tempo part of the genre.
Before Made In Lagos, the tempo of the genre was very fast-paced and one-directional. Though it had different variations and expressions, (like the pon pon sound of 2018) Afrobeats was heavily fast-paced. Made In Lagos brought in a new perspective, and four years later street acts like Folapondis and Fido are making mid-tempo street songs like Alone and Awolowo, two of the biggest hits of 2024 by the way.
Made In Lagos made us understand the power of branding and identity. Made in Lagos came with a strong brand and Wiz put a definitive identity to it, and it was easy to tell things about the album from the sound direction, the graphics, the videos, the artwork and pictures and more. People started to pay attention to these things post-MIL.
Made in Lagos made our superstars understand how important it was to define their brand. Everyone now understands the importance of identity and conversations. The acts are more orderly now. The genre looks more developed now.
Essence in particular showed new methods of marketing music for retention. Several songs have bitten off the template of the song, and artists have tried to have their own essence moment.
Though not single-handedly, Made In Lagos brought back the seriousness of the album culture. When Burna Boy had his African Giant moment, the greatness of the album was not as appreciated as Burna’s newfound global success.
When Made In Lagos did it again, our top superstars began to understand that an album is as important as you being an artist. We started to have better and more intentional albums after these two albums showed a template.
We also started to get albums that are tied to the persona of the artist and the message they’re standing for. Burna was very clear in his message with African Giant. He was defining himself. Wiz was defining where he is from and stands for on Made in Lagos.
Albums since then now focused on the artist’s story and stopped being about producing three hit singles. MMWTV saw Asake prove he’s a hitmaker with vibes. Sincerely Benson saw Bnxn be unapologetically Bnxn. OdumoduBlvck spoke his truth on Eziokwu. Omah showed loneliness and vulnerability in Boy Alone.
Four years down the line, Made In Lagos continues to stay in the conversation. It continues to offer ideas and templates for the next generation to bite off. Everyone has come to accept its greatness. It’s stamped its foot in history and is still serving a purpose. It’s a child that has gone on to be a man influencing other children.
Whatever might be going on with the father of this child right now will not stop us from celebrating the father he was in times past. Today we celebrate four years of Made In Lagos. Thank you Wizkid for an amazing album. Share the grace with me, Wiz.
