Music Box: Wizkid – Long Live Lagos Review: HBO Max’s Must-Watch Afrobeats Documentary

Music Box: Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is currently streaming on HBO Max and follows Nigerian music artist Wizkid’s rise to fame and preparation to make history as the first African artist to play Tottenhaum Hotspur Stadium in London in July of 2023. It is directed by Karam Gill and beautifully showcases a time capsule of what we know as Afrobeats music today. The colonization of the Nigeria by the British stripped away much of the Nigerian culture and pride they carried. Thus, the celebration of Wizkid playing the stadium in London intertwines with the painful history Nigeria has with the UK told through African musicians, writers, and radio personalities.

We get a rare peak at Wizkid’s personal life as a loving father and partner to his manager, Jada Pollock. In the documentary Wizkid describes himself as a man of few words and finds it difficult to express himself. Music is his form of expression and they way he advocates for Nigeria and Africans as a whole. He expresses his frustration about the misconceptions the world has about Africa and we see that his position is not just that of an artist – he’s an educator. We learn of his poor childhood in Surulere, Lagos and his admiration of Nigerian music artist Fela Kuti who is also from there. It is Fela Kuti’s music that inspires him to become a music artist himself. It is as if Wizkid picked up where Fela Kuti left off as a Nigerian icon and spread his reach far across the waters to become a global icon. 

We see how the internet and the explosion music streaming helped African music spread to the world. Wizkid’s influence spread from Nigerian across the world, specifically the US and the UK. He worked with the likes of Beyonce and Drake helping him connect to the global market and helping them connect to the local African communities.  

One of the most heartwarming aspects of the documentary is the story of a Nigerian fan of named Starboy, who coined himself that after Wizkid’s nickname. Starboy has his on journey as he attempts to attend the concert in London. He helps us to understand how Wizkid’s music gives people in his community joy and the will to keep going no matter their circumstances. His determination to get a visitor’s VISA to see his favorite artist make history reminds us of the same determination Wizkid had to succeed in music, when there was no blueprint set for him as an African artist.

The documentary sheds light on the pressures and challenges of putting on such a large scale stadium show. We see behind the scenes of the musical direction, creative direction, and operations. Wizkid is a man of few words but one thing is clear – he is a perfectionist. As he prepares for the show he gets devastating news- his mother has been diagnosed with cancer and must start treatment immediately. It is unclear if she can make his historic show. With production delays already behind all eyes are on Wizkid to see how this will affect him and if the show will even go on at all. Ultimately it does go on because Wizkid knows the show is just not about him. It’s about the African artists that come after him. 

Music Box: Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is a visual and musical must see. This concert is a triumph for Wizkid and his fans who have been along for his 15 year journey in the music industry.  He ultimately accomplishes his goal – to give hope.

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