Senegalese-American singer Akon, born Aliaune Damala Badara, has claimed he played a pivotal role in launching Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, into the spotlight.

In a recent episode of the Bagfuel Brigade podcast, Akon stated that Wizkid was a local act before he signed him to his label in 2008 and helped refine his craft.

He further asserted that Afrobeats would not have reached its current global prominence without his early efforts in developing Nigerian artists, noting that he opened international markets for them between the late 2000s and early 2010s.

“In 2008, I spent my time in Nigeria developing what you see today as Afrobeats. And all of them can attest to it,” he said.

He also mentioned signing the duo P-Square, describing them as the first Nigerian group to achieve international success.(Legit.ng - Nigeria news.)

Akon emphasized that before his engagement, Wizkid was primarily known within Nigeria. He suggested that his label's efforts opened up larger markets for the artist. He further claimed that without his contributions, Afrobeats might not have reached its current global prominence.

Additionally, Akon highlighted his role in introducing business structures to the Afrobeats genre, stating that prior to his involvement, the focus was mainly on the creative aspect, lacking the necessary infrastructure for global expansion.

These assertions have sparked discussions within the music community, with some acknowledging Akon's influence, while others debate the extent of his contributions to the genre's development.