Wizkid has been nominated for the 2023 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards set for Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on March 4.
The Nigerian-based Grammy-award-winning afrobeats star will compete in the Global Music Star category against renowned musicians from across the globe, such as Bad Bunny (Latin America), BLACKPINK (Asia), Harry Styles (UK), Rosalia (Europe), Taylor Swift (North America), and Tones and I (Australia). The nomination adds to his growing list of accomplishments since he first gained mainstream recognition.
The “Essence” hit-maker is also nominated in the Favourite African Star category. Vying for this popular category this year are Nigerian sports stars Giannis Antetokoumpo, Ethan Nwaneri, and Tobi Amusan, while Tik Tok star Khaby Lame and footballer Sadio Mané are putting the West African mecca, Senegal on the map. Multi-award-winning Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong’o makes a return to the KCAs this year as she was previously nominated for Favourite African Star in 2017 and Favourite Movie Actress in 2019.
International Emmy Award nominated actress and The Woman King star Thuso Mbedu, award-winning comedian and former host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Trevor Noah, former soccer player and first-team coach at Manchester United, Benni McCarthy, South African women’s national soccer team, Banyana Banyana as well as fashion designer and Vogue and Valentino collaborator Thebe Magugu are also on the nominations list.
“The evolution of the African creative industry is being felt across all spheres of global entertainment,” remarked Dillon Khan, Vice President of Paramount Africa for Comedy Central Africa, Nickelodeon & Creative Services. “These nominations resonate with all of Africa, and we’re glad to see so much African talent being recognised for all the hard work they put into the global entertainment industry. This is just the start.”
First presented in 1987, the slime sludging award ceremony celebrates some of the biggest local and international media personalities and artists, as voted for by the fans. Previous Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards winners from Africa include Stonebwoy (Ghana), AKA (South Africa), and Sho Madjozi (South Africa).
Wizkid is one of Nigeria’s biggest R&B crossover acts, having worked with Skepta, Drake, and Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, among others. After gaining initial regional success in 2011 with the massively popular single “Holla at Your Boy,” the Nigerian singer and songwriter further cemented his status as one of Nigeria’s biggest pop acts with his global breakthrough track “Ojuelegba” 2014. His acclaimed Made in Lagos album was released in 2021, featuring the internationally charting hit single “Essence.” Just one year later, he followed up with his fifth album, More Love, Less Ego.
Voting is now open on the Kids’ Choice Awards website
