Nigerian singer Ayo Balogun, better known as Wizkid, has won the Artist of the Year for the African zone at the Apple Music Awards 2021.
On Tuesday, Apple made the news on its website.
The Apple Music Awards recognize musical accomplishments in five categories: Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Top Song of the Year, and Top Album of the Year.
Winners are determined by a method that takes into account both Apple Music’s editorial perspective and what consumers across the world are listening to the most.
“In October 2020, he released Made in Lagos, his critically acclaimed and most commercially successful album, which included his hit song “Essence,” a track that gained 125 million plays on Apple Music and over 2.8 million Shazams”, Apple said in a statement on their website.
“This past year, he’s been the most streamed African artist on the continent on Apple Music and ranked on the Daily Top 100 charts in 60 countries, in addition to his monthly plays on Apple Music growing by more than 250 percent outside of Africa.
“He’s also been featured on Apple Music’s Today’s Hits and R&B Now playlists, and he’s a frequent guest on Apple Music Radio shows.”
On receiving the award, Wizkid said: “Thank you to Apple Music for this award. It’s a blessing to get to do what I do, and I’m proud to be representing Africa.”
Other regional winners of the Artist of the Year award include Aya Nakamura (France), RIN (Germany), Official Hige Dandism (Japan), and Scriptonite (Russia).
The Weeknd took home the title of Global Artist of the Year.
This year, the Apple Music Awards included a new award category for Regional Artist of the Year, recognizing performers from five nations and regions: Africa, France, Germany, Japan, and Russia.
The Regional Artist of the Year honors honor musicians who have had the greatest cultural and commercial effect in their particular nations and areas.