Nigerian singer Emeka Akumefena popularly known as Blaqbonez said superstar Wizkid introduced Afrobeats to the world when he made his hit song Essence.
In a recent interview, Blaqbonez said he never imagined he would be this successful in his musical career to the extent of attending international events like the Grammys. Blaqbonez mentioned that Wizkid introduced Afrobeats to a new era after his monster hit Essence dropped in 2020.
He said, "This is my second time in America this year and it's just March. Afrobeats took a massive leap when Wizkid had Essence. Essence went crazy. It just told the world, 'Afrobeats is something you really have to watch"
Wizkid dropped Essence featuring singer Tems in 2020 off the longest charting Nigerian album Made in Lagos. The song became a massive hit around the world and introduced African music to the international scene on another level.
Wizkid went on to feature Justin Bieber in its remix which ended up winning a Grammy nomination at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Four years after the release of Essence, the song remains one of the biggest cultural resets in the history of African music.