HBO to Premiere ‘Wizkid: Long Live Lagos‘ Documentary, Showcasing Star’s Rise and Cultural Impact
A new HBO Original documentary, wizkid: Long Live Lagos, will debut on December 11 and stream on HBO Max, offering an intimate look at the Nigerian superstar’s journey to global recognition and his role in reclaiming African identity through music. Directed by karam Gill, the film traces Wizkid’s career from his beginnings in Lagos to his historic 2023 headline performance at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the first sellout show there by an African artist.
The nearly two-minute trailer features commentary from those close to wizkid, including his first manager, Sunday Are, who states, “When you see how far Africa has come, you cannot ignore the impact of Wizkid.” Another voice describes Wizkid as “the national hero” and “one of the biggest ambassadors for Nigeria.”
Wizkid himself explains how his upbringing shaped his connection to music, stating, “In that kind of place, you have a different connection to music.It’s just a powerful tool, man, to survive.” He also emphasizes the importance of educating the world about African culture, a sentiment echoed by musician Femi Kuti, son of Afrobeat pioneer fela Kuti, who says, “Wizkid is a symbol of hope.”
wizkid acknowledges the influence of Fela Kuti, revealing, “Fela Kuti was a big instrument into why I believed I could really make music,” and showcasing a tattoo of the Afrobeat artist.
The documentary premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival in June, where Wizkid debuted his newborn daughter on the red carpet. He shared during a Q&A that the film crew followed him “24 hours traveling with me everywhere,” capturing moments he hadn’t realized were being recorded, and that he aimed to show fans ”the true me, like, my real life.”
