Senegalese-American singer and music executive Akon has opened up about how his professional relationship with Wizkid began, crediting Nigerian singer and entrepreneur Banky W for introducing him to the Afrobeats star during the early stages of his career.

Speaking in a recent interview on The Shade Room, Akon recalled that Banky W played a key role in connecting him with Wizkid while the Nigerian singer was still signed to Empire Mates Entertainment (EME). According to Akon, Banky W believed Wizkid had the talent to succeed beyond Nigeria and reached out to explore opportunities that could help expand his reach internationally.

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The collaboration eventually led to Wizkid signing with Akon’s music company, Konvict Muzik, through a partnership with EME.

Reflecting on that period, Akon said he was impressed by Wizkid’s talent from the beginning. He added that Banky W strongly believed in the singer’s potential and worked to create opportunities that would introduce his music to audiences outside Africa.

The partnership came at a time when Wizkid was gaining attention with songs from his debut album, “Superstar”, released in 2011. Tracks such as “Holla at Your Boy”, “Don’t Dull” and “Pakurumo” helped establish him as one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising artists, attracting interest from international music executives.

Photo: Instagram

The partnership became one of Wizkid’s earliest international career moves, helping expand his exposure beyond Nigeria. In the years that followed, he went on to collaborate with several international stars, including Drake on the chart-topping hit “One Dance”, as well as Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber and many others.

Akon’s comments also highlight Banky W’s contribution to the development of Wizkid’s career. As the founder of EME, Banky W signed Wizkid in 2009 and helped shape his early years in the industry before Wizkid later parted ways with EME and launched his own imprint, Starboy Entertainment.

Today, Wizkid is regarded as one of the biggest African artists of his generation, with Grammy recognition, multiple international awards and sold-out performances across major venues worldwide. Akon’s reflection serves as a reminder of an important chapter in that journey, showing how a connection made through Banky W helped open the door to opportunities that would later contribute to Wizkid’s rise on the global stage.

Burna Boy is set to perform on one of football’s biggest stages after FIFA confirmed him as part of the lineup for the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final. The Nigerian Grammy-winning artist will share the stage with Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and South Korean group BTS during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at New York Jersey Stadium.

The announcement marks a new direction for FIFA, which has never staged a halftime entertainment show during a men’s World Cup final. Inspired by the Super Bowl format, the performance is expected to take place during the halftime interval.

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According to FIFA, the show is being curated by Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, in collaboration with Global Citizen. The halftime performance also forms part of a wider effort to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative that aims to raise 100 million dollars to improve children’s access to education and football programmes around the world.

For Burna Boy, the performance adds another major international appearance to a career that has seen him headline festivals and perform at global sporting and cultural events. This time, he will be part of a lineup that brings together artists from different musical backgrounds for an event expected to attract audiences across the world.

Burna Boy and Shakira will also perform “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Shakira’s involvement carries added significance, having previously recorded and performed “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which remains one of the tournament’s most recognisable anthems.

Photo: Instagram

Speaking about the upcoming event, Shakira described the halftime show as “pretty historic,” noting that it will be the first of its kind at a FIFA World Cup final. Her comments reflect the significance of FIFA’s decision to introduce a dedicated musical performance during the championship match.

The inclusion of Burna Boy alongside internationally recognised artists such as Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS places a Nigerian artist at the centre of one of the most anticipated entertainment moments of the tournament. As fans count down to the 2026 World Cup final, the halftime show is expected to add a new chapter to FIFA’s match-day experience while supporting a global education initiative beyond the football pitch.

Ugo Ugochukwu continued his impressive 2026 campaign by delivering a record-breaking performance at Silverstone, where he claimed victory in the FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race and set a new championship record for the largest winning margin.

The Campos Racing driver began the sprint race from pole position after qualifying 12th on Friday, which placed him on reverse-grid pole for Saturday’s sprint. He wasted no time taking control of the race, keeping the lead at the start before gradually pulling away from the rest of the field. By the chequered flag, Ugochukwu had crossed the line 17.023 seconds ahead of second-placed Yevan David, setting the largest winning margin ever recorded in the current FIA Formula 3 Championship.

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The victory was significant for more than one reason. It was Ugochukwu’s second win of the 2026 Formula 3 season, making him the first driver to achieve multiple victories this year. His commanding display also strengthened his position at the top of the drivers’ standings, underlining the consistency that has made him one of the standout performers of the season.

Despite the comfortable victory, Ugochukwu said the weekend did not start well for his team. Speaking after the race, he explained that they struggled with the car early on before making changes that improved its performance. According to the young driver, he did not realise the gap behind him had grown so large until his race engineer instructed him to stop pushing and focus on managing the tyres to the finish.

Born in New York to a Nigerian-Italian family, Ugochukwu has steadily climbed the ranks of junior motorsport after making his name in karting. His performances have continued to attract attention as he works towards his long-term ambition of reaching Formula One. Silverstone offered another reminder of why he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in international racing.

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Ugochukwu followed up his sprint race victory with another strong drive in Sunday’s Feature Race, where he fought his way through the field from 12th on the grid. After crossing the line in sixth, Ugochukwu was promoted to third following several post-race penalties and a disqualification, adding another podium finish to an already memorable weekend.

For a driver competing in one of motorsport’s most competitive junior categories, such a commanding victory is a rare achievement. Ugo Ugochukwu’s record-breaking performance at the Silverstone further strengthened his bid for the 2026 Formula 3 championship and added another milestone to his fast growing career.