Success on your own terms

(Endowed Blogs.)

In many, years from now when it is all said and done, Wizkid's defining legacy would be more than awards and plaques.

The compact singer whose third solo project drops on July 14, 2017, will be remembered for one thing- succeeding on his own terms.

play Wizkid does the most for his fans at the Wireless Festival.
(Wizkidayo/Instagram)

When Canadian rap star Drake said, "Everybody got a deal, I did it without one" he could have been foretelling Wizkid's future (an artist he would end up working with three times).

play Rapper Drake wearing Carhartt onstage in 2011.
(Getty/Kevork Djansezian)

The trajectory of Wizkid's post-music label career is astounding. He navigated the global charts just with the power of his sound than a heavy cheque from a label. It's not every day a kid from West Africa captivates the attention of the world.

You see, people from this part of the world are not expected to make global headlines. When you grow up in Nigeria, you don't exactly think the world is your playing field. For many of us, the aim is to make it in Nigeria and retire. Going toe-to-toe with the best in the world is not necessarily in our agendas. The plan is to do well in Nigeria, hopefully in Africa and call it a day afterwards.

play Wizkid sharing the stage with Burna Boy
(Beats by dre)

There are Nigerians like Wizkid who break this pattern. Young Nigerians are no longer limiting themselves to just the +234 phone code. The world is their playing field and they are going to run through it. Chimamanda Adichie, Asa, Nneka and a few others have shown us this is possible.

play (Adichie/ Instagram)

The poor level of education and non-existent health care system already indicates that the powers that be don't care about the youth. From early on, you already know that you must make something out of this life on your own.

Sadly, not many of us do so. We prefer to be stuck inside the box than to challenge the system. The Nigerian dream is to have a go to school, graduate, have a job, get married, have kids, retire and die. There is nothing about challenging the system and being the best you can be. The environment doesn't give you the audacity to maximise your potential.

play Akon with Wizkid and Denrele
(ChannelOTV (Africa))

Wizkid's giant strides in the global market defies this. Not content on being the local champion, he was ambitious and daring enough to see the world. Many people called him mad for leaving a river and chasing a waterfall. Today he has been justified.

Success should really come on your terms. Anything less is settling for a life that is not yours.