Morayo is the sixth studio album by Nigerian singer Wizkid. It was released on 22 November 2024 through RCA Records and Starboy Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Asake, Anaïs Cardot, Brent Faiyaz, Jazmine Sullivan, and Tiakola. Production was primarily handled by P2J, with contributions from others. The album was promoted by two singles, "Piece of My Heart" with Brent Faiyaz and "Kese (Dance)".
Background The album's title and cover are dedicated to Wizkid's mother Jane Balogun, who died in London in August 2023. Morayo is the middle name of his mother, Juliana Morayo Balogun, and is the Yoruba word for "I see joy". The album cover is a cropped image of his mother.
Release and promotion On 4 July 2024, his mother's birthday, Wizkid confirmed the album's existence on Twitter. MORAYO!! Best album I ever made!! Now listen! It’s only up from here! ❤️🦅 On 18 October 2024, Wizkid released the single "Piece of My Heart" with Brent Faiyaz. Less than a month later, this was followed by "Kese (Dance)". Both singles broke the record for the biggest single debut in Spotify Nigeria history. On 8 November, Wizkid revealed the album cover and release date.
Critical reception
Morayo was met with generally positive reception from music critics. Pulse Nigeria Adeayo Adebiyi, rating it a 7.0/10, said that Morayo has "something in it for everyone" and contains "stellar productions that don't demand too much from Wizkid who maintains the lush fusion he favours." Mankaprr Conteh of Rolling Stone said the album was "sturdy but unsurprising," praising its production and calling it "a warm hug than a packed punch." Philemon Jacob of African Folder described the album as an "offering of a superstar who has come to terms with his legacy," adding that it's "not groundbreaking, but it's not unimpressive" and saying that it'll fall below the expectations of people who wanted Wizkid to head in a new direction. He rated it a 7/10.
Damilare Abioye, writing for Nigerian Entertainment Today, characterized it as a "love letter to his mother, his legacy and his roots." Nosakhale Akhimien of Premium Times praised the album's "emotional depth and thematic cohesion," adding that it's "not [his] most groundbreaking work, but it's a heartfelt celebration of his roots, artistry, and enduring legacy" and rating it a 7/10. Boluwatife Adeyemi of the Native gave it an 8.3/10, stating that "On Morayo, Wizkid seems to find solace in what works." Ademoye Afeez of NotJustOk called Morayo "a solid addition to Wizkid's catalogue" due to its "rich and robust soundscape, instrumentation, and production" but noted that it "lacks a unifying thematic structure" and rated it a 7.0/10.
Accolades Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) ResultsRef2026The HeadiesAlbum of the YearAfrobeats Album of the Year
Track listing
Notes signifies an additional producer. "Piece of My Heart" contains samples of "Can It All Be So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan and "The Way We Were" by Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Personnel
Musicians Wizkid – vocals Moses Olukayode – drums on "Troubled Mind" and "Kese (Dance)" Ife Ogunjobi – trumpet on "Karamo" Gaetan Judd – guitar on "Kese (Dance)" Marco Bernardis – saxophone on "Kese (Dance)" Dayna J. Fisher – bass on "Time" AoD – guitar on "Time"
Technical Dale Becker – mastering Sam Harper – mixing, engineering Adam Lunn – engineering on "Bend" Adam Burt – engineering assistance Brandon Hernandez – engineering assistance Noah McCorkle – engineering assistance
Charts + Chart performance for Morayo Chart (2024) Peakposition Nigerian Albums (TurnTable) 1
References