In a candid and viral Instagram exchange, two of Nigeria's biggest music exports, Wizkid and Asake, have opened up about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the creative arts. The conversation, which blended humour with serious insight, offers a glimpse into how top artists are navigating technological change.
A Relaxed Chat About a Serious Future
The discussion took place during an Instagram session titled "For Friends Only" in December 2025. The clip quickly spread across social media, capturing the duo's easy chemistry and their thoughts on technology's future. Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Balogun, set the tone by acknowledging AI's inevitable impact. "AI is the future, whether you use it to enhance your craft or not," he stated, reflecting a sentiment echoing across the global music industry where AI tools are now common in production and songwriting.
Asake, born Ahmed Ololade, responded with his characteristic wit, taking the idea to a playful extreme. "I love AI, I won't lie. If AI can go perform for me and they pay the money into my account, I don't mind," he joked. Wizkid playfully endorsed the idea, adding, "AI, you are very welcome to do whatever you want." This lighthearted banter highlighted their close bond while touching on a significant contemporary debate about authenticity and automation in performance.
Dominating the Charts in a Landmark Year
The conversation about the future comes as both artists are riding high on a wave of unprecedented success in 2025. Wizkid's album Morayo, released in November 2024, defied its late-year entry to become Nigeria's most-streamed album of 2025 on both Apple Music and Spotify.
Asake's year was equally spectacular, as he was crowned the most-streamed artist of 2025 on Apple Music Nigeria. His consistent output and strong fanbase solidified his status as a defining voice of his generation. Their collaborative efforts have been a major driver of this success. Their hit song "MMS" became the fourth most-streamed song of the year on Apple Music Nigeria, and they also teamed up on "Bad Girl" from Wizkid's Morayo album.
The Promise of a Joint Project
Beyond the AI chat and individual accolades, fans have much more to anticipate. The artistic partnership between Wizkid and Asake is set to reach a new peak. Earlier in 2025, during an Apple Music session, Wizkid publicly announced they are working on a joint project titled REAL. He described it as a "Mr Money X Big Wiz project" and hinted it could be the first in a series, with a planned release in December. Asake, seated beside him, confirmed the announcement, putting the collaboration firmly in motion.
Their frequent public appearances and mutual support continue to fuel excitement about their bond. While their comments on AI were made in jest, they underscore a broader openness among leading Nigerian artists to engage with new technologies. Rather than fear disruption, figures like Wizkid and Asake appear ready to explore how tools like artificial intelligence might reshape the landscape of music creation and performance. As the year concludes, the industry and fans alike watch closely, awaiting both the promised collaborative project and the evolving role of AI in African creativity.
