Rabat is gearing up for a night pulsing with the sounds of Nigeria’s vibrant afrobeats scene. On June 26, during the 20th edition of the Mawazine Festival – Rhythms of the World, all eyes will be on Lojay, one of the genre’s most exciting new voices. The Lagos-born singer will make his Moroccan debut in a highly anticipated opening act for afrobeats megastar Wizkid.
Lojay first broke onto the global stage with the infectious track Monalisa, a collaboration with hitmaker Sarz and American R&B icon Chris Brown. The song catapulted him into the spotlight, earning a spot in the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Top 10 and winning over fans worldwide with its haunting melodies and genre-blurring style. His distinctive voice and emotional depth quickly established him as a major player in the evolving landscape of afrobeats.
Building on that momentum, Lojay returned with Sensational, another standout single featuring Davido and Chris Brown. The track not only racked up millions of streams but also earned him a nomination at the 2024 Grammy Awards—cementing his place among the genre’s heavyweights. But Lojay isn’t resting on past success. In 2025, he’s pushing creative boundaries with Somebody Like You, a moody, introspective piece that reveals a more vulnerable side of his artistry.
Despite only a few years in the spotlight, Lojay has become a defining voice in afrofusion, the genre-bending blend of afrobeat, R&B, and trap that’s taking over global airwaves. He represents a new wave of Nigerian artists who embrace global influences while staying deeply rooted in the rhythms and textures of African music.
His performance at Mawazine promises to be one of the festival’s standout moments—a symbolic passing of the torch during an evening dedicated to Lagos, the beating heart of modern afrobeats. With his magnetic stage presence and emotionally charged sound, Lojay is expected to light up the stage in Rabat, setting the tone for an explosive headline set by Wizkid.
Running from June 20 to 28, the Mawazine Festival continues to position Rabat as a global music hub. Backed by the Maroc Cultures association, the event has grown into one of the most significant musical gatherings in Africa and the Arab world, attracting A-list talent from across the globe.
