Jane Dolapo Morayo Balogun (1959 – 18 August 2023) was a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...

, entrepreneur and the mother of Afrobeats singer Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as

Wizkid Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), better known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobea ...

. She was celebrated for her unwavering support of her son's musical journey and her role as a

matriarch Matriarchy is a social system in which positions of power and privilege are held by women. In a broader sense it can also extend to moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. While those definitions apply in general English, ...

in the Balogun family.

Early life and education

Jane Dolapo Balogun hailed from the Shitta-Bey family in

Surulere Surulere is a local government area located on the mainland in Lagos State, Nigeria. It has an area of . At the 2006 census, there were 503,975 inhabitants, with a population density of 21,864 inhabitants per square kilometer. The local governm ...

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, Nigeria. She earned a degree in

Social Sciences Social science (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of society, societies and the Social relation, relationships among members within those societies. The term was former ...

from the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...

Family and influence

Balogun was a mother to four children, including

. She played a pivotal role in nurturing her son's musical talents, encouraging his participation in the

church choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

and providing him with musical instruments . Wizkid has frequently acknowledged her as his primary inspiration and strength throughout his career.

Death and legacy

Jane Dolapo Balogun died on 18 August 2023, in London at the age of 64. Her funeral services were held on 12 and 13 October 2023, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) City of David in

Victoria Island, Lagos Victoria Island (VI) is an affluent area that encompasses a former island of the same name neighbouring Lagos Island, Ikoyi and the Lekki Peninsula by the Lagos Lagoon. It is the main business and finance, financial centre of Lagos State, Niger ...

. In her memory, Wizkid released his sixth studio album, '' Morayo'', on 22 November 2024. The album's title, derived from his mother's middle name, serves as a heartfelt tribute to her enduring influence on his life and music . He also paid tribute to his mother with the song "Mummy Mi" on his 2014 album '' Ayo'', where he expressed deep love and gratitude for her.

Cultural impact

Affectionately known as "Mama Wizkid" among fans, Jane Balogun's legacy extends beyond her family. Her support and encouragement were instrumental in shaping Wizkid's career, and Nigerian music culture at large.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balogun, Jane 1959 births 2023 deaths University of Lagos alumni People from Lagos State Yoruba Christian clergy