Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun popularly known as WizKid has one of the most popular nicknames in the African music industry. The name Machala is so popular that one of his biggest fans, beloved Nigerian comedian, Caterefe dedicated a song to him with the nickname as the title. Today we discuss the meaning of WizKid’s nickname Machala.

Aside from Starboy, and Big Wiz, Machala is WizKid’s most popular moniker or sobriquet but not so many know the origins of the name. The question, “What is the meaning of Machala” is as old as time itself. You will not find a single meaning for the name on the internet and this ambiguity actually helps in describing WizKid’s nature as he himself is shrouded in a lot of mystery. 

There is a school of thought that says the name means “King”. Others describe it as “Lion’, or ‘Eleniyan’ which translates to ‘man of the people’ in Yoruba, a language spoken in West Africa, primarily in Southwestern Nigeria.

From all indications, the all-encompassing name is synonymous with WizKid’s achievements in music and I believe WizKid’s greatness is what gives meaning to the name Machala. The greater WizKid becomes, the greater the nickname becomes.