An artist like Wizard Chan has rarely been seen on such a scale in the Nigerian music scene. The young artist, Fuayefika Maxwell, embodies the persona of an oracle, a vessel carrying a message from a higher power, which he often refers to as “Jah”.
He presents a musical style and persona that fuse the earthy and contemporary folk and soothing spiritual sounds of Beautiful Nubia with the reggae/dancehall conscious music of Majek Fashek, all through the lens of a modern-day young traditionalist. This is the closest I could personally define this talented act.
With his first hit, “Earth Song,” in 2022, his musical orientation became obvious: conscious lyricism and a deep, earthy spiritual consciousness in his music, a sound that evokes self-awareness, spirituality, and a connection to spiritual mantras and higher powers. With this depth of developed persona and a central message, Wizard Chan has now released his debut project, “The Messenger,” serving as an oracle bearing a message to deliver to the world.
The project unfolds precisely as anticipated: soothing, uplifting, and earthy. “Sailor Man” fittingly ascends into the project’s realms, introducing the forthcoming message. Wizard Chan cries and prays to “Jah,” likening himself to a sailor—or as he eventually mentions, a tailor—seeking divine guidance for a favorable outcome, or as it could be phrased, seeking his “Alubarika.” The project unfolds precisely as anticipated: it is soothing, uplifting, and earthy. “Sailor Man” fittingly ascends into the project’s realms, introducing the forthcoming message.
The next tune opens with an Islamic chant at the beginning, offering another angle to the project—an all-faith accommodating vibe. At least, we are all bound by a central God we believe in. Wizard Chan progresses in his streak on this tune, highlighting the offensive abilities of prayer to burn, or it can be interpreted as purging abilities. Along with Dino Zee, who delivers a short, concise rap verse, they bring the not-so-popular Northern Hip-Hop to the forefront.
The hip-hop vibe introduced in the former song flows seamlessly into “Demons & Angels”. This track presents a battle as old as time, evident in his life as a representation of every listener’s struggle between Demons & Angels, Light & Darkness, Yin and Yang—all within us, represented by peace and turmoil. It highlights the vulnerability of a person in their attempt to combat demons or darkness, whether through isolation or the use of psychedelics to attain a sense of peace and light amidst turmoil.
The infusion of native tongues into the record further elevates the spiritually conscious single. Chants play a pivotal role in conveying an ethereal sense of depth in the music, which is very evident in Wizard Chan’s continuous usage of them. It opens “Legacy” and gives an introduction to a masterpiece where Chan sings about life, death, and leaving a lasting impact.
Employing literary devices, he depicts life and death ironically as both pleasant and unpleasant, with references to the “beautiful lie” and the “bitter truth”. This extends to using time as both the enemy of man and the best gift to man.
“Earth Song,” a single that covers a number of themes—a continuous search for peace, women as the apex creation and creator, forgiveness in general—introduced most of us to it as an earthy, fun song with a connection on a deeper level. This part highlights Wizard Chan as a creative able to evoke emotions and connect to listeners through his sound.
“Mama Chan” also had a bit on the project, providing a soothing folk song in the native tongue of the Ijaws as used throughout the entire project. Coming as the second to the last is the most recent pre-release to the project, “Loner (Alone)” with Joeboy. The mid-tempo afrobeats song is still the most commercial and mainstream on the project, offering less depth of lyrical devices, but this does not mean it was less of a quality song.Chan and Joeboy showed amazing chemistry together as they journal their moments of solitude only accompanied by their liquor with Joeboy as a perfect fit for this single given his hit single with a similar message. Amidst these much-relished moments alone, a yearning emerges for rescue from the intrusive dark thoughts that inevitably loom.
Ending on the note of “Stages of Life,” Chan lists a chronology of the stages of life right from gestation in each verse, providing a detailed sequence of a normal life through till the death bed.Touching on love, teenage joys, adulting, anxiety, depression, achievements decline and all that entails of life. Closing, he notes: “as I lay me down to sleep/ I pray the Lord my soul to keep.The phrase “But if I die before I wake up, Lord, I pray my soul you take,” originates from George Wheler’s 1698 book “The Protestant Monastery” and has recurred across modern music by artists such as XXXTentacion, G-Eazy, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and even Majek Fashek.
This project by Wizard Chan lives up to the standard he has put up for himself with earlier releases, delivering a complete music package connecting to the soul and evoking the spirit while providing entertainment, a musical achievement in its own rights.
Listen to “The Messenger” Here