First Of
A Kind

Before becoming an Afrobeats artist, ELIKIA spent years pursuing a career in professional football. He developed his game at Ajax’s renowned academy, where he played alongside future stars including Jurriën Timber, Quinten Timber, Ryan Gravenberch and Brian Brobbey. Football taught him discipline, resilience and the importance of believing in yourself, even when the odds are against you.

But as his journey unfolded, another passion began to grow. Music had always been part of his life, and eventually, ELIKIA made the decision to step away from professional football to pursue a new dream.

It was a decision that meant starting from zero. With no released music and no studio of his own, he had nothing but a vision and the belief that he could build something meaningful. He invested in his own equipment, developed his sound and began carving out his place in the music industry.

That belief became the foundation of everything that followed. In just a few years, ELIKIA built an audience of millions of streams, establishing himself as an emerging voice in Afrobeats. Yet, despite leaving professional football behind, the game never truly left him.

His experiences on the pitch continue to shape his approach to music. The discipline required to compete, the pressure to perform, the setbacks along the way and the determination to find your own path are all part of the same journey. Combined with his Dutch, Congolese and Nigerian roots, these experiences have helped shape an identity that is uniquely his own.