Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy welcomed Banky Wellington “Banky W” (GRD ’25), a prominent Nigerian-American Afrobeats artist, singer, rapper, actor and politician, this academic year.
Pursuing a master of policy management, Wellington builds upon his established work in activism and advocacy. His storied global experiences and dedication to musical, cinematographic and political spheres inspired him to seek a career in public service.
Wellington, a Nigerian-American dual citizen who grew up in Nigeria and attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York for his undergraduate studies, said he hopes to increase his skillset to better equip him for changemaking.
“If I am going to take a seat at the table, I must bring more than my creativity and character; I must have a level of competence in public policy administration that qualifies me to be there,” Wellington wrote to The Hoya.
After losing his campaign in Nigeria’s 2023 House of Representatives general election, Wellington said he chose to take a step back and focus on personal growth.
“I decided I needed to take some time off from everything I was doing to catch my breath and reinvest in myself — in my knowledge and network, hoping to grow in competence and capacity as a leader, to prepare for my next season of service, wherever that will be,” Wellington said.
Sean O’Brien, adjunct professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy and Wellington’s speechwriting professor, said he has enjoyed learning about Wellington’s run for office and commitment to public good.
“It’s exciting to have someone with his level of experience and professional accomplishments in the class to add to our perspectives,” O’Brien wrote to The Hoya.
“The focus of the class is how to write speeches that seize the opportunity presented by any audience and moment. And as a performer, filmmaker and politician with experience in both Nigeria and the U.S., Banky has certainly seized his share of opportunities with different audiences,” O’Brien added.
Wellington currently holds a following of 4.9 million followers on Instagram, 3.7 million followers on X (formerly known as Twitter) and over 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. He leads “Empire Mates Entertainment,” a media agency with over 22,000 followers, and spearheads the “Banky Wellington Organization (BWO),” a community service organization in Nigeria.
Denzil Mutsikiwa (GRD ’25), president of the Georgetown Africa Business Alliance at the McDonough School of Business (MSB), said that Georgetown’s African community has embraced Wellington’s presence on campus, especially since he holds countless global experiences.
“The entire African community at Georgetown was excited to learn that such a prominent figure — a celebrated musician and respected Nigerian politician — was studying full-time,” Mustikawa wrote to The Hoya. “Banky is truly an extraordinary individual, and his presence has added a dynamic and inspiring element to the Georgetown community.”
Sagal Ali (GRD ’25), a longtime fan of Wellington’s music, said she is excited to be able to call one of her frequently listened-to artists her colleague and friend.
“I’ve been a fan of Banky’s music for almost a decade, dating back to my undergraduate days when I would listen to his tracks while working on papers and preparing for exams,” Ali wrote to The Hoya.
Akintunde Akinade, professor of theology at Georgetown’s Qatar campus, said Afrobeats help to communicate the performative and artistic dimensions of the African identity.
“I can say without any equivocation that Banky W understands the genealogy of this fascinating artistic genre and he has consistently contributed to this industry,” Akinade wrote to The Hoya. “I know him as a true and bonafide ‘omoluabi’ — gentleman. Mighty kudos to him for his humility, creativity and passion.”
Wellington, whose style is predominantly Afro-R&B, said music gave him a medium through which he could share his story and connect with the world.
“I have always written songs from a very personal place, inspired by my experiences, and that authenticity is what audiences connect with,” Wellington said. “They’ve found their stories in mine. It heals hearts and inspires minds; it entertains and motivates. It blesses, and I’m blessed to have been a vessel in that regard.”
“It transcends boundaries and brings people together,” Wellington added.