Rap icon Olamide has declared Wizkid the greatest Afrobeats artiste of all time, second only to the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
The YBNL boss made the remark during a media briefing in Toronto, Canada, ahead of his highly anticipated show on November 14.
A video from the conference has since gone viral on social media, capturing the moment of high praise.
The declaration came in response to a question about the prolific and successful musical partnership between the two artistes.
Rather than simply discussing their collaborations, Olamide used the moment to laud Wizkid’s impact on the global music scene.
“You know that after Fela, Wizkid is the greatest Afrobeats artiste ever,” he said.
Afrobeat vs Afrobeats
It is crucial to understand the distinction implied in Olamide’s praise. Fela created Afrobeat (without the ‘s’) — a complex, political genre fusing traditional Nigerian rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife, characterised by long instrumental passages and militant lyrics, the Cable reports.
Afrobeats (with an ‘s’), on the other hand, is the contemporary umbrella term for popular music emerging from West Africa and the diaspora. It is a fusion genre that incorporates elements of Afrobeat but blends them with hip-hop, dancehall, R&B, and electronic music.
Olamide had previously described Wizkid as a “solid dude” who shows him “endless love and support”.
The rapper also spoke about the mutual respect and camaraderie he shares with Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.
“They are all my friends. They just like making troubles — Wiz, David, Burna. They are cool dudes. Many people will not just align with many things,” he said.
The term “Afrobeats Big 3” is commonly used to refer to Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, who are celebrated as Nigeria’s most dominant global musical exports.
