Veteran Nigerian music icon Innocent “2Baba” Idibia has publicly addressed the ongoing debate comparing Afrobeats superstar Wizkid to the legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Speaking on the Mic On podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, the “African Queen” singer did not hold back, labeling the comparison as both illogical and damaging to the legacies of both artists.
A Difference in Eras and Legacy
2Baba emphasized that placing Wizkid and Fela side-by-side ignores the fundamentally different eras and purposes they represent. While acknowledging Wizkid’s global dominance, he argued that Fela exists in a category of his own due to his role as a political and social revolutionary.
“Such comparisons diminish Fela’s historic impact while also placing an unfair burden on Wizkid,” 2Baba noted. He further highlighted that Fela’s sacrifices helped create the international pathways that modern Afrobeats artists now enjoy.
Context vs. Forced Matchups
While 2Baba defended the sanctity of Fela’s legacy, he also praised Wizkid’s achievements:
- Generational Influence: He acknowledged Wizkid as an immense force within his own generation.
- The “Lanes” Argument: He stressed that success should be measured within its proper context rather than through “forced generational matchups.”
- Wizkid’s Path: He noted that Wizkid has successfully carved out his own unique lane in modern music without needing to be compared to past icons.
Roots of the Controversy
The debate reignited in January 2026 following comments by Seun Kuti, who criticized Wizkid’s fanbase for using Fela’s name to validate the singer’s commercial success. The situation escalated when Wizkid responded on social media, claiming at one point that he was “bigger” than Fela—a remark that drew significant backlash from music purists and historians.
The Kuti Family Perspective
In the wake of the social media storm, other members of the Kuti family, including Femi and Yeni Kuti, urged fans to move on from the “unproductive” debate. They reiterated that Fela’s revolutionary legacy is rooted in activism and sacrifice, which exists in a space far removed from the commercial metrics of contemporary pop music.
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Source: Africa Publicity
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