Social media spaces are ablaze with debate after a series of tweets comparing modern Afrobeats stars with legendary artistes of past eras, particularly Wizkid and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
This followed a direct attack on Seun Kuti by Wizkid in a string of blunt posts, in which he declared himself greater than Fela and insulted the Afrobeat singer.
“Pu**y boy @thenigbirdkuti ok i big pass your papa!!!wetin u one do? Fool at 40!,” Wizkid wrote.
On X (formerly Twitter), several users argued that legendary singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, was musically superior to Wizkid, especially during his prime years. The comments triggered a wave of nostalgic reflections on the early days of Afrobeats and renewed comparisons with modern stars.
“In terms of good music, 2Face is far better than Wizkid if we are being honest,” @DaveOrei wrote, a sentiment echoed by another who stated that 2Face in his prime outshone Wizkid’s current era.
Others used the moment to reminisce about what they described as Afrobeats’ “golden era,” citing artistes such as 2Face, P-Square, D’banj and 9ice, who, according to them, helped push Nigerian music to international audiences long before the influence of social media.
“I miss the prime era of D’banj, P-Square and 2Face, when Don Jazzy wasn’t a singer but a Don spicing up music videos,” @AgentZuwas post read, capturing the nostalgic tone shared by many fans.
Some contributors to the debate also stressed that comparisons should take into account the historical context of each artiste’s success. They noted that pioneers like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti laid the foundation for Afrobeat and Afrobeats, while artistes such as 2Face and P-Square expanded the genre globally without the digital platforms available today.
“This isn’t hate or jealousy,” @OmaleePrinx wrote. “When we talk about legends of Afrobeats, we start with Fela, then mention 2Face, P-Square and others who pushed the sound globally before the social media era.”
As the conversation continues online, it underscores the enduring influence of Afrobeats pioneers and the passionate loyalty they still command among Nigerian music lovers.