‘Beef’ threatens Nigerian Afrobeats as artistes deepen rivalry

The Nigerian music industry was recently unsettled by a series of beefs, with Afrobeats artistes of all categories throwing jibes at one another.

The beefs, which have been budding for a while, reached their zenith at a time when the infamous Drake and Kendrick Lamar rap beef was raging on the other side of the Atlantic.

Take a look at some of the popular beefs threatening the Nigerian music industry

Wizkid vs Davido

Wizkid and Davido, touted as Nigeria’s biggest music stars, have had a strained relationship since their early days as rising artists in 2011.

Although they have never revealed the cause of the beef, the feud has been on and off for over a decade.

While the duo have had some moments of peace over the years due to reconciliatory efforts, there has always been a chill between their cult-like fanbases, “Wizkid FC” and “30BG”, especially on social media.

The latest chapter in their saga started when many thought that they were finally ending their age-long supremacy rift, especially with Wizkid’s announcement that he would be going on a joint tour with Davido after his ‘More Love, Less Ego’ tour.

But all that hope was dashed when they reignited their long-standing feud with a fiery social media exchange on the night of April 29.

Wizkid had earlier posted a leaked video of someone, purported to be Davido, on his knees, crying and begging for a woman’s attention.

The Starboy boss posted the video implying that his fans needed to plead for a new song with a similar intensity to the person in the video, who appears to be Davido.

The post sparked controversy on social media, causing a stir among the 30 Billion gang, Wizkid FC, and also Davido who responded later in the night.

In his clapback, Davido taunted Wizkid that his career was resurrected a few years ago but died again. He boasted that since he entered the music industry, Wizkid and others have not experienced peace of mind.

“That’s what I thought. Nothing to say, exactly why I stopped wasting my clout and jeopardizing my millions of USD of endorsements on someone whose career was resurrected a few years ago just to die again,” the ‘OBO’ crooner said.

Responding to Davido, Wizkid boasted that even if he decides to retire from the music industry now, the DMW boss will still not be on his level.

He said, “I got nun to say to u my boy! I can retire today and you still not on my level. You be influencer with a songwriter. Wish u well.”

The social media war continued with Wizkid reposting the controversial leaked video the following day and Davido throwing jibes at him both on X and Instagram for days.

Kizz Daniel vs Tekno

The friction between Kizz Daniel and Tekno happened simultaneously with Wizkid and Davido’s social media war.

In the afternoon of April 29, Kizz Daniel dug up a tweet wherein Tekno insinuated that the Fly Boi boss’ money isn’t on the same level as his while debunking a report that he received royalties worth N1 billion from their collaborative song ‘Buga.’

Kizz Daniel blasted Tekno for being ungrateful, claiming that he “rescued” his (Tekno’s) dying career with the song.

He said, “Dem mention money you sef dey talk… spewing sh*t like an*s. See ekuke wey we rescue with Buga. Oloribu omo ale.”

In his reaction, Tekno warned Kizz Daniel not to provoke him, or else, he would feel his wrath.

“Hope you are trending now fool! Careful o, breeze blow foul ny*sh dey open. I’m not the one to be played with before I Kattywilliams your *ss. Insecure narcissist,” the ‘Pana’ crooner said.

The singers later unfollowed each other on social media.

Adekunle Gold vs Samklef

Singer Adekunle Gold and producer Samklef recently fell out after the producer-turned-blogger called out his wife, Simi, for being “ungrateful.”

Samklef, who had publicly admitted having feelings for Simi during their days as struggling artists, vowed never to “fully” forgive if she doesn’t publicly apologize for setting him up for dragging.

He said, “If simi comes out publicly and apologizes for setting me up for dragging I will fully forgive her. But if she doesn’t I will be reminding her who she truly is for the next 7 billion years.”

Reacting, Adekunle Gold categorically told Samklef that his wife doesn’t owe him anything.

“When will it be your turn to receive sense from your 7th heaven? Because you are clearly lost in your own damn mind. Simi doesn’t owe you sh*t and it’s about time you stopped calling her name every 3 market days. If anything, you owe me! Stop fooling around and act your age!,” Adekunle Gold fumed.

Samklef rebuffed, “Dear Adekunle, I made your wife Simi.

“And yes Adekunle your wife Simi owes Samklef a public apology for setting me up for dragging. How u see am?

“And just so u know Simi music career not fit pass the level again. I samklef says o!

“Wey u for just dey one corner dey look or reach out to me for old time sake…You wan use me shine with all this small temporary fame. Say he wife owes me nothing. I beg una for money Abi wetin you mean ? Can you imagine this small boy?”

Meanwhile, Simi has addressed her colleague, Brymo, and producer-turned-blogger, Samklef’s flirtatious comments about her.

Recall that Brymo sparked controversy last year after admitting that he demanded sex from Simi while she was unmarried before he could make music with her.

He said she rejected his request and he in turn declined to collaborate with her.

In a recent interview with Angela Yee, Simi said there was no point in what Brymo and Samklef said about her, emphasizing that she couldn’t take them seriously.

The mother of one said she is confused about their rhetoric and considers their actions as “comedy.”

She said, “I don’t know what these people [Brymo and Samklef] are going on about. The funny thing is that these are two different people and I don’t know why they keep talking about me like that. When you even look at what they’re saying, you can’t even pick out anything. I’m still confused.”

Wizkid vs Don Jazzy

Wizkid’s recent social media onslaught did not spare Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy.

Wizkid fired shots at Don Jazzy after his signee, rapper Ladipoe mocked the Grammy-winning singer for claiming that ‘hip hop is dead’.

On his X handle, Ladipoe wrote, “Nigerian rappers that survived ‘hip hop is dead’ watching Afrobeat artistes go through their own.”

After a fan alerted Wizkid to the post, he reacted by saying, “Lol, never chatting with anyone signed to an influencer. Next.”

He also retweeted two tweets suggesting that he referred to Don Jazzy as an influencer.

Don Jazzy, displeased by Wizkid’s remark, unfollowed him on Instagram.

Wizkid’s subtle shade at Don Jazzy sparked reactions from a cross-section of Nigerian celebrities, including skit makers, Mr Macaroni and Nasboi, and reality stars, Doyin and Tacha.

Reacting via his X handle, Mr Macaroni insisted that while Don Jazzy is influential across music, content, films, and brands, the context in which Wizkid called him “an influencer” was disrespectful to “everything he has done and is still doing for the Nigerian Music Industry.”

He noted that Don Jazzy is an “absolute legend” who is selfless and has shown support to many entertainers in the country regardless of their status.

Similarly, content creator and singer, Nasboi faulted Wizkid for shading Don Jazzy.

“Wizkid was wrong for talking to Don Jazzy that way. Before now, Wizkid used to respect Don Jazzy,” he stated on the Bahd And Boujee Podcast, co-hosted by reality star, Tolanibaj and actress, Moet Abebe.

Appearing on Cool FM’s Big Friday Show With Tacha, Nasboi revealed that he has been receiving death threats following his criticism of Wizkid for shading Don Jazzy, but maintained that he still stands on his initial stance that the Starboy boss was wrong for shading the Mavin honcho.

“I feel like the context [in which Wizkid called Don Jazzy an influencer] wasn’t okay,” he reiterated.