Veteran Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has criticised the ongoing comparisons between Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and contemporary star Wizkid, describing the practice as both inappropriate and misguided.
Speaking on Mic On Podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, the music icon described the comparison as “ridiculous,” adding that it is “disrespectful” to Fela’s legacy and “unfair” to Wizkid’s career.
According to 2Baba, placing both artistes side by side fails to consider their different eras, levels of impact and individual contributions to Nigerian music. He noted that Fela remains an irreplaceable legend, while Wizkid has built a strong and influential path for himself in the industry.
“It’s disrespectful to Fela, and at the same time unfair to Wizkid,” he said, emphasising that each should be recognised and appreciated for his own achievements.
The remarks from 2Baba come amid a heated public dispute between Fela’s son, Seun Kuti, and Wizkid, which has ignited widespread debate across social media and within the entertainment industry.
The controversy began after Seun Kuti criticised members of Wizkid’s fan base, known as Wizkid FC, for repeatedly likening the singer to his father. During a live Instagram session, Seun challenged the comparisons directly.
“Keep Fela’s name out of your mouths. Why must you find a way to bring Fela always into your discussions?” he said. He also questioned what he described as a culture of constant comparison among fans. “You know why you cannot enjoy your artiste’s music without comparing it to something else? Because the music does not fulfil your spirits. That’s why you people look for extra drama always around the art.”
The situation escalated after members of Wizkid FC referred to their idol as the “Biggest Bird,” a title similar to Seun’s long-standing nickname, Big Bird. Addressing the matter in a January 14 livestream, Seun insisted the name predated Wizkid’s usage.
“Wizkid stole my name. Tell your fave to be original. Why are you telling me to change my name? Sorry, I can’t change it. This name has been here since. I am the first to come up with it,” he said.
He further alleged that Wizkid benefited from the controversy rather than distancing himself from it. In one of his posts, Seun referenced the financial gains he claimed to have received due to his father’s legacy.
“I recently received about $120,000 simply because I am Fela’s son; it is not my work. My father died over 29 years ago. How many of your fathers from the grave can send you $120,000 from the grave?” he wrote.
Wizkid later responded on his Instagram story with direct remarks aimed at Seun. “P***y boy @thenigbirdkuti ok i big pass your papa!!!wetin u one do? Fool at 40!” he wrote. He also added, “@bigbirdkuti I’m Big Wiz everyday bigger than your papa!! Wetin u one do fool?” and concluded with, “Hungry bastard.”
Seun reacted again, writing, “Just be yourself, short man. You are also great. You go delete now, You no get mind, who is the pussy now beech!!!”
As the exchange dominated social media platforms, members of the Kuti family intervened publicly. Speaking on her TVC talk show, Fela’s daughter, Yeni Kuti, urged restraint and caution.
“When two giants fight, it’s the ground that suffers. In this situation, it’s Nigeria’s reputation that is suffering because we are now seen as a people that do not respect our icons. Whichever way you look at it, he started a genre of music. He’s an icon so if you have a problem, why are you attacking him? He has done his own and he has gone. He has been dead 27 years and we are still mentioning his name; that is the answer to his greatness. Let us respect that,” she said.
She added, “I refused to respond to some of the insults that they have been hurling, and I love Wizkid a lot. He’s my small friend and we have come a long way together. I remember when he was a backup singer at the shrine during Felabration.”
However, another daughter of Fela, Motunrayo Kuti, reacted strongly to Wizkid’s claim of being bigger than her father.
“Wizkid is bigger than Fela, Abi. Wizkid, you are also bigger than your father. That your useless father. That one wey abandon you and your mama wey don die so. That man, Muniru. Muniru Olátúnjí Balogun. You see that Muniru Olátúnji, you are also bigger than your useless father. As you are bigger than our own father. Our father Fela is now bigger than your father, Muniru Olátúnji Balogun and your mother, that woman wey d+e throway like cockroach. Yes Fela big pass those two,” she said.
The feud has triggered widespread commentary from entertainers, journalists and public figures across Nigeria.
Former senator, Shehu Sani, wrote on X, “Fela was a symbol of resistance against oppression and injustice. He survived imprisonment, torture and death in the pursuit and the defence of his principles. He planted the seeds of freedom enjoyed by the generations after him. He is incomparable with any artiste living or dead.”
Charly Boy offered a measured perspective, writing, “Different time, different battle, different kind of greatness. No be who big pass… Na who touch your soul pass.” He added, “If measured by ‘fame and cruise,’ Wizkid leads. If judged by ‘fight and freedom,’ Fela is unparalleled.”
Veteran journalist Kunle Bakare wrote on Facebook, “Are you talking about Olufela Anikulapo-Kuti? He is on the level of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven. If he had been born in Europe, he would have been so documented and celebrated. Are you talking about one of the best composers, arrangers and performers that ever lived?”
Media personality Wale Thompson also weighed in, stating, “Fela was a giant, a legend who used music as a weapon to fight against oppression. Wizkid, on the other hand, is a global superstar who has taken Afrobeats to the world alongside peers like Davido and Burna Boy. Fela’s music was about challenging the system, while Wizkid’s music is more about celebrating African culture and having a good time. Both are valid, but as a matter of fact, they are not on the same level for comparison because Fela Anikulapo-Kuti walked so hard that other musicians could fly, which is why he has been globally celebrated since he died 29 years ago.”
The debate underscores broader questions about legacy, influence and the criteria used to evaluate artistic greatness across different generations. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who died in 1997, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential musicians, known for creating the Afrobeat genre and using his platform to challenge political oppression in Nigeria during the military era. His music combined traditional Yoruba rhythms, jazz, funk and highlife, while his lyrics addressed issues of corruption, human rights abuses and social injustice.
Wizkid, born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, emerged in the late 2000s and has since become one of the most commercially successful and internationally recognised African artistes, playing a central role in the global expansion of Afrobeats. His collaborations with international stars and chart-topping hits have brought mainstream attention to Nigerian music on a scale previously unseen.
The ongoing dispute highlights the passionate loyalty of fan bases in the digital age, as well as the sensitivities surrounding the legacies of cultural icons. It also raises questions about the appropriateness of cross-generational comparisons and the impact of social media on public discourse within the entertainment industry.
