Wizkid is the greatest Afrobeats artiste after Fela – Olamide declares

Rap icon Olamide has declared Wizkid as the greatest Afrobeats artiste of all time, second only to Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat pioneer.

The YBNL boss spoke 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 across social media platforms, 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 seized 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 declared.

After Fela, Wizkid is the greatest Afrobeats artist ever.

– Olamide Baddo pic.twitter.com/VcZKYdcPNl

— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) November 13, 2025

AFROBEAT VS AFROBEATS 

It is crucial, however, to understand the distinction Olamide’s praise implies. Fela is the creator of Afrobeat (without the ‘s’) — a complex, political genre fusing traditional Nigerian rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife, characterized by long instrumental passages and militant lyrics.

Afrobeats (with an ‘s’), on the other hand, is the contemporary umbrella term for the popular music emanating from West Africa and the diaspora today.

It is a fusion genre that incorporates elements from Fela’s Afrobeat, but also blends it 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 opened up 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 no many things,” he said.

The term Afrobeats ‘Big 3’ is commonly used to refer to the trio of Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, who are celebrated as Nigeria’s most dominant global musical exports.(The Cable)